ARCUS Makes Streaming Live Events Simple Enough For Everyone

Streaming live events, whether to a few or a few hundred thousand, is a challenge for many. Much of the difficulty has to do with delivering the stream to the desired audience, as a lot can go wrong. Discover Video’s ARCUS delivery system removes these potential hiccups and gives users the power to reach who they want, when they want. As such, ARCUS can be a primary video delivery option for nearly any event, including town hall meetings, K-12 morning announcements, training sessions and secure corporate meetings. Most organizations can benefit from streaming live events because that’s where the audience is going. According to a Yahoo presentation, live video viewing is increasing 113 percent each year. ARCUS can help businesses, schools and government entities take advantage of this growth.

Six Reasons Why Organizations Need ARCUS for Streaming Live Events

ARCUS is Discover Video’s streaming delivery service and operates similar to a content delivery network. With ARCUS, streamers have access to an intuitive system that anyone can use. Here’s why it’s the right choice for your content:

1. Simplicity – As already mentioned, a primary benefit is how easy it is to use. ARCUS handles the finer points of configuration for users, so no technical or networking knowledge is needed to launch or utilize the system. All the user needs to do is input their credentials and account code, and ARCUS manages the rest. Server addresses, ports, directories and the important details are confirmed automatically.

Further, ARCUS can automatically upload streams that have just been recorded, as well as total remote control over all encoders.

2. Supports quality formats – ARCUS supports the H.264 video compression standard, which is the industry standard in most instances. ARCUS can do this while outputting at standard HD or 4K resolution. Discover Video’s system is also compatible with HTML5, which means there’s no need for Flash or other unreliable plugins.

3. Supports popular video streaming platforms and devices – ARCUS can be used for streaming live events privately, through the user’s own channel, or it can output to one or more social media or video streaming sites. This includes the most popular, like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Twitch. ARCUS can deliver video content to all of these sites simultaneously and for free.

ARCUS can also deliver live streams to any device, including PC and Mac desktops and laptops, as well as iOS and Android devices.

4. Security – Security is a major concern for content creators. This is especially true when the people on camera are students, as parents often have concerns about who will view the video. ARCUS eliminates these concerns by giving schools the option to publish only to their private channel. Schools can provide parents with the needed credentials to access the video, so the only people who can view it are people that are given access.

ARCUS also encrypts content as it is processed and delivered, using HTTPS security protocols.

5. Viewing reports – ARCUS can provide valuable research for streamers, too. The program automatically develops and delivers viewing reports to streamers, so they know who is watching their content. Reports include viewer counts, viewing times, viewer locations and their IP addresses. This information can be used to research viewer behavior and determine when the best times are for uploading.

6. Scalability – Streamers create an account they use with ARCUS, and this account comes with a set amount of bandwidth and data storage. The Starter account, for example, is packaged with 240GB of bandwidth and 20GB of storage, which is enough for streamers to get their feet wet with the system. As bandwidth and storage needs grow, ARCUS can grow along without interrupting service, dropping content or having to move everything to another platform.

But Wait, There’s More

ARCUS is flexible enough as a video delivery platform, but that’s not its only purpose. ARCUS is also compatible with Discover Video’s SignStick, which enables digital signage functionality. Once enabled, ARCUS will output digital signage layouts to any display that has the appropriate hardware. Digital signage is a versatile form of communication that can be used to build a brand, deliver information or facilitate emergency procedures should there be an incident. With the SignStick, ARCUS can be used to put together signage layouts quickly and to deliver them remotely. Event schedules, building directories, bus schedules, announcements, sports scores, weather and social media posts are just a few examples of what digital signage can include, which means schools, businesses and venues can all make use of streaming live events. Digital signage can also represent a learning opportunity for students, as can ARCUS itself. With so many opportunities for creative production, ARCUS can engage students on both sides of the camera.

The Challenges of Live Streaming, Solved

As live streaming has become more accessible, the need for a simple, but still highly functional, video delivery system has grown. ARCUS fulfills this need, with streaming technology that anyone can use, and use to create compelling, impressive content for any audience.