No cost to the viewer that is!
Live and backstage broadcasting is becoming more and more prevalent in today’s ministry conference experience.
At one point the musicians, speakers, and production areas were exclusive to just them and, except for being on stage, the audience never really got to see anything else.
Now, literally thousands are able to get more than a sneak-peek at what’s happening in the back channel – more than that conferences, like The Orange Conference, are using it as an opportunity to even provide valuable insights and teaching to those watching.
Last week the Orange Conference provided exclusive teaching via well-known teachers, pastors, and thought-leaders to an online audience. Thousands tuned in to watch and learn. And this week was North Point broadcast the first session of the Drive Conference and blessed tons of viewers as well!
I, personally, found this extremely encouraging. Conferences can be difficult to attend with large financial costs, travel, and more. Video technology can now export these teachings world-wide at literally no cost to the viewer.
What an honor and opportunity!
Although it’s still very experimental it’s getting better every time. I can’t wait to see some of the creative ways that video will be used at conferences in the months to come.
Ben says
Hey John, thanks for posting this. Not only is this valuable for ministries but it is also valuable for businesses that need to relay messaging to many people either nationwide or across a state like California. Would you be willing to put together a breakdown of what you absolutely need to pull something like this off and the cost on your end? I think it would helpful for others who aren’t as tech savvy to realize that this is very possible to do financially and technologically.
Jared Erickson says
great idea! maybe we will pull together a “high end” and “hacked up” list of how to pull this off..
John Saddington says
definitely!
JayCaruso says
This is cool.
I guess the next step is this: When are these conferences going to be streamed in their entirety? I understand there would be cost factor involved, but wouldn’t they be able to do something similar to what Beth Moore did two weeks ago by having it simulcast (something like 150,000 people watched it!) and charging per person or create a process where people can pay and then log into a secure site to watch?
You watch the opening of Drive 10 and you’re like, “This is great!” and then….that’s it.
It would just be interesting to see if we’re moving in that direction.
Jared Erickson says
good point about streaming the whole thing. but at the same time you create a conference environment for people to come and experience. I feel a lot of it would be lost.. or not taken to it’s full potential if people could just watch the whole thing..
or not?
Ben says
I would see that point because the experience isn’t necessarily what happens when you hear (Insert Big Name Speaker) but in the conversations and people you meet during the breaks, over meals, etc.
However, sometimes you may want to simply hear one person at the conference. With the ultra redundancy that most conferences are creating now, with the same speakers, same formats, etc., it makes you wonder how much of an experience you can really get by going?
Brian Barela says
hey jay i see the value in streaming a conf in its entirety but i also think about what the online channel can deliver that the offline can’t or “can’t as well” if that makes sense.
i love the backstage feel–it complements the experience and makes me feel important even though i’m not “at” the event.
overall this is nothing but encouraging to me as it brings quality content to more people!
John Saddington says
perhaps…. in some cases it might work.