Frequently Asked Questions about Digital One and ClickStreamTV
The Basics
Why does my website need to include video content?
Good question. Online video has had a profound impact on both the Internet and the corporate world and has become the single most important media tool for businesses worldwide. As noted by recent Nielsen reports and the PEW Internet & American Life project, online media keeps viewers focused on a website ten times longer than static content will, and 75% of broadband Internet users report watching online video daily at home and at work. When you offer video content on your website, every viewer becomes an engaged participant in your company's message.
Why do I need ClickStreamTV?
It’s easy, affordable, high-quality, and the best turn-key streaming solution available. ClickStreamTV allows businesses to utilize all the benefits of online video without the hassle of technical and logistical issues. ClickStreamTV gives you the power to tap into the constantly growing market of online video.
How much does it cost?
Our monthly plans start as low as $59.99 a month with a one time start up cost of $349.99. Customers are not required to sign any long term contracts. Contact us via email (info@clickstreamtv.com) or phone (1-877-98-CLICK) for additional pricing plans and packages.
What's the difference between ClickStreamTV and ClickStreamLive?
ClickStreamTV is a turn-key, user-friendly online media system that is cost-effective and low-maintenance. Both ClickStreamLive packages include an interface (basic or customizable), rental of an encoder, the bandwidth needed to deliver high-quality streams to viewers and a link to add the player to a website.
ClickStreamLive is the ClickStreamTV interface with the addition of live streaming capabilites, and is available in two packages. The first adds a live channel to a full ClickStreamTV interface, and the other is a basic. interface package that provides everything you'll need to stream a live event (a basic interface, bandwidth, rental of an encoder, and technical support if needed).
I'm thinking about purchasing the basic ClickStreamLive package, but I'm not sure if I have the right resources or equipment.
The basic version of ClickStreamLive is geared towards those without much experience who want to stream a particular event (we provide everything needed, including the basic interface, bandwidth, rental of an encoder and tech support).
The only thing we don't provide is internet connectivity at the live event (T1 or higher recommended) and someone to configure an IP address at the beginning of the event (ClickStreamLive tech support takes over afterwards).
Why does the ClickStreamTV interface launch over a website?
The ClickStreamTV interface provides a single point of video library reference for viewers, and simplifies navigation of your website. As recent Nielsen reports and the PEW Internet & American Life project notes, online media keeps viewers focused on a website ten times longer than static content will. Since the interface launches over your home website without any external distractions, viewers will stay focused on your website and your media, and the customizable interface creates a prime branding opportunity for your organization's message.
How many videos can my ClickStreamTV online video library hold?
There's no limit to the number of videos you can add to your video library. Whether you've got four or four hundred videos, ClickStreamTV's turn-key streaming media interface will display them in an organized, professional manner.
What kind of videos can ClickStreamTV contain?
Our clients are all over the map – outstanding streaming video knows no bounds! We provide streaming media solutions for all types of companies and organizations (including educational, philanthropic, entertainment, manufacturing, real estate, faith-based and more), with sizes ranging from home businesses to major corporations. We're happy to work with you to develop a streaming plan custom-tailored to your specific needs.
Technical Questions
What is streaming video?
Streaming media is multimedia that is delivered in a constant stream to the viewer (instead of having to be downloaded). Flash and Windows Media formats are the most popular and viable formats for streaming media.
What’s the difference between streaming and progressive download formats?
Videos in progressive download format (such as Quicktime), must be fully or partially downloaded before they can be watched. Streaming is largely favored over progressive downloads, because it includes many capabilities that progressive downloads don't (such as its live webcasting capabilities). Who would want to download a large video file to their desktop when they could simply stream it in their web browser? It might help to compare progressive downloading to the VCR, whereas streaming media's delivery is a lot like broadcast television. Also, because of its direct content-to-consumer delivery, streaming online video is much more difficult to pirate than online video in progressive download format.
How much technical experience do I need to use ClickStreamTV?
None. Our user-friendly interface transforms a once-complex process into a single-click solution. The reason why you don't need any special tools or staff to easily put video on your website is our online Media Control Center, an easy-to-use video management and publishing system that is accessible anywhere at any time.
Do viewers have to have a PC to watch ClickStreamTV video?
No. We're totally format-neutral, meaning that all operating systems and web browsers are compatible with our interface.
What's so special about the ClickStreamTV Video Email Tool?
As a totally new way to distribute your video message, Video Email is a great example of how ClickStreamTV doesn't just put video on your company's website – it fully integrates video with the rest of your website.
Video emails contain thumbnails that launch the ClickStreamTV interface (from individual videos to entire playlists) when clicked. Tracking and viewership rates for your video emails are located in the Media Control Center, allowing you to analyze the effectiveness of each email campaign. This standard feature of ClickStreamTV helps drive traffic to your online video library.
What is encoding?
Encoding is the conversion of a file from one format (usually the original format) to another. These include Windows Media files, Flash Media files, iPod video, and more. You don't need any special IT staff or knowledge to create multiple encodes of your files – just a click of a button and a few spare minutes. Upload your content to Digital One's online encoding system via an FTP client (a program that uploads files to the Internet without a browser, thereby cutting back on technical problems associated with browser uploads).
Why do you offer multiple video formats?
We believe that streaming should be a democratic process.Our multi-format technology can deliver videos in Windows Media, Flash Media and more, including the option to add new video file formats in the future. Additionally, ClickStreamTV also offers multiple bit rates (or streaming speeds) for each video.
The Speed and System Wizard checks each viewer's technical specs (such as browser type, operating system, connection speed and plugins) and then determines and delivers the best video type for the viewer. No user interaction is required in this automated compatibility check, creating a seamless, platform-neutral experience so that everyone can watch your videos.
Offering Windows Media (the industry standard) and Flash Media (the newest format) gives customers the option of using either format independently or utilizing both formats by feeding them together through ClickStreamTV's multi-format capability. Since different video formats have different cost factors; with our multi-format technology, your organization can offer cost-efficient delivery with the assurance that your viewers will receive the highest quality video at the best delivery rate for their individual computer system.
Why does ClickStreamTV utilize CDN video delivery?
You might be wondering if it's possible to store your online video library on your own website server. While this is possible in theory, in reality storing video on a standard server (such as a personal or free hosting site) greatly degrades your video's quality, since the video file has to travel through a number of peering points and server hops before being delivered to a viewer and has to have specialized software (otherwise the download slows).
Hosting your videos on a standard server is the worst possible scenario for streaming video. There's really only one way to correctly deliver online media, and that's with a Content Delivery Network. CDN delivery is the only hosting and delivery method that delivers truly high-quality, professional online video (all major online media outlets use CDN delivery).
How do CDNs work?
Content Delivery Networks (or CDNs) are companies that specialize in the delivery of media files. A CDN owns and maintains large numbers of media-specific servers which distribute media files geographically, using Edge technology. This basically means that a CDN's servers automatically detect the fastest physical delivery route to a viewer's geographic location (across the numerous servers, routers and provider networks that make up the Internet) – providing faster, higher-quality media for every viewer.
Delivering video via a CDN also increases your company's scalability. This is an incredibly important aspect of CDN delivery, because it means that sudden surges in traffic to your website and video content will not effect the quality and delivery of your content. CDN networks are designed to handle individuals to thousands of viewers equally well.
Unfortunately, CDNs have expensive minimums and require long-term commitments, so companies with smaller bandwidth requirements generally can't afford to invest in CDN delivery. However, ClickStreamTV aggregates CDN bandwidth, giving smaller users the ability to deliver their media with the same technology larger users do, but without the commitment and cost factor of direct CDN delivery.
