Howard University radio debuts OTT video


Details

Michelle Clancy

| 23 October 2015





WHUR-FM, Howard University's FM radio station, will soon begin streaming video of its daily radio news show, The Daily Drum, which has been running for 40 years.


By diversifying into video streaming, WHUR-FM demonstrates a natural progression for radio stations that want to engage listeners in new ways and attract a wider audience, at minimal additional costs. Having filmed and recorded the show for over a year after a minor investment in lighting and cameras, WHUR-FM has teamed up with Piksel to stream the footage.

"The transition from the audio world to the visual world has been a big step for us, but with Piksel's help we have created a strategy that we're confident will lead us smoothly into the digital age," said Jim Watkins, GM at WHUR-FM. "Piksel is not just providing a technology platform – it has crafted a business model for our station which minimizes risk and takes us closer to our growth goals. The expert support we've received throughout the pre-sales and set-up processes has made what could have been a complex journey into a straightforward and valuable venture, which will breathe new life into the industry."

WHUR-FM will use Piksel's cloud-based video platform, Piksel Digital Enterprise, to take The Daily Drum to a wider audience who can access it through browsers on the Web or mobile devices. WHUR-FM's live stream broadcasts will be supported by Piksel's live streaming and monitoring centre, where staff review 128 screens displaying client source streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

"Appetite for video is soaring, and current technology means that online video is now an option for many businesses that want to explore new revenue streams," said Tony Cole, global SVP of business development for Piksel. "For radio stations, video streaming is a no-brainer; stations already have a powerful combination of content and a loyal fan base to leverage as they branch out into video. At Piksel, our deep understanding of broadcast and broadband video solutions means that we're perfectly positioned to tackle this process and take compelling content to more devices, anywhere in the world."