Q: 04. Can I purchase the Advanced Video Hosting platform individually? (Legacy App)

No, China Streaming VOD is an add-on available for Premium and Enterprise plans. A starter plan, for example, cannot purchase Advanced Video Hosting, but is a feature that is available for a trial duration of 6 months only.

Q: 10. How will my account look if I use the Advanced Video Hosting Platform?

Once you have the Advanced VOD add-on, click Video on demand in the main menu to access the VOD platform. Once there, you can click Live in the main menu to go back.

Question 1

01. How do I log into the Advanced Video Hosting Platform

Elise Furon · Accepted Answer

It is super simple! Once your account is set up with the Advanced Video Hosting Platform, you will automatically be redirect to this platform when clicking on the VOD section of your DaCast account. Once you are in the Advanced Video Hosting Platform, you can easily go back to your regular DaCast account by clicking on the Live section of the Advanced Video Hosting Platform.

Question 2

04. Can I purchase the Advanced Video Hosting platform individually? (Legacy App)

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

No, China Streaming VOD is an add-on available for Premium and Enterprise plans. A starter plan, for example, cannot purchase Advanced Video Hosting, but is a feature that is available for a trial duration of 6 months only.

Question 3

06. How can I purchase the Advanced Video Hosting Platform?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

Contact Dacast support at any time and ask about Advanced VOD. They will grant you access so you can evaluate it and purchase the add-on by clicking Upgrade my plan in the top right of your account.

Question 4

07. What are the benefits of the Advanced Video Hosting Platform?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

Premium plans get an extra 800GB storage and Enterprise plans get an extra 1,500GB storage. Both plans have access to the full set of VOD features:

China VOD Playback
More powerful CMS
AES Security
Bulk Uploading
Video library migration
Video encoding control

Signed keys embeds
Advanced video hosting API
Video scheduling
Branded video page
End screen text
Mail Catcher
Video advertising

Question 5

10. How will my account look if I use the Advanced Video Hosting Platform?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

Once you have the Advanced VOD add-on, click Video on demand in the main menu to access the VOD platform. Once there, you can click Live in the main menu to go back.

Question 6

11. Will I need to remember another set of credentials to use the Advanced Video Hosting Platform?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

No, you wont need another set of credentials to access both platforms. You can login to dacast.com using your existing DaCast/vzaar credentials.

Question 7

12. Can I use the Dacast Video API with the Advanced Video Hosting Platform?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, you cannot use the API with the Advanced VOD platform.

Question 8

14. Can I continue using the VOD section of the Live platform?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

If you already have VOD assets in the Live platform then you will no longer be able to access them once the VOD add-on has been enabled. They will not be deleted and can be easily recovered, they will just be hidden while the Advanced VOD add-on is enabled.

Question 9

15. Will my existing assets be transferred to the Advanced Video Hosting Platform? (Legacy App)

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

No but if you decide to purchase the VOD add-on then we can discuss migrating your library into the VOD platform so you can take advantage of the full set of features for your existing assets.

Question 10

16. Can I still use live stream recording?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

Yes, the live stream recording feature will continue to work and the content will appear in the VOD platform as expected.

Question 11

17. I am a Partner, can my sub-accounts use the Advanced Video Hosting Platform? (Legacy App)

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

No, Advanced VOD is not meant for partner accounts and cannot be granted to sub-accounts.

Question 12

Can I Insert Closed Captions on a Dacast Live Stream?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

What is a Closed Caption?

Closed captions refer to the visual display of the audio in a program, such as a TV broadcast. The standards widely used for online video are: - CEA-608, also known as Line 21 - CEA-708, the latest standard for digital television.

Does Dacast Support Closed Captioning in a Live Stream

Live captioning with 608 and 708 is possible with Dacast's latest default player. Note that broadcasters need to have their own infrastructure to insert closed captions to their live streams.

Can I Add Subtitles to Video Content on Dacast?

Yes, you can add subtitles to on-demand video files (VOD) on Dacast. For more info on this topic, please check out our subtitles walkthrough to learn how to add subtitles to your videos. If you have any questions about accessing or using the closed captions feature, feel free to contact us directly. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 13

Dacast Live Streaming: What Happens When You Turn a Video or Stream Off?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

If you want to make your video inaccessible, you must turn off the VOD or live stream.

How to Turn Off Streaming on VOD

In order to turn off Dacast live streaming or any VOD, you must navigate to the content and click Description. From there, you can toggle the VOD file, live stream, package or playlist to Off like so: Doing so will not only make the video inaccessible but if the content was monetized, it will disable the paywall preventing future people from buying the content.

Turning Live Channels Back On

To make it clear, in the case of live channels, the stream will not automatically turn back on again once you start to stream through the encoder. You will have to go back into Description and manually toggle it On again before this will happen. If you stream often and offer a free stream, we recommend just leaving the channel on to make it easy to begin streaming again during your event or programming.

Additional Resources

Question 14

Dacast Low Latency: What is the Live Streaming Latency on Dacast?

Ruth Young · Accepted Answer

Low Latency Streaming

Dacasts new platform makes low latency streaming standards at every plan level. This means t o get low latency streaming set up, you simply need to select standard ( HTML5) or compatible (direct M3U8 format if this is available with your plan) as your stream type.

What is Dacast's Live Streaming Latency?

Dacast channels will give you access to a channel with about 5 to 15-second latency, which is considered low latency by industry standards. The actual latency you experience might be longer if your internet upload speed is slow or your encoder is using too much of your computers resources. For any questions regarding low latency streaming with Dacast, please visit our support website. You can find detailed tutorials on all Dacast features, email support, and 24/7 chat support. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 15

Dacast Video Storage Overview and Pricing FAQ

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

This column acts as a detailed Q&A for how storage works over the Dacast system. Please feel free to comment on which topics you'd like to see addressed here.

How Much Storage is Included with My Account?

This depends on your plan level. Please log in to your Dacast account and click DASHBOARD and the top center box shows how much included storage you have. If you are considering buying a plan, and not sure which to go with, please consult our pricing page.

How Much is Storage if I Go Over?

The answer to this varies. Starter Plans and Event Plans are charged $0.15 a month for each GB of storage they go over their limit.

How Often is Extra Storage Billed?

If you are over your storage limit, extra storage is billed monthly.

What is the Minimum Charge for Extra Storage?

For monthly plans, there is no minimum and the charge for extra storage occurs on the same day as your plan rebill date.

How do I Purchase Additional Storage?

Please reach out to our 24/7 Support team at: www.dacast.com/support You can also increase your included storage by upgrading to a higher plan.

How is Storage Cost Calculated?

Storage cost is calculated from the peak storage used each month for the plan. So deleting all videos just before the billing date, for example, will not bring the cost to 0.

How Does Multi-bitrate Work with Storage?

All bitrates are added up and factored into the storage amount:

Do Inactive Files Count Toward My Storage Total?

Yes, all files on your account (up until they are deleted), regardless of whether they are turned ON or OFF, count toward your storage total. If you are unclear what your total storage might be, please click DASHBOARD on the left sidebar after logging into your account.

If I Cancel My Plan, What Happens to My Stored Files?

If you cancel a plan, and dont purchase any additional data bandwidth, your files will be removed from your account. Any questions or you want to access this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 16

Do the Dacast Promo Code Limits Refer to Users?

Harmonie Duhamel · Accepted Answer

The promo code limits apply to uses, not users. In other words, a promo code set to a limit of one can only be used once. This rule applies even if the same user attempts to apply a promo code a second time.

Types of Monetization Available with Dacast

Promo codes can be applied to any monetization methods that use the Dacast paywall. There are three methods of monetization offered by Dacast: SVOD, TVOD, and AVOD. SVOD is a subscription-based method that allows viewers to have unlimited access to a video library for as long as their subscription lasts. Subscriptions are typically weekly, monthly, or quarterly. TVOD is most commonly known as pay-per-view. As the name suggests, viewers pay for what they want to watch. AVOD refers to ad-based monetization. You have the option to serve ads on your content. Ads are funded by your advertisers, so rather than paying out of pocket, your viewers pay for the content with a minute or so of their time. Both SVOD and TVOD use the Dacast paywall, so you can set promo codes for any content that is monetized with either of these methods. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 17

Does Dacast generate a currency conversion for pay per view and subscriptions-based prices?

Accepted Answer

Does Dacast Convert Currency?

If you are pricing in multiple currencies, you must individually define the price in each currency.

EXAMPLE: If you want to set a price in EUR and USD, you will have to individually define each price. Thiswebsitecan guide you through conversions.

Question 18

Does Dacast Offer Discounts to Certain Types of Organizations?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Does Dacast Offer Discounts?

No, Dacast does not offer any discounts for certain types of organizations.

Is There a Special Rate for Non-Profits?

There isnt a special rate for non-profits, schools, religious entities, or other organizations. The pricing found on the main page applies to all, although discounts are available through larger plan commitments.

How to Access Custom Pricing

If your organization has special streaming needs, we invite you to contact us to learn more about custom-priced plans.

If you have any questions about this feature, please contact us any time, Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 19

Does Dacast Provide Customer Support for My Viewers ?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Dacast does not provide customer support for the viewers, but only to its customers. If you are interested in live customer support for your viewers, this may be possible at an extra cost via our professional services. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact usfrom within your Dacast account directly if you are interested. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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_____

Additional Resources:

Question 20

Does Dacast support broadcasting via my own encoder?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Yes, Dacast supports almost all encoders which can output in RTMP or HLS. This includes, but is not limited to, hardware devices such as: TriCaster from NewTek TouchStream from Digital Rapids Cube from Teradek This also includes software solutions as well, such as: OBS Studio Wirecast from Telestream Discover Video VidBlaster from CombiTech

Question 21

Does Multi-bitrate Streaming Work on Mobile Devices?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Multi-Bitrate Streaming on iOS It is not possible to select a video bitrate on a video on iOS. This is a limitation coming from iOS, the best video bitrate is automatically selected so your viewers have nothing to worry about. Multi-Bitrate Streaming on Android It is possible to select a video bitrate on a video on Android. If you have any questions about this feature, please contact usany time, Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 22

Does my Dacast Subscription Automatically Renew?

Harmonie · Accepted Answer

Yes. Your subscription will automatically renew at the same monthly or annual price unless you cancel before the end of the billing period. If you bought a Monthly plan and prepaid for 3 months, it will begin monthly renewals at the end of the prepaid 3 months period. If you have any questions about this feature, please contact us any time, Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

Additional Resources

Question 23

HLS Direct Low Latency Streaming: What if I Use My Own HLS Encoder?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Our direct low latency streaming solution works with any HLS streaming protocol compatible encoder. The advantage of using our own HLS compatible live streaming software encoder based on OBS Studio is the cost (free for everyone) and the super-fast set-up with preset encoding settings. However, you are more than welcome to use your own HLS encoder if you do have one. Below is an example of the settings we used with a Haivision HLS compatible encoder to stream on a Dacast low latency channel: Note:For a minimal latency you might want to use : segment duration: 2000 ms segment count: 3 If you have tips and suggestions, please contact us or post it in the community section.

Question 24

How Can I Test the Advanced Video Hosting Platform

Elise Furon · Accepted Answer

To try out the advanced video hosting platform, you need to have a Dacast account. If not, just sign up for our 30 days free trial. Then, you can just contact our 24/7 customer support team who will set up your account to make sure you can try all the features of the advanced video hosting platform such as China VOD delivery, AES encryption,

Question 25

How Do I Add Pay-Per-View Ads To My Videos with Dacast?

Jose Guevara · Accepted Answer

It is super easy! As long as you already have your ad network, and are on a paid account with Dacast, it is as easy as 1-2-3. Simply enable the pay-per-view advertising feature on the engagement page of your VOD section, then once you have done so, just click on the New Ad button and it will help you generate a URL. You just need to copy and paste the URL of your ad in your Dacast account and thats it. This paywall section of your Dacast account gives you access to the main tools you need to monetize video content. Some of the paywall functions include:

Types of Monetization Available with Dacast

There are three methods of monetization offered by Dacast: SVOD, TVOD, and AVOD. SVOD is a subscription-based method that allows viewers to have unlimited access to a video library for as long as their subscription lasts. Subscriptions are typically weekly, monthly, or quarterly. TVOD is most commonly known as pay-per-view. As the name suggests, viewers pay for what they want to watch. AVOD refers to ad-based monetization. You have the option to serve ads on your content. Ads are funded by your advertisers, so rather than paying out of pocket, your viewers pay for the content with a minute or so of their time. Check out this tutorial for more info. If you have more questions relating to video monetization tools and the Dacast paywall, please check out our FAQs dedicated to Dacasts paywall Want to familiarize yourself with Dacasts platform and video monetization capabilities before committing? Try risk-free for 14 days.

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Additional Resources:

Question 26

How do I Prevent Multiple Logins for Pay Per View?

Elise Furon · Accepted Answer

You do not need to worry about that. Our new secure paywall prevent multiple logins at the same time. This means that several viewers cannot share the same login following a single purchase and watch the content simultaneously. If you still have questions about it, please feel free to reach out to us 24/7.

Question 27

How Do I Update my Billing Information?

Harmonie · Accepted Answer

To update your billing information you navigate to the Account/Billing section after yousign into your Dacast account. By clicking on Update Payment Method you will be able to change your payment method. NOTE: Your financial institution may automatically update the expiration date on a credit card as a courtesy. Some financial institutions do this to ensure that accounts using recurring payments remain in good standing when a new card is issued. In some cases, your financial institution may also allow recurring charges to continue on an expired card. If you have any concerns about this process, please contact your financial institution. If you have any questions about this feature, please contact usany time, Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

Additional Resources

Question 28

How many prices per video content can I set up?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Youcan create an infinite number of prices per content.

Question 29

How Much Does the Optional China Video Hosting Feature Cost?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

Dacast's partnership with China allows us to deliver high-quality video hosting solutions in Mainland China. The ICP 19031887 contract with China-based CDN services ensures fast delivery without buffering. Hosting Video on Demand in Chinain just a few clicks is a rarity in the online video industry. With multiple points of presence (PoPs) across the mainland, you gain access to 1.4 billion people behind the Great Firewall. Serving video content in mainland China is available via our VOD hosting solution. It is an add-on to existing plans rather than a plan in itself. With our current live streaming pricing plans, this feature will cost from $100, billed monthly, or $200 annually according to your plan. Any questions or you want to access this feature?Pleasecontact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 30

How to Buy Video Bandwidth and Storage for Streaming on Dacast

Jose Guevara · Accepted Answer

Streaming and hosting videos on Dacast uses both data and storage. In order to generate an estimate of how much data you'll need, we suggest checking out our bandwidth calculator. In this post, we’re going to walk you through the process of buying extra data so that you never run out when you’re in need. Before we get started, feel free to check your remaining video bandwidth to see where your account stands.

How to Buy Bandwidth

On the left sidebar of your Dacast account, click Account > Plan > Additional Data & Storage. You will see the pricing indicated on a chart. The higher the bandwidth, the lower the price. Click on Purchase Data.

You should see a small window pop-up where you can select the amount of data you want to purchase and its total amount. Once you are satisfied with the amount of data, click “Next”.

The next step is to place your payment information, either credit card or Paypal. Please make sure that you accept the Terms and Conditions. Then finally click on Purchase.

How to Buy Storage

On the left sidebar of your Dacast account, click Account > Plan > Additional Data & Storage. You will see the pricing indicated on a chart. The higher the bandwidth, the lower the price. Click on Purchase Storage.

You should see a small window pop-up where you can select the amount of data you want to purchase and its total amount. Once you are satisfied with the amount of data, click “Next”.

The next step is to place your payment information, either credit card or Paypal. Please make sure that you accept the Terms and Conditions. Then finally click on Purchase.

If you have any questions about video bandwidth or need help with this Dacast feature, feel free to contact us directly. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources:

Question 31

How to use the Advanced Video Hosting Platform?

Harmonie Duhamel · Accepted Answer

Dacast is now a unified video platform that includes live and on demand streaming, making advanced video hosting a standard feature. We are in the process of a full migration, and for all customers interested in the new offering, and have put together a thorough tutorial on how to navigate the Dacast VOD solution. We will cover everything from video uploading, transcoding, live stream encoding your videos, to video monetization, and configuring the integrated paywalls and more. To access this tutorial, please click and navigate to this support article: [embed]/support/knowledgebase/walkthrough-video-on-demand-vod/[/embed] Any questions or you want to access this feature?Pleasecontact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 32

I was billed from DACAST INC, what was this?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

If you haven't signed up for a Dacast account and are seeing this on your credit card statement, chances are you bought access to a stream/video recently from one of our live streaming customers or partners. So either you did a Pay-Per-View for an event or signed up for a subscription. Try to line up when you purchased and if you watched anything that day for which required payment.

Additional Resources:

What is the Dacast Pay-Per-View Streaming Platform?
How to Use Dacasts New Paywall
How to Choose a Paywall Monetization Method
How Long Does it Take to Get Paid After Selling Through a Paywall?
What is a Paywall?

Question 33

In What Currency Will Dacast Issue My Paywall Revenue?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

What Currency Will My Paywall Revenue Be In?

For all your video monetization efforts, Dacast will give you back your video paywall revenue in USD. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and are interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 34

In which currencies can my viewers be refunded through Dacast?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Your viewers will be refunded in the currency of their initial purchase.

Question 35

Is it possible to make videos available to only certain US states?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

No, DaCast only offers region blocking based on countries, not by more specific regions.

If you are interested in blocking countries instead, you can refer to this video.

Question 36

Is it possible to watch video content with the same login simultaneously?

Elise Furon · Accepted Answer

It is not possible to watch simultaneously a video content with the same login. So even if a viewer shares his login, no one will be able to access the video content at the same time.

Question 37

Is the Dacast Live Streaming Solution available in Canada?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Yes, Dacast uses a worldwide content delivery network in order to send streams to viewers. This includes both live and on-demand services. This is due to the CDN connection that Dacast utilizes (Limelight Networks), which has a server presence all over the world.

Background:

Limelight Networks' interconnection policy seeks to enhance its global connectivity to other networks. Interconnection with any partner network should be mutually beneficial and meet certain technical criteria. Limelight Networks practices a selective peering policy. Due to their peering program, Limelight Networks, Inc. operates AS 22822 as its global backbone network but also has other ASNs in specific regions and markets. Limelight's Interconnect markets and respective ASNs include Canada. According to CDN Intelligence Reports, the global mobile Content Delivery Network (CDN) market is predicted to reach US$70.3 billion by 2025. This is indicative of the continued growth of online video content, increasing the use of Internet services, and the rise of mobile web access.

Best Practices:

Always go to www.testmy.net and click on the Upload Speed Test tab before starting to live stream to check out the available bandwidth you have for streaming. You should set your streaming bit rate to 75% or less of the reported Upload Speed and everything should be fine. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 38

Is There a Limited Number of Live Channels in My Dacast Account?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Live Channel Limits

There are no live channels limits in your Dacast account. However, by default, you cannot create more than 20 live channels in your Dacast account without contacting us. If you need more than 20 live channels in your account, please contact us and we will make it happen.

How to Setup More Live Channels

How can you contact us? via our 24/7 live chat (directly in your Dacast account) via email (support@dacast.com) via phone (+1 855 896 9300) Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 39

Mailinator and Yopmail Setup: Why Won’t it Work on Dacast?

Harmonie · Accepted Answer

Mailinator and Yopmail Limitations

Unfortunately, Mailinator and Yopmail setup are impossible for live streaming on Dacast because our system does not allow disposable email addresses like these. We recommend using legitimate emails like Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook. You can even use your own company email that uses your own domain. If you have any questions about this feature, please contact us any time. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

Additional Resources

Question 40

Managing Different Currencies in the Dacast Paywall

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

The Dacast paywall manages different currencies to enhance the inclusivity of the platform. Here is how Dacasts monetization tools manage different currencies: STEP 1: Your viewers pay the pay-per-view or subscription price for your video content in whatever currency pricing you set up in your Dacast account. All the transactions are available under Paywall > Transactions. Dacast Paywall Currencies - Transactions

Dacast Paywall Currencies - Transactions

STEP 2: Dacast collects the money and converts automatically and directly the transaction amount from the selected currency into the paywall balance currency chosen for the broadcast. STEP 3: Dacast takes its commission fee (9.9%, plus $0.40 on each viewer purchase.) STEP 4: Dacast pays you back the net revenue in USD, EUR, or GBP (based on your initial paywall set up) when you request your payment. To show you how this works in action, were going to give you a little walkthrough of transactions in the Dacast dashboard. Once youre in the Dacast dashboard, please go to the Paywall section. Click on it and choose Transactions. Here you will see all transactions on your account. Dacast Paywall Currencies - Paywall dashboard

Dacast Paywall Currencies - Paywall dashboard

You will see:

Currency
Price (the amount the viewer paid)
Credit (this part is converted to USD if the viewer purchased in different currency)
Debit (the debited amount or the commission Dacast collects from the purchase)

If you want to request a withdrawal of your earnings, simply click on Withdrawals: Dacast Paywall Currencies - Withdrawals

Here you will see where you can add your preferred withdrawal method if its your first time doing so. At this point, you can also make a new withdrawal request. Dacast Paywall Currencies - Withdrawal Methods

Dacast Paywall Currencies - Withdrawal Methods

For withdrawal methods, you can use the following:

Bank Account (US & International)
Check
PayPal

There is some information that you should gather once you decide which withdrawal method you are going to use. For bank accounts, please gather:

Account number
Routing number
Account holders full name and address
Bank name and address

For check details, please gather:

Payees name and address

For PayPal details, please gather:

The email address associated with your PayPal account

Once you have filled in all of the information, simply click Withdrawal Request. Please note, for first-time payment request withdrawals, the first payment request will take a minimum of 30-35 days to process. Subsequent withdrawal requests will take less time. The processing delay, minimum withdrawal request, and fee for each withdrawal method are as follows:

PayPal funds transfer
- Delay: 10 business days minimum (after the first payment has been made)
- Minimum: 1000 USD
- Fee:
  - US: Free
  - International: 5 USD
Check
- Delay: 10 business days minimum (after the first payment has been made)
- Minimum: 100 USD
- Fee: $10

Money transfer to a US bank account
- Delay: 10 business days minimum (after the first payment has been made)
- Minimum: 100 USD
- Fee: Free

Money transfer to an international bank account
- Delay: 10-15 business days minimum (after the first payment has been made)
- Minimum: 250 USD
- Fee: 10 USD

The reason for the 5-day minimum delay is because it is dependent on our assessment of refund and dispute risk from viewers who purchased the content. If there is any refund and dispute activity, there may be a longer delay. So, therefore, as a word of advice, we always recommend that broadcasters leave at least 10-20% of the balance to minimize any payment delay.

Types of Monetization Available with Dacast

As a reminder, there are three methods of monetization offered by Dacast: Subscription, Pay-per-view, and Ad-based monetization.

Subscription-based: allows viewers to have unlimited access to a video library for as long as their subscription lasts. Subscriptions are typically weekly, monthly, or quarterly.
Pay-per-view: as the name suggests, viewers pay for what they want to watch.
Ad-based monetization: serve ads on your content. Ads are funded by your advertisers, so rather than paying out of pocket, your viewers pay for the content with a minute or so of their time.

If you have any questions about video monetization or need help with this Dacast feature, feel free to contact us directly. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources:

Question 41

My site is hosted on sites.google.com, will all embeds work?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Question 42

Pay-Per-View vs. Subscription: What’s the Difference?

Ruth Young · Accepted Answer

Pay-Per-View vs. Subscription

Pay-per-view and subscription are two monetization models available with the Dacast paywall. When it comes to video monetization, a subscription requires a viewer to pay for unlimited access to your content over a fixed amount of time. Pay-per-view, on the other hand, requires viewers to pay for access to individual pieces of content.

Video Monetization

To put these two video monetization methods into perspective, someone can set up a biannually subscription where viewers can watch uploaded content as much as they like over that year. Someone else can set up a pay-per-view for a two-hour program, where the viewer gets to watch only that program and nothing more. Please note that a subscription enables you to automatically bill on a recurring subscription cycle, while pay-per-view is a single payment billing model. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 43

Should I use my Dynamic IP or the gateway address for a Custom IP?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Please note that we have been using Akamai DEEM (dynamic encoder to entry-point mapping) approach for the selection of the publishing point for several months. This new approach provides improved throughput and automatically optimizes entry points based on current Internet conditions. Therefore, there is no more the possibility to select a publishing point in the new back office because Akamai automatically optimizes it for you to ensure a high-quality ingest.

Question 44

Télévision à la carte ou abonnement : Quelle est la différence ?

Accepted Answer

Télévision à la carte ou abonnement

Le paiement à la séance et l'abonnement sont deux modèles de monétisation disponibles avec le Dacast paywall. Lorsqu'il s'agit de monétiser la vidéo, un système de abonnement exige que le spectateur paie pour un accès illimité à votre contenu pendant une durée déterminée. Le paiement à la séance En revanche, les téléspectateurs doivent payer pour avoir accès à des éléments de contenu individuels.

Monétisation des vidéos

Pour mettre ces deux monétisation vidéo En ce qui concerne les méthodes, il est possible de mettre en place un abonnement semestriel permettant aux téléspectateurs de regarder le contenu téléchargé autant de fois qu'ils le souhaitent au cours de l'année. Quelqu'un d'autre peut organiser un paiement à la séance pour un programme de deux heures, où le téléspectateur ne peut regarder que ce programme et rien d'autre. Veuillez noter qu'un abonnement vous permet d'être facturé automatiquement selon un cycle récurrent, tandis que le paiement à la séance est un modèle de facturation à paiement unique. Vous avez des questions, besoin d'aide ou d'accès à cette fonctionnalité ? Veuillez nous contacter. Vous n'êtes pas encore utilisateur de Dacast et vous souhaitez l'essayer sans risque pendant 14 jours ? Inscrivez-vous dès aujourd'hui pour commencer.

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Ressources complémentaires

Question 45

What are the payment methods accepted in Dacast paywall?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Credit card and Paypal can be used when purchasing a PPV or a subscription. Please note that with Paypal, your viewers will have access to less currency options compared to credit card.

However, if you need a specific currency that you do not see in your paywall, please contact us.

Question 46

What Can I Do if I Experience a Video API Issue in My Dacast Account?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Step 1: Double-Check the API Documentation?

Our documentation is automatically updated each time we improve our API.
You can test each API call directly in the documentation. To do so, please enter your broadcaster ID (BID) and your API key using the following format:broadcaster ID_API key Those information are available in your API section under your PREFERENCES section

Step 2: Check for the Correct SDK Version

Did you know we had published 2 SDKs to help you using our API?

SDK for javascript available here, documentation included: https://github.com/dacast/api-nodejs
SDK for php available here, documentation included:https://github.com/dacast/api-php

Step 3: Contact Us

If you are still having issues after investigating our available tools and documentation, you can contact us or write an email to api@dacast.com including:

"API issues" in the object of the email
your API key
the API call you made including the time when you tried it
any response or error message you received

For faster response, please be advised not to include non API-related issues in this email.

Question 47

What Do I Do When My Video Bandwidth Limit is Exceeded?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Video Bandwidth Limits

There are two things you can do when your video bandwidth is exceeded on Dacast.

Playback Protection

The first option is to set up Playback Protection, which is essentially overage protection. In this scenario, you put a credit card on file that is authorized to refill your bank of bandwidth if you go over your monthly bandwidth or Event Plan bandwidth. You can check out our Playback Protection walkthrough for more details. An alternative option is just letting the bandwidth run out. This will cause your streams to shut off when you burn through the bandwidth on your account, but you will not suffer any additional consequences. Please note that there is a two-hour delay on analytic reporting, so it might take a moment for the system to detect that you are out of bandwidth. Your stream will not shut off until the detection is made. This means in some scenarios you might find yourself in the negative if you continue streaming within a two-hour window.

When Does my Bandwidth expire?

Note that all bandwidth expires after 12 months (1 year). Unused video bandwidthrolls over each month and stays on your account as long as you are on a monthly or annual plan. If you cancel your plan or decide to downgrade to a lower monthly plan level, theremaining bandwidthwill be removed from your account. We encourage you to check out ourvideo bandwidth calculatorfor an estimate of how much bandwidth your need to purchase.

When Does Event Plan Bandwidth expire?

For the event plan or any other Dacast plan, the bandwidth expires 12 months (1 year) after being purchased. Any questions or you want to access this feature?Pleasecontact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Does Streaming on Facebook Consume Bandwidth?
Why Can't I Create Another Channel After Purchasing Bandwidth?
How Much Does it Cost to Use Dacast?
What is Bitrate and How Does it Relate to Dacast?
Dacast Video Storage Overview and Pricing FAQ
Video Transcoding Services: Which Video Bitrate Should I Use for Mobile Devices?

Question 48

What does GB stand for and how does it relate to Dacast?

Harmonie · Accepted Answer

GB is an abbreviation for gigabytes, this is a measure of data generally used to specific storage space on a platform or as a level of traffic for bandwidth, and is equal to roughly one billion bytes, or 1,073,741,824 bytes to be exact. Another measure for a gigabyte is that it is traditionally equal to 1,024 megabytes (MB). Dacast does a simpler metric where a GB is equal to 1000 MB, and similarly, a TB is equal to 1000 GB. In terms of how this relates to Dacast, there are two ways. The first is from bandwidth, which refers to the amount of traffic caused by streaming (higher audience and higher bitrate translate into more bandwidth being consumed). The second is from the amount of storage given to accounts, which is measured in terms of GB. If you have any questions about this feature, please contact us any time, Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

Additional Resources

Question 49

What is a CDN? | How Do CDNs Work?

Harmonie Duhamel · Accepted Answer

In the professional broadcasting world, CDN is short for content delivery network. A CDN is a network of servers that deliver a web page or web content, such as video, to a user. The CDN copies the web content to a network of servers that are dispersed to different locations around a geographic region. When a user accesses content that is part of a CDN, the CDN will redirect the request from the originating sites server to a server in the CDN that is closest to the user and deliver the cached content. The closer the CDN server is to the user geographically, the faster the content will be delivered. Using a CDN is ideal for streaming video, especially to a geographically diverse group of viewers. Dacast uses top-tier CDNs including Limelight and Akamai, which have some of the largest networks of servers in the world. The global nature of these servers ensure scaleable and high quality live streaming.

Benefits of Using a CDN

[caption id="attachment_56737" align="aligncenter" width="1020"] What is a CDN? | How Do CDNs Work?

A content delivery network (CDN)/content distribution network is a network of servers and data centers.[/caption] As a broadcaster, providing your viewers with high-quality video content is absolutely essential. You want to create an enjoyable viewing experience to keep your viewers coming back. Using a global CDN provides several benefits that relate to bringing that high-quality experience to viewers in broader geographic regions. Some improvements that CDNs offer include faster loading times, lower bandwidth costs, higher content availability, and enhanced security. Speedier loading times reduce latency. Since viewers tend to have little patience for lagging and buffering, this is a major plus.

CDN vs. Video Hosting

Dacast Video Hosting - Knowledge Base Tutorials

Since they work so closely together, CDNs are sometimes confused with video hosts. When it comes to professional broadcasting, this is not an either/or situation. A video host (ex: Dacast) is where your video lives. A CDN is simply the tool that brings it to your viewers. Think of your nervous system. Everything is operated by your brain, but chains of nerves send signals all over your body to give it the information it needs to function. A video hosting platform is a brain. It sends videos (or signals) to people to viewers via content delivery networks (the nerves). Both parts work together to bring viewers the content that has been requested. Your online video host and CDN will work together to produce a high-quality broadcast. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 50

What is Advanced Video On Demand (VOD) Hosting?

Lina Lahrache · Accepted Answer

In March 2019, Dacast acquired vzaar, a professional video hosting platform based in London, England. Recently, Dacast released a unified video platform which includes live and on demand streaming, making advanced video hosting a standard feature. We are in the process of a full migration, and for all customers interested in the new offering, and have put together a thorough tutorial on how to navigate the Dacast VOD solution. We will cover everything from video uploading, transcoding, live stream encoding your videos, to video monetization, and configuring the integrated paywalls and more. To access this tutorial, please click and navigate to this support article: [embed]/support/knowledgebase/walkthrough-video-on-demand-vod/[/embed] Any questions or you want to access this feature?Pleasecontact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 51

What is Akamai and how does it relate to Dacast?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Akamai is our CDN (Content Distribution Network) used to deliver all of Dacast's live and on-demand video content. It is one of the most used and reliable CDN provider in the streaming industry.

Question 52

What is an Encoder? What Are the Best Settings to use on Dacast's Platform?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

An encoder is software or hardware that converts video files from one format or code to another. Encoding is an essential part to live streaming. Here is a quick rundown of how encoding fits into the live streaming process:

A camera captions video files in the RAW format.
RAW files are transmitted to the encoder.
The encoder converts the RAW files into streamable .mp4 files.
The .mp4 files are transmitted from the encoder to your streaming platform.
Your streaming platform uses HLS (or another protocol) to transmit the .mp4 files to the viewers devices.

The encoding process happens in a matter of moments when it comes to live streaming to keep your latency low. With Dacast, you can use any encoder that outputs into RTMP or HLS. If you have never used an encoder before or are unfamiliar with what this is, we recommend starting with our customized version of our OBS Studio. This software is free and will allow you to start streaming in a few clicks.

Required Encoder Settings on Dacast

The following encoder settings are required for live streaming with Dacast, regardless of your selected resolution and bitrate:

VIDEO CODEC	H.264 (x264 may work)
FRAME RATE	25 or 30
KEYFRAME INTERVAL	2 secs (or 2x frame rate)
SCANNING	Progressive
ENCODING BITRATE	Constant (CBR)
AUDIO CODEC	AAC
AUDIO BITRATE	128 kbps
AUDIO CHANNELS	2 (Stereo)
AUDIO SAMPLE RATE	48 kHz (48,000 Hz)

Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 53

What is an FTP and how does it relate to Dacast?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

It stands for File Transfer Protocol, and deals with FTP clients like Filezilla as a way to upload content to your account. FTP clients are external programs which allow you to connect to a web service, like Dacast, using login details that include a: server username password This is the suggested method for uploading files around or over 1.5 GB in size. If you need help on using this feature over Dacast, please refer to this video tutorial.

Question 54

What is an HTTP Website Referrer?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

The HTTP website referrer option on Dacast lets you add website referral restrictions to your content. For example, if you own the website www.test.com, you can set up a restriction to block sites that arent www.test.com from trying to grab and reuse your embed code. H2> How a Website Referrer Relates to Dacast Under the Security tab, there is a section called Domain Control. You can click the padlock icon to edit these settings for a live stream, video, or playlist. To manage and apply global settings across your account by going to Settings on the left sidebar and click Security. Scroll to Domain Control to add or edit your referrers. Here is a video that explains how to set up this feature. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 55

What is Bandwidth? What is the Definition of Bandwidth?

Harmonie Duhamel · Accepted Answer

What is Data?

Bandwidth is a rate of transfer, generally a metric of how much data can be sent in a given period of time. Bandwidth, also known as Data, refers to the amount of data transfer caused by streaming.

How Does Data Relate to Streaming?

When streaming, the amount of Data you consume will be determined by the amount of viewers watching the stream or video and the quality of the renditions they are watching. A large audience watching a high quality stream will use more Data than a small audience watching a low quality stream. You can use the Dacast Data calculator to estimate how much Data you will need. However, before committing to a plan we strongly recommend speaking with one of our knowledgeable sales representatives to give you the most accurate estimate. Contact us at 855-896-9300. Any questions or need help with our pricing plans or bandwidth calculator? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

If you are unfamiliar with bandwidth and streaming, please use the calculator of our pricing page.

Question 56

What is bitrate and how does it relate to Dacast?

Jose Guevara · Accepted Answer

This is used to either track the speed of transfer over the internet, and how much bandwidth it will consume, or to track the quality of a form of media. For example, something with a high bit rate means that the quality is consistently high and is generally better. More info here.

Question 57

What is H.264 Advanced Video Coding and is it Supported by Dacast?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Advanced Video Coding (AVC) is known asH.264, or MPEG-4 AVC is a video codec that is commonly associated with the distribution of high definition content. This is the form of compression used for Blu-ray discs as well as many streaming video applications on the internet. The video standard is fully supported over the Dacast platform for both live and on-demand streaming.

H.264 Video Format FAQ

Live streaming technology is constantly changing, so its normal to have questions about each of the moving parts. Weve put together some H.264 FAQ in hopes of answering any questions youve had about the codec.

Are H.264 and x264 the same thing?

H.264 and x264 are very similar but they are not the same thing. Both are viable options for live streaming codecs.

Whats the difference between H.264 and MP4?

H.264 and MP4 are two terms closely related to video streaming, but they are two totally different technologies. H.264 is a video codec and MP4 is the name of a file format.

Is H.264 the best video codec?

As we mentioned, live streaming technology is always evolving. However, the H.264 codec is currently the most ideal option for live stream encoding.

Does the H.264 Codec Support 4k Video Streaming?

Yes, this codec supports 4k video streaming.

What is an Encoder?

Since the H.264 has to do with your live stream encoder, it is an appropriate time to recap what exactly an encoder is. Encoding is a process used to convert the RAW video files captured by a camera into digital files suitable for live streaming over the internet. This process uses either a hardware or software encoder.

Required Live Encoder Settings

With Dacast, the H.264 codec is actually part of the required encoder settings. The following live encoder settings are required for live streaming with Dacast, regardless of your selected resolution and bitrate:

VIDEO CODEC	H.264 (x264 may work)
FRAME RATE	25 or 30
KEYFRAME INTERVAL	2 secs (or 2x frame rate)
SCANNING	Progressive
ENCODING BITRATE	Constant (CBR)
AUDIO CODEC	AAC
AUDIO BITRATE	128 kbps
AUDIO CHANNELS	2 (Stereo)
AUDIO SAMPLE RATE	48 kHz (48,000 Hz)

Any questions or you want to access this feature?Pleasecontact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Introduction to Live Streaming: A Walkthrough
VOD Video Renditions & Bitrates for On Demand Content
Best Resolution for Live Streaming & Suggested H.264 Encoder Settings
Transcoding Walkthrough
Streaming Codecs for Video and Audio: What Broadcasters Need to Know
How to Setup an RTMP Encoder for Live Video Streaming

Question 58

What is Progressive Download and Does Dacast Support It?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Progressive Download is a technique wherein video, or audio content can be watched while downloading to a computer or device. This process differs from streaming in that the file is saved to your computer during the process, although sometimes without the user knowing it and sometimes only temporarily. Dacast uses a strictly streaming approach that does not support progressive download. This is due to the large volume of content behind paywalls for which a progressive download approach would be prohibited and allow people to take paid content and redistribute it to others easily. Any questions or need help/access to this feature? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 59

What is the latency or delay on live streaming with Dacast? (Legacy App)

Maciek · Accepted Answer

Depending on which type of channel you have, there will be a different amount oflatency in the live stream. For HTML5 live channel, due to taking the RTMP feed and making it compatible over mobile devices, there is a delay of30-45 seconds. Latency might be longer if your upload connection is ""slow"" or computer is using too many resources to push through the encoder signal. To get a low latency live channel, please contact us as we are offering alow latency solution for our premium plans and above (average latency of 12-15seconds).

Question 60

What is the Video Viewer Limit on Regular Accounts with Dacast?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

There is no viewer limit for videos on regular Dacast accounts. We have facilitated broadcasts with hundreds of thousands of concurrent viewers. Dacast uses a global Content Delivery Network (CDN) that allows users to stream to vast audiences without the concern of hitting a limit that would overwork a smaller server network. This top tier CDN is available on all plans. If you plan on streaming to large numbers of viewers, please make sure you purchase the appropriate amount of bandwidth. Any questions or you want to access this feature?Pleasecontact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 61

What is Video Frame Rate (FPS) and Why Is It Important To Live Streaming?

Ruth Young · Accepted Answer

The terms frame rate and FPS are often used interchangeably. FPS stands for frames per second and refers to the number of video frames that display each second in video. Essentially, FPS is the unit of measurement for frame rate. You can control how many frames per second a video has when broadcasting over Dacast in your encoder settings. The human eye is well equipped to see over 100 FPS, although the defacto standard is often around 60 FPS. As a rule of thumb, you can get away with lower FPS (which would also lower the amount of bandwidth you are using) if you are streaming low motion content. If there is really fast motion in your video, you should use a higher FPS to make the motion appear more fluid. For more information on frame rate settings you should use with Dacast, please take a look at our live streaming encoder configuration guide. Any questions or you want to access this feature?Pleasecontact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 62

What is Video Monetization and Is It Supported on Dacast's Platform?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

Yes! The Dacast Online Video Platform supports video monetization for both live and on demand content. What is video monetization? Simply put video monetization is getting paid for the videos you publish online. Not so much for the creation, but rather when audiences view or download your content. The more people that watch the greater your earnings. But how does it all work? Broadcasters can generate revenue from their videos in a number of different ways. The most common include inserting ads, incorporating sponsors, offering subscriptions, or creating product or service reviews.

Types of Monetization Available with Dacast

Dacast supports the following monetization methods: Subscriptions, Pay-Per-View, and Ads-Insertion. SVOD is a subscription-based method that allows viewers to have unlimited access to a video library for as long as their subscription lasts. Subscriptions are typically weekly, monthly, or quarterly. TVOD is most commonly known as pay-per-view. As the name suggests, viewers pay for what they want to watch. AVOD refers to ad-based monetization. You have the option to serve ads on your content. Ads are funded by your advertisers, so rather than paying out of pocket, your viewers pay for the content with a minute or so of their time.

How Do You Monetize Videos?

One of the easiest ways to get started with video monetization is by inserting ads or using suggested content links in your published media. Anyone who has ever watched a YouTube video will recognize this concept. As viewers engage with these sponsored links you earn income for each click or a percentage of completed affiliate sales. Broadcasters can also look for sponsors and include targeted product placement throughout their content. With sponsors, you need to have a decent following to charge premium rates. However, if you cater to a specific audience or niche, brands will still pay good money for advertising (even with a smaller following). The key is ensuring any sponsors align with your site values and audience interest.

What is a Paywall?

A video paywall in your Dacast account gives you access to the main tools you need to monetize video content. Some of the paywall functions include:

What are the Biggest Advantages of Dacast paywall?

There are several advantages of using a secure paywall like the one offered with Dacast. Some of the biggest Dacast paywall advantages include:

Group pricing: Sell one ticket and give access to multiple content options (VODs, Live Streams, Playlists).
Powerful subscription system: Offer your customers a recurring pricing option with several frequencies available.
Multiple currencies: More than 135 currencies are available. If you do not see your currency on the list, please contact us.
Multi-language interfaces: Choose among 10 different languages when using the paywall.
Video Preview: Promote an event by showing a video teaser on the paywall before your viewers purchase the content.
Live event support for your viewers: One of our professional services (contact us if you are interested).
Authenticate only (Registration): Allows content owners to gate the content only with a data wall (no payment).

Dacasts paywall is secure, fully white-label, and offers unlimited prices and promo codes for all your video content.

Who Can Access Dacast Paywall?

Dacasts paywall is available to users with the following plans:

Free trials
Scale plans and above
Starter plans with the Paywall option ($75 per month/year)
Event plans superior and equal to $750

Any questions or need help with the video monetization and paywall features? Please contact us. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 63

What is VOD? What Does VOD Stand For? Video On Demand Explained

Emily Krings · Accepted Answer

In this post, we are going to discuss what VOD is, what VOD stands for, and explain the meaning of VOD. We will also explain the differences between VOD streaming and VOD streaming.

What is VOD?

VOD stands forvideo on demand and is a way of accessing content online from video libraries without traditional playback. Where traditional broadcast channels and media outlets forced consumers to view content on their schedule, VOD services allow audiences to access videos at their leisure and from any compatible device.

What does VOD stand for?

VOD stands for video on demand. In the video streaming space, VOD refers to content that is uploaded to a library for viewers to access at their leisure.

What is the meaning of VOD?

The meaning of VOD streaming is different from live video streaming because it is previously recorded as opposed to broadcast in real-time. Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and Prime Video are some examples of streaming services that use the VOD model. A lot of VOD platforms use OTT streaming, which means they stream over the internet. Since Dacast is a unified streaming platform, it supports both live streaming and advanced VOD hosting. Your viewers will not access your videos directly on Dacast, but rather in a VOD library that you build on your own site or app using a Dacast embed code. Professional-grade VOD content is most popularly monetized with subscriptions or pay-per-view. However, it is possible to monetize with advertisements or advertisements paired with subscriptions.

VOD Features on Dacast

In 2019, Dacast acquired vzaar, an advanced VOD hosting platform. More recently, the two platforms have merged, giving users a totally seamless, unified streaming experience. Because of this merger, Dacast has inherited quite a few powerful VOD features. These features include:

With the help of these and other VOD-specific features, you can expect a pleasant user experience for both you and your viewers when you use Dacast for your professional video hosting needs. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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Additional Resources

Question 64

What is VP9 and Does Dacast Support It?

Dacast Team · Accepted Answer

VP9 is a proprietary codec that was developed by On2Technologies in May 2003. It is also called the TrueMotion video codec. VP9 is a lossy video compression format and is often used by JavaFX, Adobe Flash and Flash Video Files. Dacast does NOT recommend using VP9. If you plan to do All Device (HTML5) live streaming it is recommended to use the H.264 video codec instead. If the H.264 codec isnt an option for you, Dacast also supports the x264 codec. It is possible to live stream with VP9, but it has known playback issues in certain digital environments. Use it at your own risk.

What is an Encoder?

The VP9 codec has to do with your live stream encoder. Encoding is a process used to convert the RAW video files captured by a camera into digital files suitable for live streaming over the internet. This process uses either a hardware or software encoder.

Required Live Encoder Settings

The following live encoder settings are required for live streaming with Dacast, regardless of your selected resolution and bitrate:

VIDEO CODEC	H.264 (x264 may work)
FRAME RATE	25 or 30
KEYFRAME INTERVAL	2 secs (or 2x frame rate)
SCANNING	Progressive
ENCODING BITRATE	Constant (CBR)
AUDIO CODEC	AAC
AUDIO BITRATE	128 kbps
AUDIO CHANNELS	2 (Stereo)
AUDIO SAMPLE RATE	48 kHz (48,000 Hz)

If you have any questions about video encoding or need help with this Dacast feature, feel free to contact us directly. Not yet a Dacast user, and interested in trying Dacast risk-free for 14 days? Sign up today to get started.

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