Webcast

What is a webcast?

The definition of a webcast is very simple: webcasts are real-life events that are recorded and broadcasted online. Webcasting can used to stream table discussions, presentations with one speaker, or live panels. Any professional event that can happen in front of an audience will also work for a video webcast.

As a webcaster, you can distribute your live webcast with a webinar software, which makes it easy for hosts to share slides. And since most webinar platforms have recording features built-in, your webcast can be repurposed and redistributed at a later time.

Examples of webcasts

Examples of a webcast include company town halls, web conferences, panel discussions, niche award ceremonies, or marketing events. For instance, you could make a web broadcast of a product launch. Invite the press and a few key influencers to attend in person and encourage other relevant personalities and customers to watch the stream.

How does a webcast work?

Webcasts work by making a live stream of an in-person event where one or multiple speakers are presenting to an audience. Depending on the webcasting platform that you’re using, you can also record your webcast and make it available on-demand as part of your evergreen video content strategy.

Webcasts require the same level of preparation as creating a webinar in terms of:

• Planning the content
• Contacting speakers
• Defining an agenda
• Promoting the session
• Making it engaging
• Analyzing attendance metrics

But webcasts also require physical event planning as you’ll need to:

• Find a venue
• Rent or buy high-quality and compatible video cameras, microphones, and speakers.
• Pay for a video streaming platform

For example, as your video streaming platform, you could use Livestorm to reach up to 3,000 online attendees (even more if you use our integrations with Twitch and YouTube to stream to a wider audience). Plus, Livestorm comes with an integrated encoder for streaming 1080p videos, so you’ll always ensure a great viewer experience.

Pro tip: If this is your first webcast, hire an audio and visual technician so they can explain how to webcast an event properly. They’ll help you set up cameras and microphones to ensure a smooth audio and video experience. This person can also help set up an encoder in case your live stream platform doesn’t have this functionality.

Webcast vs webinar: what is the difference between a webcast and a webinar?

Webcasts and webinars are easy to confuse, as they are both online video events. However, there are a few key differences. Webcasts usually have a Q&A session with the live and online audience at the end of the presentation. Because webcasts have a live aspect to them, all of the normal preparations for event planning will need to be considered. Finding venues, speakers, and making sure the technology is up to par for the streaming component all factor into webcasts.

Webcast vs podcast: what is the difference between a webcast and a podcast?

Webcasts are sometimes confused with podcasts because they have similar-sounding names. And while they are not the same medium, it is true that they are both valuable tools for marketing and have a "share" factor that makes them reach large audiences.

We've already mentioned that a webcast is a live video stream of an event. Therefore, the critical difference between a webcast and a podcast is that a podcast contains no visual elements. Podcasts are audio files and lack any engagement features present in a webcast like registration pages, chat tabs, screen sharing, automated recordings, and more.

Webcast vs broadcast: What’s the difference between a webcast and a broadcast?

A broadcast is similar to a webcast because they both involve streaming a live event. However, broadcasts usually reach a much larger audience. Examples of a broadcast include live TV or radio shows. The issue with broadcasts is that it’s harder to know who’s watching. For instance, you can’t really tell if the people watching it matches your ideal customer profile (ICP).

Webcasts are usually segmented to a target audience and have both an in-person and online audience. Webcasts can also include automated content within the presentation as the speaker can play a video or audio during the event.

What are the benefits of webcasts ?

Here are a few benefits of webcasts:

• Less costly
• Better reach
• Save on travel costs

The ideal use-case for a webcast is an event that can be hosted in a smaller venue and is live-streamed online. The limited live audience can participate with the speakers, while still benefiting from the high standards of a physical event. Event organizers pay less overall, while the reach of any particular event is expanded. Plus, webcasts help to save on travel costs for attendees.

What is the best webcast software ?

If you are looking for a webcasting software to manage every part of your webcast, look no further. From the registration pages to hosting the actual webcast – and even the follow-up afterward, Livestorm is the world's first video engagement platform that can do it all. You can try it for free here.

Frequently asked questions about webcasts

What is a webcast example?

A webcast example could be a live podcast recording. These special episodes typically get recorded in front of a live audience or get livestreamed online. So, instead of the hosts recording the audio in a studio, they would:

• Book a venue
• Sell tickets
• Host the show
• Record the episode in front of an audience
• Upload it to YouTube where people can watch it live or on-demand

Can you be seen in a webcast?

You can’t be seen in a webcast—or at least not in most cases. While online webcast attendees can ask questions, usually the only people on-screen would be the event speakers and hosts. The only time an audience member would be seen in a webcast is if the host recorded the live audience as part of the event, but participants would need to be notified or sign a waiver for them to be shown on screen.

How much does a webcast cost?

The cost of a webcast varies depending on whether or not you already have access to the technology, location, and speakers in-house. So, prices for hosting a webcast can range from $0 to thousands of dollars.