Skype Video Broadcast: How it Was Done

Is "Skyping" a word? It should be like "texting" and "twittering."

Today, for the first time on KOB-TV airwaves, we successfully used Skype videoconferencing during a press conference...and it was live.

If you've been under a rock for the past two days, here's what the press conference was about.

Surprisingly, MSNBC picked up the live video conferencing feed:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Back at the station, we ran the Skype video live on our website.

It was quite easy. Here's what I had on my end at the press conference which was at Governor Richardson's Cabinet Office in Santa Fe:

Laptop

Broadband connection card

Skype software (free)

Logitech Web Camera

Here's what I did:

I logged into Skype while connected to broadband service on my laptop minutes before the press conference. I contacted my station's computer back in the KOB control room via Skype. This station computer also has a Skype account. Skype-to-Skype calls are free between accounts.

Just before the press conference started I placed the web camera among the microphones. Here's a shot of the camera tethered to my laptop (taken with iPhone):



The station computer was then routed to our broadcasting equipment with audio and video. It was also connected to our satellite feed (this is how MSNBC picked up the video)

The shot wasn't perfect. When Bill Richardson sat down, there was too much "head room" (too much space above his head in the shot).

Other than minor digital hiccups during the feed, the audio was impeccable and the video was clear. It wasn't perfect, but it's good enough to tell a story and not too distraction.

This type of technology is already being used on the networks. Some other local stations have used this sort of technology too, to broadcast remote reports about the weather and breaking news.

This technology is only going to improve. It must be embraced now by stations and it must become the norm among reporters and photographers if the television industry wants to survive and compete. Skepticism about this technology must also be put aside by the "old-school" broadcasters. This technology is the new-kid on the block, and it's revolutionizing journalism like the telegraph, the telephone, and television.

Today people no longer wait for their news. They get it when they want it and when it breaks, they want it "now" and not later. Skype is perfect for this digital appetite. The menu of news available with the click of a mouse is never ending. Get ready for seconds, thirds, and fourths....
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jeremyjojola.com