IVT’s New Enterprise Solution Makes the Broadcast
of Seamless Live, Interactive Webcasts from Multiple Locations a Reality
MediaPlatform Director, a new video switchboard application, allows companies to
conduct live video webcasts that are simultaneously sourced from numerous video
streams without additional infrastructure
Los Angeles, CA - May 19, 2008 - IVT, which
transforms the reach and impact of companies’ communications
with an industrial-strength suite of rich media webcasting
products, today introduced MediaPlatform Director to help
companies expand their use of online video through the simple
and affordable creation and management of live, Flash-based rich
media webcasts that are sourced from multiple locations.
MediaPlatform Director changes the fundamentals of video
webcasting by providing companies, for the first time, with an
easy to use interface that can seamlessly incorporate remote
presenters from anywhere in the world. Additionally the
application allows real-time screen recording from remote
sources as well as the incorporation of pre-recorded video or
audio content all inside a single live webcast event. IVT will
debut MediaPlatform Director at Streaming Media East 2008 May
20-21st at booth #212.
Now with just the click of a button, companies can conduct a
rapid-response live Flash video webcast featuring presenters
from any geographic location in the world. Remote presenters
need only a webcam and a browser. During a live webcast,
MediaPlatform Director also enables users to seamlessly capture
live screens, to present multiple camera angles and to
incorporate pre-recorded rich media content such as commercials,
corporate videos and animated logos into their webcast.
Until now, to get these same remote presenter capabilities, a
company typically had to buy video mixer boxes and set up
multiple point-to-point video conferencing stations, or find
another hardware solution to source multiple video streams.
Then, they had to figure out how to backhaul the video signals
from all presenter locations to their master control room, using
either satellite or dedicated lines. Once the company resolved
each of these challenges, they then would have to figure out how
to integrate and switch between all of those signals during a
live webcast and still manage elements like PowerPoint slide
synchronization, running polls, surveys and Q&A sessions,
tracking viewer activity on a real-time basis, and all other
facets of a true enterprise-class webcast. To date, this has
been a daunting task for even the most sophisticated companies,
but now MediaPlatform Director automates these processes
allowing companies to do what has traditionally been limited to
the very few.
All of these features are delivered in one Software-as-a-Service
(SaaS) solution, which means that beyond purchasing a
subscription to the product, there is nothing to buy, nothing to
install and no IT involvement required. Both the webcast
director and all of the remote presenters simply log-in via a
Web browser and start webcasting immediately.
Because MediaPlatform Director is Flash-enabled, companies can
reach a very broad target audience given the widespread adoption
of Flash as a standard multimedia viewing format among business
users and consumers.
“As the use of video continues to expand from the consumer realm
into the corporate market, users need and expect solutions that
let them deliver professional quality rich media presentations
over the Web without enlisting professional production
assistance,” said Melissa Webster, program vice president,
Content and Digital Media Technologies at IDC.
“Webcasts and podcasts that feature a single presenter often
come across as "canned" and they can lack a dynamic, interactive
element. The ability to incorporate multiple sources or streams
into a live event -- including video streams of multiple
presenters -- and then seamlessly switch between them turns
one-way presentations into 'discussions' that are far more
engaging and impactful."
Without the purchase of expensive video production hardware or
equipment, MediaPlatform Director allows webcast directors to
smoothly switch from presenter to presenter or to play
pre-recorded content from a customized video library. Each
presenter can broadcast using video and audio, and for creative
or complex demonstrations, they can display their computer
screens directly to the audience. Finally, each presenter can
“raise a hand” to signal the director he has something to say or
they can communicate with the director via text chat to ensure
the broadcast runs smoothly.
“Video webcasting is increasingly becoming the most powerful
tool in the corporate communication arsenal,” said Phillip
Whalen, President and CEO, IVT. “MediaPlatform Director opens
the door for our customers to dramatically expand their use of
video webcasting in a host of new ways that just weren’t
possible before. It’s never been easier for companies to replace
in-person presentations and training sessions with digital
events that are equally as powerful, engaging and interactive,
yet are significantly more cost effective, while reducing all
the carbon footprint costs related to long range travel. At IVT
our mission has always been to continue to add capabilities that
will expand and transform how our customers leverage the power
of streaming media webcasting and we are thrilled to add
MediaPlatform Director to our suite of industrial-strength video
webcasting products.”
Industrial Strength Webcasting
MediaPlatform Director is an add-on to IVT MediaPlatform, IVT’s
full feature professional webcasting publishing system which
enables companies to broadly produce, manage, distribute and
monitor live and on-demand webcasts. IVT MediaPlatform features
dynamic video and multimedia content, interactive polls, quizzes
and Q&A functionality and static visual content such as
screenshots or PowerPoint slides.
MediaPlatform Director allows companies to add powerful new
event features to their webcasting program, including:
• Live Video Switching
• Multiple Live Remote Presenters
• Different Camera Angles
• Live Screen Recording from Remote Sources
• Live AV Management
• Adding Pre-recorded Video from a Playlist
In addition, customers will have access to unique management
features, including:
• Flash Auto-Archiving
• Content Conversion to Flash
• Video Preview before Live Push
• Chat
• Hand Raising
The added capability to convert other video formats to Flash
content facilitates the transfer of the company’s valuable video
archives. MediaPlatform Director allows webcasts to be
auto-archived as video-on-demand presentations.
Availability and Pricing
MediaPlatform Director will be available in June 2008 through
IVT MediaPlatform’s SaaS platform or via on-site installation.
As with all IVT products, MediaPlatform Director is delivered in
a SaaS package that allows companies of all sizes to immediately
implement their webcasting program without a significant
investment in hardware, service providers or IT infrastructure.
SaaS customers also benefit from receiving ongoing product
enhancements. MediaPlatform Director pricing starts at $1,475
per month.
About IVT(http://www.ivtweb.com)
IVT transforms the reach and impact of companies'
communications. IVT's industrial-strength suite of reliable rich
media webcasting products is changing how people present,
distribute and absorb ideas and information. From easy,
self-service desktop applications to complete corporate
webcasting solutions, IVT's products are powered by the world's
most advanced, patented rich media publishing engine. Using
video, PowerPoint and interactive elements, IVT's product suite
allows companies of all sizes to create and share both live and
pre-recorded communications. Webcasts and podcasts created with
IVT software are providing content creators with immediate,
detailed insight into audience behavior and message
comprehension, closing the loop on modern communications. IVT is
making meetings, training, communications and customer service
efforts more effective, while increasing information retention
and simultaneously cutting costs.
For general inquiries and additional product information, please
go to http://www.ivtweb.com/
or email IVT.
