Video apps and Streaming Video Media

For the past 6 years cellphone companies have been developing apps (applications) for their devices.  These many applications have created a new market for entertainment consumers.  Consumers now have at their fingertips devices that can connect them with family and friends, enable them to play games, carry their entire music collection and watch video on demand.  These apps have challenged some the traditional means of getting this entertainment. Their effects on video game consoles, televisions, books and entertainment systems have been astonishing.

Samsung and other manufacturers have embarked on a track to develop the same technology but allow you to share it between devices, specifically SMART devices.  These essentially will allow the consumer to move the same information between their devices on a fly.  Users will be able to play video games on their gaming consoles.  Pause the games and continue them on their mobile devices.  The same will also be available for music and other apps.

Samsung is currently distributing their SMART TV line-ups. The company has chosen to stick closely to it’s original television functionality the distribution of video content.   How will this effect live streaming video?  This will enable live stream content producers to reach a larger market if they develop apps for these smart TV’s enabling them to stream directly to TV sets via the Internet.  This is exciting news.  The gap between traditional broadcasters and video stream producers is narrowing year by year.

Broadcasting and Media associations

The world of live streaming is continuing to grow.  New companies are being created annually in an attempt to develop and produce content to meet the demand of the media consumer. It is directly associated with the old standards of radio and television broadcasting.  This process has been termed webcasting or streaming media.  It began with the start of recorded programming (video clips) posted on YouTube.  Now the trend spearheaded by two cadets from WestPoint  (Brad Hunstable and John Ham) who wanted to create a way for family members to see their deployed military friends from Iraq.  This has inspired a new generation of producers. Covering a broad range of live events around the globe. 

For many freelance videographers working on random projects there is a bright star on the horizon.  The opportunity has arisen to provide coverage on a local level of sporting, entertainment, and community events.  A coverage that is easy to produce with only a laptop and a web cam. Pretty soon professional producers from the broadcast industry began to try their hand at producing content. Content that generates revenue and has a viral spread across the Internet. This is creating a need for associations to speak on behalf of the professional media producers.

The association of choice for broadcasters and video producers is the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB).  NAB provides a voice for some media producers.  It is the premier trade association for broadcasters.  Organizations like this one help feed the industry that it serves.  Creating an incubator of innovation.  They help to promote education and assistants with many community services.  NAB is also actively involved advocacy programs that speak with national legislators about the relevance of it’s state broadcasters. Informing policy makers about broadcasters who are beginning to adapt to the growing need for web media.