Below is the conference program for Streaming Media West '98. During the conference, there were two, concurrent tracks.

To view video-on-demand, please click on the desired speech.

• Day One - Monday, November 9, 1998
• Day Two - Tuesday, November 10, 1998

Day Two: TRACK A

Case Study - Audible, Inc.

Audible has created the world's first end-to-end system for secure delivery and mobile playback of Internet audio. Audible was founded in 1995 by award-winning journalist, media and technology consultant, and business author Donald Katz, who wrote best-selling studies of Nike and Sears. Audible's web store currently offers over 12,000 hours of spoken audio programming from over 70 content providers and combines the growing popularity of spoken audio programming with the rapid development and commercial viability of the Internet. Donald will discuss Audible's strategy and the pioneering business models driving its remarkable growth. He will also share his views on the future development and commercial applications of streaming media technology.

Case study - ITT Sheraton

Sheraton.Net is a groundbreaking multilingual, in-room communication, information and entertainment platform for ITT Sheraton guests across the USA. In addition to a video-on-demand service through MPEG I & II the service will allow travellers to receive personalized, private and secure e-mail, faxes and voice mails from the comfort of their hotel rooms, through the televisions already located there. Global Network Architects are the designers, developers and integrators of the Sheraton.Net project.

Case study - Bloomberg L.P.

Bloomberg is one of the world's leading financial information services, news and media companies. Jonathan Fram has been General Manager of Radio, Television and New Media at Bloomberg since 1991. In this capacity he oversees Bloomberg's nine television networks and three radio offerings as well as the research, development and deployment efforts of all broadcast and new media products. In addition, he manages the syndication of all Bloomberg media and online extensions. During his presentation, Jonathan will discuss the development of Bloomberg Interactive Television, the Internet delivered on-demand product which he envisioned and brought to market. In particular, he'll expand upon the ways in which streaming media technologies have been used in the creation of Bloomberg Interactive Television and how they integrate into the Bloomberg long-term strategy.

Strategies for developing your broadcast and hosting network

This session will focus on the bandwidth, network, technology and quality-of-service issues that everyone must consider when developing and purchasing various elements of a streaming media network. Step-by-step you'll learn what's important in building your broadcast network. You'll start with the set-up costs, the management costs, the outsourcing costs and then move on to:

• Choosing your ISP, Telco, CableCo, satellite network or IDC (Internet Data Center)
• Hybridized networks, load balancing and content replication techniques
• IP Multicasting vs high bandwidth uni-casting
• Caching technology and what it could mean to your strategy
• Hosting solutions - what's available and what's right for your needs

Next generation streaming º high bandwidth networks, technologies and applications

This session is not a blue-sky gaze into a crystal ball. New technologies are being developed on a weekly basis to build on the power of streaming media. This session is specifically developed to examine these new technologies and understand the unique opportunities that streaming media offers to content providers and businesses. The panel will examine the uses that these technologies will be put to and particularly throw light on the future of cable, satellite and other high bandwidth networks.

Day Two: TRACK B

Streaming Video Strategies for "traditional" Cable & TV broadcasters

This session will focus on the opportunities created by streaming media technology for the cable and TV industries. Here are just some of the questions the panel will discuss:

• What's the impact of IP Video & video on demand upon traditional broadcast markets - what's about to happen?
• Who's already adopted streaming video - and what are they doing with it - how succesful have they been and how have the markets responded?
• Can you get away with simply re-purposing content or do you have to create new content?
• The creation of new content markets and the opportunity for the TV & Cable industries

Distance learning and streaming media on the Internet

What are the emerging opportunities created by audio and video on the Internet for computer-based training and distance learning companies?

• How is streaming media being used to complement distance learning online?
• How effective is current streaming technology in complementing interactive distance learning?
• How is it possible to certify viewers over the web?
• Case studies: Who's doing what - and what's about to hit the market?

Streaming media strategies for the music and entertainment industry

Focusing only on distinct markets, this discussion will look at the successful streaming business models being developed by radio, TV and web broadcasters catering for the music, entertainment and youth culture markets:

• Which business models will succeed- what are the pioneering radio, TV and web broadcasters doing with streaming technology?
• What do visitors want - what's the impact of streaming technology upon youth markets?
• Linking broadcasting with sales and eCommerce on the net - direct response entertainment
• How successfully is audio and video being used to increase advertising and sponsorship sales on the web?
• What are the streaming and download technologies driving change in the music distribution industry?

Desktop audio & video - streaming media strategies for business and financial content providers

The financial services & desktop business video sector is leading the way in business-to-business broadcasting over IP. This session examines this market in depth. This free flowing discussion will revolve around:

• How and why online financial & business broadcasters & information providers are using video on the Internet - what are the strategic business drivers?
• Why banks and brokers are distributing highly valuable interviews and analysis both inside their companies and in the public domain
• The potential market for corporate content like IPO road shows, CEO statements & niche business information broadcasting
• Using streaming media to distribute real-time financial content

Day Two: TRACK C

Content management strategies

If the power of streaming media is to be fully exploited it is essential that audio and video content is effectively managed. This session looks at building information systems for managing streaming media content.

• Systems, databases and tools for managing IP video º what's available, will they work with your present systems and how much will they cost to run?
• Out-of-house versus in-house solutions for media management and storage - which options suit your requirements best?
• How does streaming media differ from other media and file types?

Intranetwork development and management for streaming media applications

In this session, you'll discuss networked video delivery and learn how to maintain quality of service while retaining plenty of bandwidth for other applications. Topics to be discussed include:

• Managing IP video across multiple networks and on multiple platforms
• IP Multicasting for live applications Content replication, caching and load-balancing solutions for improved quality of service
• Firewall and security considerations

Optimizing your viewers' experience with progressive production and design strategies

The Internet viewer is accustomed to low bit rates and expects to interact. This makes delivery priorities very different from conventional TV. Which is why this session will cover:

• Encoding bit rates and streaming technology choices for your target market
• The length of play - what is the optimal program length?
• Screen size issues, screen scalability and interface design
• Building interactivity into streaming video - "hypervideo"
• Improving communication with other multimedia - slidecasting, powerpoint presentations, photographs, synchronized transcripts etc

Video recording and production considerations when rolling-out your IP video strategy

In-house video production is more difficult than building web pages. At present, few companies have the studios or facilities required to record and post-produce video. That's why this session looks at what's actually required to get "up-and-streaming".

• How to evaluate and compare out-of-house recording, encoding and production?
• What do you really need if you're going to manage this in-house - what are the costs of setting up and managing production facilities?
• What are other businesses doing and how successful have their recording and production solutions been?