HomeMy WebLinkAbout5.F.8. Web-Streaming AlternativeCity of Shakopee
Memorandum
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
John Peterson, Telecommunications Coordinator
Web- streaming Alternative
May 26, 2011
Introduction
The Telecommunication Advisory Commission is recommending to Council the change of web -
streaming providers from Granicus to EarthChannel.
Background
The City currently provides live and on- demand web - streaming of the programs on its
Government Access channel. In 2007, the City selected Granicus as its web- streaming provider
at an annual cost of $9,348 ($779/mo). Outside of personnel costs, this is one of the largest
single budget items for the Telecom Division.
Staff regularly receives solicitations from competing providers. Given the City's budget
pressures and the fact that it has been four years since we selected Granicus, now seemed to
be a good time to review alternatives. We started by contacting Granicus to see if there were
any new or less costly packages available, but there are not.
Then staff started researching five alternatives to Granicus and quickly narrowed the field to
two of interest — EarthChannel and Brightcove. These two options were presented to the
Telecommunications Advisory Commission on May 25, 2011. The Commission is recommending
that the City switch to EarthChannel, which will cost approximately 30% of what we are
currently spending on Granicus.
Like Granicus, EarthChannel targets its product, at least in part, to governmental entities; has a
fixed cost that does not change with the number of views; and integrates well with our
Tightrope playback system. However, there are a few trade -offs in exchange for the cost
savings.
While Granicus is a highly automated, hands -off product, EarthChannel will require more
manual operation by staff. Notably, it does not offer real time indexing or a 24/7 live stream
without purchase of additional packages. The City now has the capability to offer a 24/7 live
stream of Channel 16 in- house, so this would not present much of a problem. The "indexing"
refers to the jump -to- points that allow a viewer to skip ahead in the meeting to a particular
agenda item of interest to them. Currently, our camera operators insert these into the
Granicus system as the meeting is taking place. With EarthChannel these would have to be
added after the meeting concludes and before it is posted for the public. This will cause the
video posting time to be delayed beyond what is provided now. For example, a meeting might
be available by midnight now where with EarthChannel it might not be available until 8:00 a.m.
the next day.
Budget Impact
EarthChannel will cost the City $2,990 per year ($250 /mo), resulting in a savings of $6,358 per
year compared to what we currently spend on Granicus. If approved, the change is likely to
take place in July, resulting in a partial savings for 2011.
Recommendation
The Telecommunication Advisory Commission is recommending the change of web- streaming
providers from Granicus to EarthChannel.
Action Requested
If the Council concurs, it is asked to offer a motion to change web - streaming providers from
Granicus to EarthChannel.
Page 2 of 2