The High Cost + Hidden Complexity of Running a Streaming TV Station
With over 33 years of experience in media production — from working at local TV stations to running his own commercial video company — Dan Mosher has seen it all. A lifelong Akron resident, he reached a point in his career where he wanted to give back by creating a hyper-local TV station that could serve the greater Akron community for years to come. That’s how WAOH Television, his passion project, was born.
From the beginning, Dan envisioned WAOH as a modern streaming channel, accessible on Roku and built with OTT technology that mirrors how people consume media today. But the realities of live streaming and app management quickly set in. Streaming proved costly, and keeping a Roku app up-to-date required more technical upkeep than expected.
WAOH’s first streaming provider offered no customer support, and when viewership started to grow, surprise four-figure overage charges followed. “We were well within our bandwidth limits,” Dan said, “but when I reached out, no one responded.”
Managing the Roku channel brought a different kind of challenge. “We set it up ourselves at first,” Dan shared, “but it needed regular maintenance and updates using custom code. We knew we had to find a better way to manage it all.”
The Right Tools, The Right Price
By chance, a few years into WAOH’s journey, Dan came across Kent State TV and noticed they were using BoxCast to power their streaming and app experience. “I want to do this with my TV station,” he recalled thinking. Shortly after, WAOH made the switch to BoxCast, using it to stream to Facebook, YouTube, Roku, and Apple TV, all from a single platform.
BoxCast also took on the development of WAOH’s updated OTT apps. “It moved fairly efficiently. We got both apps up to date in 30 days, and we were very pleased,” Dan said. Best of all, the app development was included in his BoxCast plan. “I recognize the cost of development, and there’s real value in paying BoxCast a monthly fee to have everything covered.”
Costs remained fair for WAOH’s streaming bandwidth, too. Dan was now simulcasting to more destinations than ever, without the surprise overage fees that had previously strained his budget. “If it weren’t for the fact that we have a single and constant monthly fee, we wouldn’t be able to do what we’re doing,” he said. For a passion project operating on limited resources, predictable pricing made all the difference.
WAOH Television is a local streaming station, dedicated to showcasing Akron, Ohio’s people, places, and events. With a mix of live programming, community partnerships, and student involvement, it brings hometown storytelling to modern platforms like Roku, Apple TV, and social media.
Akron, OH
Small Business
2010
Thinking Big: Continuing to Build and Grow a Sustainable + Inclusive TV Station
“We have University of Akron and Kent State students doing internships and working alongside paid professionals,” Dan shared. “We’re streaming talk shows, cooking shows, Good Morning Akron, and so many other community events.” With consistent content and a growing lineup of programming, WAOH is gaining regular viewership across all of its simulcasting destinations.
“At WAOH, all are welcome at our table,” Dan said. “When controversial subjects come up, we give all parties equal time and set aside our personal beliefs so the Akron community can be well informed on every perspective.” Akron is one of the most diverse cities in the region, with 57 different languages spoken, and WAOH’s mission is to give every corner of the city a voice on its streaming station.
“We’re just at the tip of the iceberg of what BoxCast’s OTT capabilities are,” he added. “We regularly hear from tech folks at traditional TV stations across the country asking, ‘How are you doing this?’ I’m happy to tell them how great BoxCast is and how great their customer service has been.”
WAOH is growing, and Dan’s passion project is turning into a sustainable local media platform. With the right technology at the right cost, his team can stay focused on creating content and serving their community without worrying about unreliable streams or maintaining complex app code.
"We’re running WAOH like a broadcast station because of BoxCast."
Dan Mosher
Founder
WAOH Televison
Powering a Local Vision
WAOH needed a reliable, cost-effective way to stream live content and build a presence on platforms like Roku and Apple TV. With BoxCast, they found the tools and support to turn a start up into a functioning broadcast station.
Built for Growth, Without the Overhead
Instead of dealing with overage fees or custom app maintenance, Dan and his team now focus on creating content and building community. Predictable pricing and a true partner relationship have made BoxCast a long-term solution for WAOH’s unique needs.
