Alex Hilleary • December 06, 2017
In the past few years, the ease of producing high definition video has increased dramatically. Standard definition video is no longer the 'standard.' Due to the massive increase in HD video, viewers quality expectations have changed as well.
Nobody has ever liked watching bad quality video. But, thanks to major television networks and online platforms like Netflix, we’ve all come to deem anything less than crisp video unacceptable.
If your stream is in standard definition, you are losing viewers and presenting your municipality in a poor light. People will watch a high definition stream much longer than a standard definition stream because it is simply nicer to watch and more engaging. You feel like you are actually there. You can see the people who are speaking.
Additionally, if you have a standard definition stream these days, you’re not giving off the best perception of your city to your residents. It’s important that your city looks like it was built for the twenty-first century. If I’m a potential resident looking on your city’s website and see a standard definition stream, I would likely internalize the idea that your city is behind the times. Learn more about what civic engagement looks like in the digital age.
A high definition stream is easier and more affordable than ever. There’s no longer an excuse not to be delivering a great picture to your residents.
Want more info on creating a stream with a great picture quality? Check out our free webinar on the topic.
Bonus question: What if your residents can’t view in high definition?
The process of adaptive bitrate streaming maximizes each stream for each viewer. What does that mean? If you are streaming in high definition, but your viewer is watching on their phone over their cellular network, they will still be able to watch without buffering.