DaCast is a white label service for broadcaster controlled media content that can be quickly added to a website, blog or social network. All player features are integrated into the code.
The DaCast embed code contains all the features of the player. If the functionality of the player is changed, such as disabling live chat while streaming, the DaCast player will automatically be updated without the need for a new embed code.
Broadcasters monetizing video don’t have to go through any additional steps when adding media from DaCast. The Pay-in-Play system, used for pay per view and subscription transactions, is completely self-contained in the player and doesn’t require additional code or setup on a website.
For its main embed method, DaCast relies on a swfobject2 code to embed its Flash video streaming player on websites. The advantages of using a swfobject2 code are numerous, although the largest one is that its more optimized and flexible than any other embed method for using Flash. It also presents a code that can be used in HTML, JavaScript or Flash, freeing up designers to utilize the DaCast player creatively and to make it mesh with pre-existing content as easily as possible.
Although swfobject2 is a flexible solution that will handle the vast majority of uses of the code, there are some services and instances where a traditional embed code is needed. Some blogs, MySpace and others are instances where an “object” starting code is needed, and this is provided through the Publish section of the user interface.
DaCast makes it easy to embed media content over social networks. The traditional embed code mentioned above can be used to integrate content on a MySpace profile. For Facebook, an even easier method is used, where a URL-like line of code is given to add the player to the service. To do this, simply make a wall post on Facebook using the given code found under Publish. Once posted, the code will transform into a small image and a play button. When the play button is clicked, the image expands and the audiovisual content is played directly from the Facebook page.
There are a few exceptions to the Facebook feature and its ability to play over the social network. The biggest instance is if the content is monetized. Media with ads, pay per views or subscriptions will not play on a Facebook page, and when clicked will open up a new window for the content to be accessed. Although this doesn’t have the same functionality of non-monetized content over the service, it does still provide an outlet for broadcasters to promote premium content.
