Streaming Events
Your Event Webpage
Your stream needs some form of presence on the web that people can access. Your event webpage should contain a way to view your stream, your stream programme and help pages.
This website can be a new site set up specifically for the event, part of an existing website or even a free blogsite. All you need to be able to do is edit the code of that page (or know someone who can!). Then you'll be able to add all the information you need and even watch the streams directly from that page.
Preferably you should offer people the options of watching the stream both in their web browser (this is the easiest way) and via an external player (this is the most stable way).
The Stream
People need to be able to quickly watch the stream when they come to your event page. There are several ways of doing this which combine varying degrees of ease-of-use and functionality. Just remember that everyone uses different computers and software so you should try to use a method to display your stream that is compatible with as many systems as possible. Also be sure to offer lots of simple instructions and alternative methods.
Embedding a player
The easiest way for viewers to watch your stream is to use an embedded player. The player sits in the website itself allowing viewers to watch the streams without needing to use a media player. Cortado is a free Java applet that can embedded in this way and it supports OGG
To make the player work, you write the Cortado code into the webpage (in HTML for instance). within this code is a line for your stream URL so the player knows which stream to play. If you have more experience with this, you can also offer extra options such as the ability to offer chat, switch streams or view help pages. Here is an example of a custom built embedded player that uses Cortado to stream OGG.
The viewer will see a small video frame when they come to your stream page. Click play and the stream will start. If they don't have it already, viewers will need to install Java in their prefered browser, so it is a good idea to make links available.
Linking to another site
If for whatever reason you don't want to embed a player in your site, you can of course link to another site which has the player embedded in it. Again make sure the viewer has links to download any plugins or software they might need.
Playing in the browser
Some web browsers, such as Firefox 3.1, will play OGG files without the need for any embedded player or external software. Allowing viewers to watch OGG streams 'natively' in the browser is as simple as providing a link to the stream URL. It is good practice to make this link function as a pop-out so that viewers can continue browsing the site.
Using an external player
As standard practice it is good to offer people the option to be able to watch it in an external player. The benefits of this is that sometimes this is more stable than watching it in a browser. A media player such as VLC works across all platforms (Linux, Windows, Macintosh)and is designed specifically to be able to do this.
The viewer will have to download and install VLC, so provide a link to the VLC homepage and the URL of your stream. Then they will simply access the "Open Network" window (in the Media pull down menu), copy and paste the URL of the stream and press play. The player will then connect to the stream automatically.
Stream Programme
It is a good idea to include information that explains what events you are streaming, in what language the events will take place and at what time. Be sure to include the timezone of the event as people may be watching from different timezones.
Preferably include links to information about the events or speakers as people online don't necessarily have easy access to the same information someone visiting an event in person has.
Help Pages
Here you should publisah links to any software, browsers or plugins that are required to view your stream. Bear in mind that everyone uses different browsers and operating systems.
Try and find links to cross-platform software, (such as Mozilla Firefox as a browser, or VLC as an external media player). and then write detailed, clear instructions on download, installation and operation of these particular softwares.You can use the applications homepage or FAQ to help you write this.
Try and offer at least one alternative way to view the stream and a guide to accompany it.