Online Media Services

Faculty and staff can request assistance to produce professional quality streamed or podcast (downloadable) media.  We stream live courses, seminars, and events, commencement ceremonies, and WOSU programming.  We also encode previously recorded materials and host archives and podcasts.

Media Services can assist in streaming or podcasting your course or presentation series by hosting the media and providing you with the URL that you can distribute through your web page or Carmen.

We request a minimum of two weeks notice prior to a live event for proper evaluation and testing of required materials and resources.

Streamed Media

Streaming media is a term used to describe technologies that enable you to include audio, video and other multimedia elements seamlessly into your websites. 

• Your media files are specially formatted and placed on a streaming server.
• Your users access the file by clicking on a URL link on your website.
• The contents of the media file flows across the internet in a gradual and continuous stream.
• Users can pause, rewind and fast-forward media clips using a VCR-like control panel.

Because your media files remain on our servers, streaming is a good choice when you need to protect intellectual property or maintain copyright permissions.  It is also a better choice when you need to consider your users' broadband capacity.

Podcast / Downloadable Media

Podcasting is a download-only method of distributing audio and video media.

• Your media files are formatted and placed on a server.
• Your users follow a special URL that an RSS aggregator (reader), such as iTunes, uses to easily download new files as they become available
• Your users can watch or listen to the files on a computer or a portable device like an iPod.

Since podcasting is a process of download distribution, it allows your audience to retain reproducible copies. All copyright permissions should be obtained for this type of digital distribution prior to making the materials available to your audience.

iTunes Podcasts

iTunes podcasts differ from traditional podcasts in that they are delivered through Apple's iTunes storefront using the iTunes client. These files can be accessed via XML from OSU's server or housed by Apple on their servers.

Files hosted by Apple are not backed up. Infrequently visited files may be deleted from their server. Although iTunes will search the various metadata fields within an ID3 tag, only a portion of them are visible by default. Purchased iTunes files may possess DRM, restricting their viewing and distribution.