VIDEO STREAMING REPORT. The following report is to inform Council of available options to consider for live video streaming in Council Chambers.

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1 AGENDA ITEM #: 8.1 Request for Decision NOVEMBER 14, 2017 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING PURPOSE: VIDEO STREAMING REPORT The following report is to inform Council of available options to consider for live video streaming in Council Chambers. BACKGROUND: Live video streaming refers to online streaming media simultaneously recorded and broadcast in real time to the viewer. It is often simply referred to as streaming. Live streaming can be as simple as opening your Facebook app, creating a post and clicking Go Live, or as complicated as airing an episode of Saturday Night Live with a full control room of people ensuring things run smoothly. Live streams can be broadcast to multiple places including Facebook, YouTube, Websites, Twitch.tv, Television, and more this can be done individually or simultaneously through re-stream solutions like restream.io. Excluding streaming to Television, live streaming involves streaming your broadcast up to a specific URL (i.e. YouTube s live stream URL is rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2) with a unique stream name/key (ex. 0y22-ub4z-v7gv-5xxx). In addition to costs outlined in the options below, signage indicating that we are live streaming and video recording so that anyone attending council meetings is aware would cost in the range of $50 - $250. This is required for Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPP) purposes. INFLUENCING FACTORS: There are several factors that influence the quality of a live stream. One factor that s constant regardless of setup is internet upload speed. According to speedtest.net, we have a consistent 50Mbps download speed and 5Mbps upload speed with our Shaw plan. Although 5Mbps upload can suffice for a live stream, it s something that should be closely monitored. If there is much lag during the stream it will be attributable to either the upload speed or the hardware in the computer that the stream is being broadcast from. The cost to increase our internet upload speed to 17Mbps upload (which would also increase our internet download speed to 150Mbps from 50Mbps) is $29 more per month on a month-to-month basis. If we were to sign a PAGE 1 OF 5

2 5-year contract with Shaw it would be $4 less per month than our current month-tomonth internet plan. Other factors influencing the quality of a live stream are video setup, audio setup, and computer configuration. Options: Option 1 Low-End Setup w/o customization Streaming directly from a smart phone to a single channel (i.e. a Facebook page). Cost: Free, unless there isn t a smart phone accessible. Pros: Simple to setup, anyone with access to our Facebook or YouTube account could stream this way. No maintenance or monitoring needed once the stream is setup. Cons: Poor quality stream (all audio and video would come directly from the phone), no customization available, can only stream to one channel per device (i.e. one phone streaming to Facebook, one to YouTube, etc.). More difficult to moderate comments. Recommendation: Not a good idea to stream this way. Option 2 Mid/Low-Tier- Setup w/o customization Streaming audio and video directly from an IP camera Cost: $100-$300 Pros: Simple setup Cons: No customization, low quality - would feel like people are watching on a security camera, limited options on where to stream, risk of accidently leaving on the IP Camera. Limited, if any, opportunity for interaction. Recommendation: I would not recommend this solution, especially if we re taking the Town s brand into consideration. Option 3 Mid-Tier Setup w/ customization Streaming through a computer with Open Broadcast Software (OBS) using a single webcam (either ceiling mounted or wall mounted), and a Jabra Conference microphone Cost: $ $2000 (single webcam, single Jabra microphone for the room & a streaming computer. There is the potential to save $ $1500 on the streaming computer if we have something internally that would suffice, we would determine this during testing) Pros: Simple setup, can stream to multiple places simultaneously (including core social media channels), and there is customization available including the ability to stream PAGE 2 OF 5

3 what s being displayed on a computer (slideshows, pdfs, etc..). The streaming computer and the computer being used for council could be separated with this setup, which would help ensure the stream doesn t have a lot of lag. Cons: A static webcam could feel cold to viewers, but good audio, and a well-built overlay in OBS would help with this. This would require someone controlling the stream (couple of buttons) and potentially moderating any chats (Facebook, YouTube, etc..) Recommendation: We currently have the equipment available to test this setup (except for the Computer, but Clayton has offered to loan his for-testing purposes). I believe this is the best place to start to work out the kinks. Option 4 Mid-Tier/High-End Setup w/ Customization Streaming through a computer with Open Broadcast Software (OBS) using 1 or 2 highend conference webcams, or 1 or 2 cameras connected through HDMI, and either individual gooseneck microphones being operated through an audio mixing board or live switcher, or a high-end microphone array in the ceiling. Cost: $10,000 - $30,000+ (conference webcams are $1,000 - $6,000 each depending on functionality, the audio setup could vary from $2,000 - $10,000+, a live switcher can range in cost from $1,000 to $10,000, and $1,000 - $1,500 for the computer) Pros: Multiple adjustable webcams paired with a high-end audio setup means this could be built to mimic a high production broadcast. Cons: The complicated nature of this setup means a skilled operator that understands all of the technology being used would need to be present during live streams (cost $50+/hr). However, this could potentially be mitigated with a higher spend to achieve a simpler setup (ex. The ceiling array of microphones vs. individual microphones). Recommendation: I would recommend this be the longer-term goal for live streaming. Once the kinks have been ironed out with a simpler setup we could grow into this. There are also solutions built for these sorts of things that would fit into this bracket (including microphone setups with mute/talk buttons). However, these boxed solutions are expensive and should be researched more thoroughly before purchasing the important thing to note is that they do exist. Option 5 High-End Video Broadcast The equipment in this setup would be $30,000+ and would include 2-3 high-quality video cameras with 1-2 camera operators and a stream operator. We would either use wireless lapel microphones or gooseneck microphones. Cost: $30,000+ (cameras $5,000 to $10,000 each, audio setup $2,000 - $10,000+, live switcher $1,000 - $10,000, and a computer $1,000 - $1,500). This could also be contracted out through a local company like Louis Studios. Pros: Multiple high-end cameras built into a full system means this would mimic a studio quality production. PAGE 3 OF 5

4 Cons: Several people would be required to operate this (1 to 3 camera operators and a switchboard operator - this would mean a crammed room). Complicated setup. Recommendation: I would not recommend this solution for this purpose. Options on WHERE TO STREAM: The most common places to stream are: Twitch.tv, Facebook and YouTube. Streaming directly to Television (ex. Shaw TV) has been excluded from this discussion as it would require an external partnership with Shaw and the audience base on this platform is declining and marginal. Streaming to Television would require a more expensive setup but it can be something that s researched further if there is interest. Benefits: Ability for the Town s people to audit council meetings and become more informed and involved with what s happening. There is also the potential to incorporate open discussion with people viewing the stream. Leveraging a platform like Facebook means that the stream would be put directly in front of people that otherwise may not be looking for it. Risks: One of the biggest risks of live streaming is accidently revealing your unique stream key anyone with the stream key will have access to stream to your channel(s) - think of it like a password for a social media account. Stream keys can be regenerated if they are accidently revealed, but it is a risk. Streaming to Facebook, YouTube and other online platforms requires a moderator to monitor the chat, otherwise this opens the door to negative disruptive comments. I believe both platforms have this functionality now, but this would be something that needs to be confirmed in testing. You can t take back what happens in a live stream. A poorly produced stream could reflect badly on the Town and the Town s brand whereas an overproduced stream could raise concerns on how much money is being spent on this. FOIPP concerns, especially for residents that do not wish to be on camera. We will need to put signs up indicating that we are live streaming and video recording to mitigate this but there is still a high probability that some citizens will be vocal about not wanting to be on camera. RECOMMENDATION: 1. THAT Council start with Option 3 Mid Tier Setup w/ Customization. I recommend that we begin streaming to a private channel to test upload speeds, delays, quality, etc. and that these videos be made accessible only for internal review purposes until we re comfortable with the quality of the final product. Once comfortable, I would recommend streaming to YouTube and Facebook so long as it s been confirmed through PAGE 4 OF 5

5 our private testing that we can easily moderate the comments that come through these channels. I would also recommend that the stream to YouTube be embedded in our website. Respectfully Submitted: Clayton Varjassy Community Services Coordinator PAGE 5 OF 5