Recurring events with Church Webcast scheduler

We are using a Mevo camera using RTMP with the Church Webcast system.

We would like to schedule a recurring event for ward sacrament meetings. This would simplify scheduling and let us use the same links for the RTMP stream and member viewing links each week.

Is there a way to schedule a recurring event in the Webcast platform that keeps the same links?

Thanks.

-Bob

rklindquist wrote:Is there a way to schedule a recurring event in the Webcast platform that keeps the same links?

Not currently. I don't know as it would even be considered unless this appears to be a permanent feature.

You could use a link shortener service to create a set URL, and change the URL that it redirects to each week.

sbradshaw wrote:You could use a link shortener service to create a set URL, and change the URL that it redirects to each week.

One nice advantage of that is you could bounce between YouTube, Church Webcast, etc and still keep the same link.

It’s been awhile since I’ve used those URL shorteners.

I would hope to use them to have the same URL for the RTMP link and code. I’d then want a separate URL that stays the same for the public viewing link?

Can someone remind me which site would be best to use for this and the steps to do it?

Thanks in advance!

-Bob

rklindquist wrote:It’s been awhile since I’ve used those URL shorteners.

I would hope to use them to have the same URL for the RTMP link and code.

The Mevo probably wants to see the whole rtmp:// URL and would choke on a shortener. (Haven't tried it, just opinion only.)

rklindquist wrote:I’d then want a separate URL that stays the same for the public viewing link?

Assuming your calling allows, when you log into the Meetinghouse Webcast Dashboard, you'll see the Viewing Link: near the top of the page. That link never changes and will take members of your stake to a webpage that displays the public webcasts scheduled for that week and allow them to select their ward from the list. Shortly after the webcast finishes, that ward's link is automatically deleted.

This suggestion is really needed. We need reoccurring broadcast capabilities. It’s simple coding in the system and probably already written in the program just hidden or not turned on.

How do we get this to the leaders in charge of technology? Sending a new link to every ward/branch member that is not ready to come to church or capable to come to church every week is not ideal.

Tell me who. I’m not afraid to call or write anyone in the church. Is the presiding bishopric over the technology or an apostle? Troy

justusmitchells wrote:Sending a new link to every ward/branch member that is not ready to come to church or capable to come to church every week is not ideal.

The members need only one URL and it never changes. The RTMP URL/Stream Code changes for each webcast, but the URL to view the webcast does not change.

A phone call will do nothing. Sending feedback through the webcasting page or an email to Meetinghouse Technology is the best way to get a recommendation to those who direct the work of the developers. Another way is for your stake president to contact the Area Seventy and work the request up through priesthood channels.

Members of our stake simply use paysonworship.com each week to get the available broadcasts. We are still rolling it out to all of our buildings.

We use the J-Tech devices which auto configure with the webcast system like the discontinued Teradek Vidiu Pros did.

I would love to see a "Reoccurring meeting" feature, but I don't need the stream URL to be the same each week, I just would love to avoid the 10-15 minutes it takes me to re-schedule all of the Ward Sabbath Worship Services each week, especially since I have to be careful with every settings since choosing the wrong value can make a broadcast not work, and I may not recognize my error until right before the broadcast.

Recurring event for the Church webcast solution is being worked on now. We hope to deploy this in the coming weeks.

bartj wrote:Recurring event for the Church webcast solution is being worked on now. We hope to deploy this in the coming weeks.

That's great!

Those of you with access to Technology Manager will be able to see the planned schedule for an update that should make this function available later in the week.

I am looking forward to this update.

The ability to schedule a weekly recurring event will be deployed tomorrow. Unfortunately, every event will still have a unique RTMP stream for the encoder. We are working on a static RTMP stream that is assigned to an encoder/location and hope to deploy this in several weeks.

bartj wrote:Unfortunately, every event will still have a unique RTMP stream for the encoder.

I was wondering if the upgrade included static RTMP credentials. Thanks for clearing that up.

bartj wrote:We are working on a static RTMP stream that is assigned to an encoder/location and hope to deploy this in several weeks.

It would be nice if the encoder could have the static RTMP. That way, multiple wards could share the same equipment with recurring events.

Scheduling reoccurring meetings was deployed this week - but the Stream URL and Stream Name still change each week. The WebCast portal said they are trying to support static encoding URLs and Stream Names by the end of November.

hicksticks2001 wrote:Scheduling reoccurring meetings was deployed this week - but the Stream URL and Stream Name still change each week. The WebCast portal said they are trying to support static encoding URLs and Stream Names by the end of November.

Do we know a date on this yet or if it is still on schedule? Working with My stake presidency on helping the wards and it would be helpful to be able to provide an ETA.


Thanks!

TJHill wrote:Do we know a date on this yet or if it is still on schedule?

They do not tell us these things. If the planets align, you might get November 29, but I would not plan on anything until December (6th) at the earliest. And even then, you will know it is going to happen when it happens.

There are methods to autoconfigure now. But folks will still need to know how to manually enter URL/streaming codes anyway because things happen, events change, the new year is approaching and, sadly, the planets do not always align. (Ref: Isaiah 24:20; Doctrine and Covenants 45:48, 49:23, 88:87)

From what I've seen, ETAs are rarely given. When they are given, ETAs that are further than two weeks into the future tend to become wildly optimistic.

While I'm sure you would like a ETA, I'm not sure how one would alter any decisions or planning. Even if a ETA was given, you'd have to proceed on a "it's coming, we're not sure when" basis.