V4x Demo movie

Telemak signed a partnership with Interactivity builder V4x. We received a nice demo movie you can watch now.

For more information on V4x you can go to their website or visit Telemak's website

The convergence of the market space: a reality

I remember going to NAB in Las Vegas, I think in 1998, and seeing the biggest banner ever: Welcome to NAB, the convergent market space. I was really impressed by the idea that television and web would converge. Going inside, it was not really the convergence of TV and web, but analog and digital worlds that were coming together. Humph, bummer.

10 years later, I'm thinking again of this one liner. And actually we have what 10 years ago was predicted by the NAB organisers: a real convergence of the audio-visual content. and market. As a company we have been working now since 1994 with internet and multimedia and images and sound. We were pioneers in the streaming industry (and I hope we still are). And one thing was certain for us, but many people didn't see or agree: TV, internet and Mobile phones would all become delivery devices for the same content. Shoot and edit once, deliver many. When Telecom operators are proud to present quadruple play, actually they speak of the convergence of the media. Use your media to deliver it everywhere.

The next step is of course to make device adapted content. Who will be watching a feature movie on a small mobile screen? But wtaching news and sports in your travel time is something totally different. Think of (business) news, your hobby TV etc. delivered to your mobile device. Think of business related information or youth programs on your PC. Think of your feature movie rented on the internet playing on your plasme TV at home. We are there. Microsoft's Media Center, and Apple with Apple TV, ipod and iphone are the first to offer the convergence of the media on top of the known PC with browser and media player.

Today I see more and more companies using audio-visual material on their website, adding a podcast here, a media library there. I also see companies starting their own "TV channel" online. What is preventing them from taking the same content to TV?

What is needed to deliver a (good) webcast

One of the things I strongly believe in in our industry is the need for quality delivery. Many start-ups in the streaming industry do think that just by downloading a free copy of Windows Media Encoder or QuickTime Broadcaster they have the knowledge to produce an entire TV show on the web. Unfortunately for them, and their customers, it isn't that easy. 

Many years ago I learned the lessons the hard way. I figured that a good webcast, which should be seen as a TV broadcast using IP delivery, needed good knowledge in 4 areas: IT, audio-visual, networks and telecommunications. Remove one of those and you will see that it gets very complicated to achieve your primary goal: get the image and sound to your audience. And believe me, it isn't that easy. Some people I know well have found out by going face first into the digital wall.

The number of companies that are able to setup and deliver an event webcast to the world wide web are quite low, but increasing. With all the new tools that are available for web 2.0 and television 2.0, on top of the increased expertise of people and companies make it easier than ever to do your thing. But then why are so many web videos of such a low quality or unavailable? The answer is easy: start this article all over again. It needs expertise and a broadcasters mentality to get it done. Not the straight IT talk, but to "go for it" TV walk. You have very strict deadlines, and a large number of points of failure. Keep them under control, and your webcast will succeed. 

And above all, work with people that have really delivered in the past. Ask them to show you their achievements and what part of the production they control, and what part is subcontracted. The more is subcontracted, the more that can go out of control. A one stop shop is in our industry the best bet. Then it is just a question of enjoying the show !

Web 2.0 in under 5 minutes

See how Web 2.0 affects your life already today. Is it really the future or just another marketing scam?