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Webcasting FAQs

What is webcasting?

BrightTALK's webcasting service 'BrightCast' offers customers the ability to present to many people over the internet using simultaneous streaming video, audio and slides all combined within our internet based 'player' that requires no software downloading for viewers.

What is streaming video and audio?

Streaming media plays back a file as it is being transferred with the benefit of saving the time taken to download files.  Once the file is played it is discarded and there is no need to store it on your servers.  As a result streaming media is fast increasing in popularity as way of communicating over the Internet.

Can we stream audio only?

Voice only is a viable alternative to video.  Often voice is provided with a photographic image and accompanied by a slide presentation; it may suit your particular circumstances better.

Are you able to stream live and on-demand events?

Yes.  Live events allow your audience to participate in a conference, presentation or briefing when it is happening, and can enable your audience to participate in the meeting through questions and answers.  On-demand allows your audience to view the presentation at their convenience and from any location with access to the web.

What equipment do I need to do streaming media events?

To capture recorded events you require the basics; a high quality camera, microphone and lighting environment.   We recommend building a mini-studio environment for regular recording.  BrightStudio™ is ideal for ideal for office environments and ensures compatibility between audio and camera equipment.  For live events you require additional broadcasting and encoding equipment and a backup.  Unless you have very frequent live webcasts we do not recommend purchasing this equipment.

Can I do live streaming media myself?

No - not for important events, we don't recommend it.  Broadcasting is a complex business and although it is being simplified all the time, the technology is not ready for untrained users to create live events.  BrightTalk™ has selected the most experienced streaming media production resources available, we are not prepared to take risks with it.  We recommend that you don't either.

What do we need to provide to the technician for a live event?

A quiet room, which will not be disturbed and network access.  As a minimum we need 2 x ISDN lines.

Can I do high quality recorded streaming media events myself?

Not without training, and it is probably better to be supported by a streaming media professional at this stage of the technology's development.  We estimate that the encoding and recording process will be automated in the next two years, making it increasingly possible to record your own streamed events.   

Are there any rules to follow when preparing slides for streaming?

Can I synchronise Powerpoint slides with a video or voice presentation?

Yes.  Your presentation can be synchronised with slides from Powerpoint, or other slide presentation tools.  There are a few basic rules to follow when preparing presentation slides for Internet streaming, see our section on Recording FAQs.

Can participants ask questions?

Yes.  Chat questions allow your audience to post questions during your presentation, giving you time to assemble the questions and decide which ones to answer during a Q&A session.

Am I able to provide telephone access to an event for those who do not have access to the Internet?

Yes.  Teleconference participation provides you with the option of inviting people who are travelling, or who cannot or do not wish to have access to the Internet.  We can provide a telephone number for access to your event to anyone who needs it. 

Can I ensure the security of my event?

You can choose the security level for your event.  There are four levels of security:
- Publicly available is linked directly to your website
- Secure web addresses provide a unique web location
- Secure login provides participants with a user id and password
- Encrypted with secure login provides the maximum security
We recommend using encrypted security when your information is mission critical and could cause problems for your company if a malicious attack took place.  If your information is sensitive, but not mission critical, then the standard security measures are likely to be sufficient. 

Will the presentation be branded in my company's visual design? 

Yes.  We work with you to create an environment for your online events, which is branded in your colours.  It is important to provide your customers with a consistent branded experience for all your online events.

Can I include additional web pages, such as a welcome page, agenda, speaker biographies and file downloads?

Yes.  We can develop your web experience according to your needs.

Can you keep an archive of the presentation for those interested in watching it later?

Yes.  You may wish to provide an online archive of an event or recorded presentation for on-demand access by your audience. 

Are you able to support multi-language events?

Yes.  We can provide presenter translation in multiple languages.

Will my audience be able to receive video and voice presentations?

Mostly yes. However, whilst these technologies are in the growth stages of adoption, a small proportion of your target audience may need help to update or enable their systems.  PC's have been enabled to support streamed video and voice for the last four years. However, some corporate IT standards have reduced the capability of machines to minimise costs or reduce the risk of malicious attacks on your systems.  The reasons for these downgrades are now historical and the vast majority of systems are enabled to receive voice and video over the Internet.

Do you provide technical support for my target audience?

Yes.  If they are not able to quickly resolve any issues in receiving your presentations we will work directly with individuals or companies to establish the capability.  Typically we only need to do this once.