DaCast

DaCast
Web address	www.dacast.com
Slogan	"Streaming as a Service"
Available in	English, French
Owner	DaCast LLC
Launched	2008
Alexa rank	76,657 (April 2014)^[1]
Current status	Active

DaCast is a web based video streaming platform that enables individuals or firms to broadcast audiovisual content and allows viewers to watch free or paid programming. Unlike platforms such as YouTube or Livestream, the service requires broadcaster to purchase bandwidth (through pay as you go or a monthly plan) to stream. It differentiates itself through a white label, cloud based system with a focus on monetizing videos through an included merchant account.

DaCast is headquartered in San Francisco, California with a European office in Paris, France.

The service officially launched on October 26, 2010 in the US^[2] and June, 2011 in Europe^[3] -although broadcasters are located worldwide.

History

The online video streaming company was founded in 2008 by Stephane Roulland.^[4] It was originally going to be a peer-to-peer (P2P) based service, with DaCast being the product name under Andolis LLC.^[5] This approach was abandoned due to extensively dropping bandwidth prices,^[6] which removed the reduced cost benefit of a P2P model. In preparation for a 2010 launch, the company changed its name to DaCast LLC and pursued streaming from server networks.

Services

DaCast is self-service with an automated sign up. The platform allows users to create live channels or videos on demand. It is positioned as a "SaaS" (software as a service) solution for streaming and, as of October 2011, adopted the slogan "Streaming as a Service".^[7] It is cloud based and allows DIY video management.

The platform features ways to monetize streams that are user provisioning based. Monetization methods over the system include: allowing ads to be inserted in the media player, pay per view system, and by making viewers subscribe to specific content.^[8] Transactions are managed by a system called Pay-in-Play that works inside the media player. The system is SSL encrypted, and can be delivered to a website through using embed codes.

Technology

DaCast’s broadcasting and viewing is based on Adobe Flash and RTMP. Several encoders such as Wirecast, NewTek's Tricaster, or Digital Rapids products like TouchStream are supported.^[9] Users can broadcast instantly from the site Dacast.com using Flash to auto-detect and stream from a video camera or webcam. DaCast supports multiple video and audio formats such as MOV, MP4, MP3, M4A, AAC and can transcode additional formats over the service. It also supports H.264 and VP6 which enables viewers to have HD streaming quality offering up to 3Mbit/s.^[10]

Viewing

Content hosted on DaCast can be presented over broadcaster websites, DaCast's viewer service or Facebook.^[11] This is done through using embed codes on a website or a URL-like share code to a Facebook wall. Do it yourself (DIY) streaming allows broadcasters to create their own live channels from the platform. DIY combines white label service along with pay per view option to mobile devices without having provision from the provider.

DaCast supports mobile streaming with both leading operating systems such as Android and iOs for live, on demand and PPV content. Broadcasters can use the same embed code for Flash and HTML5 player for mobile and desktop streaming.

Partnerships

DaCast is a NetAlliance partner with Akamai^[12] which is known as one of the best CDNs Content Delivery Network (CDN)^[13] available. They power Facebook and many other services. Through this partnership they offer incredibly reliable streaming to DaCast and its broadcasters. In May 2011, DaCast announced a partnership with EdgeCast Networks, a Content Delivery Network (CDN) which gave them increased support for global live streaming.

HTML5

DaCast launched its HTML5 mobile services November 2013,^[14] after having HTML5 beta in July 30, 2013.^[15] That beta feature allows broadcasters do HTML5 Video Paywall for PPV and Subscriptions. DaCast by integrating Akamai's CDN offers a dynamic, cross-platform approach into the SaaS platform with an HTML5 player. Broadcasters don't have to compromise on video monetization and player customization.

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, December 19, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.