Frequently Asked Questions

Our clients find amazing ways to use Finalweb. Check out some examples below.

What exactly is live streaming?

Live streaming is a one-way audio and video broadcast, presented on the web in "real-time" (as opposed to recorded video such as is seen on YouTube/etc).

Live web streaming is an excellent solution for broadcasting sermons and teaching sessions that your church might want to distribute beyond the walls of the building. Since the media are streamed over the web, any person can have access when connected to the internet, from anywhere in the world. Even relatives, friends and missionaries in different time zones or continents can watch.

Can my live streams be viewed again, after the event is over?

Yes, if this option is selected the streamed video will automatically be saved and organized into the chosen download library. No extra steps are required for this to work correctly. Please be aware that viewers who watch the recorded content also count toward your monthly viewing allottment, as is the industry standard for live streaming service.

What is a viewer hour?

We have conveniently rated viewing plans based upon viewer hours, which is a typical method of measuring the amount of data being transferred each month. One viewer hour is logged for each open stream per hour. A person who watches an hour long live streamed sermon on his or her computer browser counts as one viewer hour. If two persons watch for 30 minutes, that is also one viewer hour. Administrators will have up-to-the-minute displays of accrued viewer hours.

On what devices, browsers, and operating systems can live streams be played?

Devices:

PC Desktops, Notebooks and Netbooks
Apple iMac, MacBook Air & MacBook Pro, iBook and Mac Mini
iOS Mobile Devices - iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad *
Android Smartphones and Tablets *

Operating Systems:

Windows 7
Windows Vista
Windows XP
OSX Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion and Mountain Lion

Browsers:

Firefox 3.0 and higher
Chrome
Safari 5.0 and higher
Internet Explorer 7 and higher

*Some older devices in these families may not be supported.

What equipment will I need to create a live video stream?

The only thing needed is a video camera or webcam. No extra software is required, but you are able to use it if you prefer. We have created an intuitive web publisher which will detect your camera (either built-in or external) and let you publish at any time.

We have also created mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices with camera capability. Just search for "Finalweb Live" in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. (Note that you will need the "Finalweb Live" encoder, not the player, for publishing a stream). For help on using the mobile encoder, click here.

Will my unused viewer hours roll over to the next month?

No, any extra hours will be discarded when the new month begins.

Can I change viewing plans after signing up?

Yes, if you decide you need a larger number of viewer hours each month, you can upgrade at any time during the month. If you would like to downgrade to be allotted fewer viewer hours, you can do so at any time (although this change will only apply to a future billing cycle).

Are the viewing plans contractual?

No, each plan is provided on a month-to-month basis. You can cancel or join at any time without any other fees.