Web hosting show
 

I am starting a new venture (another freeby) where I am videoing and producing a show for an Internet site.

Was wondering what would be a good length of time for the show to run? Remember I will have to cover both broadband and lower dial-up. Here is what I was thinking of trying.

3 to 4 minute segments total run time about 12 mins.

As a side note anyone know where I can find a host who would work for free? Maybe lunch or dinner depending on filming time.

Best,
Big James

What software are you using to stream the video?

Oh I can't believe I left that note out we are using Windows Media Services to stream and we might use Quicktime for download.

Best,
Big James

What is the story behind Windows Media Services? I am unfamiliar with that product/service. Have you used it prior to this project, if so what was the end user response?

Thanks...

Well it's also known as Microsoft Media Service. It's a free streaming server that is included with a Windows 2000 server. We have found it to be pretty close to REAL quality on the streaming side and if your play rate is about 300 Kbps you can get really good quality video.

The encoder is free the server is free the player is free. Works for me.

Best,
Big James

Streaming Server
 

Howdy Backlash. Could you tell me how to get the free windows media server and where? Thanks.

Microsoft Media Services is part of the Windows 2000 Server. You can install it by either doing it on install of the server (selecting custom install) or you can do it after by going to add/remove programs then add/remove windows components. It should be called Microsoft Media Services.

By default it's configured to do Multicast streams (I think.) You can do live events or VOD. You can also add Microsoft Media Rights Manager if you need to keep your content secure.

Microsoft Media Services gives you plenty of options and you can even do some very fun stuff with ASX a scripting language for setting up streams.

Thanks
 

I think I misunderstood you the first time. So, this is software that you install on YOUR PC and you stream from IT, correct?

Re: Thanks
 

<<<-- Originally posted by James Emory : I think I misunderstood you the first time. So, this is software that you install on YOUR PC and you stream from IT, correct? -->>>

You might try this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.asp

Streaming Server
 

Thanks Studio. I am already streaming quite a bit now and paying for a dedicated streaming server, so when I heard him say FREE streaming server, I said to myself, where is it and how can I get one. Now I understand that it's his personal PC with the included software. I only have this advice to add. I hope he has a BIG pipeline with plenty of bandwidth to serve it out, because if not, he can expect some major downtime if not crashes.

First of all read what I said Windows 2000 SERVER. It's on two dedicated servers at XO Communications load balanced. I have about 200 Mbps of bandwidth to play with so I don't think bandwidth will be a problem.

The facility the server is at (Irvine California) has two OC 48 SONET Rings going into it lit up to OC 12 each and only one hop from their OC 192 backbone.

To give you an IDEA of how much pipe is in that facility a OC 12 is 655 Mbps they have two so that is 1.2 Gbps. They can crank both to OC 48 which is 2.4 Gbps for a total of 4.8 Gbps.

The servers are Compaq DL360 1 Ghz PIII, with 1 GB RAM, and 2 x 36 GB (RAID 1) in each server.

When I say Free Server I ment the software. If I wanted to Stream REAL Player I have to pay for the server software.

Best,
Big James

James,

My wife works with streaming video at her work and they are using the Windows FREE stuff. I will ask her about it when she gets home.

From what I recall it is included with the Windows 2000 Server as was mentioned before. Some how I recall a work around that she mentioned. I hope this is true as we are about to start streaming stuff very soon.

Paul

Paul which James were you speaking to? I have no problem streaming the video my questions were more on the product side like if anyone had any ideas for keep the audiance attention on the attentionless Internet.

Best,
Big James

<<<-- Originally posted by backlash : Paul which James were you speaking to? I have no problem streaming the video my questions were more on the product side like if anyone had any ideas for keep the audiance attention on the attentionless Internet.

Best,
Big James -->>>

Big James,

I was talking to James Emory, guess I should have been a bit more clear! Man keeping the attention of the attentionless internet, whew that is a HUGE task. Best solution I have seen is www. nakednews.com ... J/K of course .... Good luck with finding a way to hit your audience. What is the service/information that you will be delivering?

James Emory,

Just talked to the wife and it is the encoder that is free. Kind of what I thought.

The site gets about 50K to 80K uniqe visitors a month. We are trying to give them something new to look at and watch. The show would highlight some monthly story or event. You can check out the site at http://www.wildhobbies.com.

Best,
Big James

Pipeline
 

Whew!! You ain't kiddin! I totally misunderstood. You definitely have the pipe!

<<<-- Originally posted by backlash : The site gets about 50K to 80K uniqe visitors a month. We are trying to give them something new to look at and watch. The show would highlight some monthly story or event. You can check out the site at http://www.wildhobbies.com.

Best,
Big James -->>>

I would imagine that your visitors are interested in performance tuning. You could create monthly topics that cover different aspects of making the cars go faster.

As you mentioned, there could be an events related topic covered each month.

And of course the ever popular what's hot (product wise). You might even be able to sell small comercials to help off set the cost of the video production and distribution.

Another thought is to create a poll on the front page and ask people what they want.

Just some thoughts that come to mind after looking at your site.

Well I actually thought about the commercial spots thats why I broke it into 4 segments. As for the car tuning that's an idea I also thought about covering hot spots to drive.

If I were to sell commercials how long should they be. Plus to avoid buffering should I try to get them down to just a little graphic and some audio.

Have you tried converting a powerpoint to Windows Media before files done like that come out real small.

Best,
Big James

<<<-- Originally posted by backlash :
If I were to sell commercials how long should they be. Plus to avoid buffering should I try to get them down to just a little graphic and some audio.

-->>>

My suggestion is to just use a graphic insert with a voice over. Maybe add a music track to back the voice over. The length of the commercial could run from 15 seconds up to a 60 second spot. You could set your pricing based on time viewed i.e. a 15 second spot would run $500.00 (etc.). I would expect that your advertisers would like to know number of views per segment produced.

15 Second spots? Have you ever checked out the Windows Media Page and looked at movie trailers some of the companies that host the movie trailers do advertisments at the begining these spots run only 5 seconds.

Even at 5 seconds I find myself trying to skip them. I think I might be able to pull off 15 second spots. Graphic with voiceover I wonder how compressed I could get that and the quality.

Best,
Big James

Attention span
 

Big James,
There is some data to be found on the attention span of teenagers and adults (don't remember where, but try google) on the internet.

I think the highest group wasn't much over 15 seconds (TV) when I checked this out a few years back.

My 17 almost 18 year old son and all of his friends are really into the import street/track racing "fad", and they will surf this stuff for hours on end.

Without any data to back me up (other than watching my son and his friends) I would guess that <1 min would be a good medium. Of course I'm spoiled with 1.5 meg cable as a side note.

Hope this helps.

Dan

Thanks everyone for your help. We are running a few tests now with some friends will let you know how it goes.

Best,
Big James