PRESENTATION A11

VIDEO STREAMING: THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY IN AN ACADEMIC SETTING

Diana Blackwood
Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA

Aims:

To discuss the challenges of providing streamed video content in an academic setting.

Methods:

In 2007, Curtin University investigated the licensing issues in relation to the streaming of video content by canvassing the policies of video and DVD suppliers. This investigation took place due to an increasing number of requests from academics to stream video and DVD content and make this content available in an online learning environment. In 2008, we have made further investigations. These include: the potential to stream content using the University's Part VA licence; sourcing organizations that are authorized to tape TV programs off-air and make them available to educational institutions and RMIT's new product TV News.

Results:

In relation to our supplier survey, the main consensus was that streaming of their titles constituted narrow casting. They would require a licence fee to be paid for each title to be streamed and safeguards to be made to prevent the illegal copying of their titles. Who will pay for this licence fee - the Library or the School which hosts the streamed content? What will the fee be based on and how much will suppliers charge? Are other options such as outsourcing to authorized organizations going to be easier or cheaper? RMIT's TV News looks like a very attractive option for Australian news and current affairs but comes at a cost.

Conclusion:

Our investigations have provided a much more complete picture of the issues surrounding streaming of video content as we move into an environment of expected high demand.