C-SPAN adds user video

Cory Bergman November 13th, 2006

C-SPAN has unveiled “Viewfinder,” a new feature that allows users to upload video — the best of which will be aired on TV. “With Campaign 2008 around the corner, Viewfinder will be a valuable tool to enable the C-SPAN audience to participate in and respond to campaign activities, and will also become a direct link to viewer-submitted video from candidate events around the nation,” reads the press release. Viewfinder is powered by Streamload. Full release…

PRESS RELEASE — Streamload, a leading provider of online storage and digital media services, announced today that it has been chosen by C-SPAN to provide the technology for “Viewfinder,” C-SPAN’s new venture in video uploading. Streamload’s submission system will enable C-SPAN viewers to upload videos that are relevant to program topics or that offer their personal perspectives on political issues and events. Selected videos will be incorporated into C-SPAN’s on-air programming, including its live, daily morning viewer call-in program, Washington Journal.

Launching later this month, “Viewfinder” provides C-SPAN with a unique platform to connect with its viewers by expanding viewer interaction that was previously centered around viewer call-in programming or emails. Supported by Streamload technology, viewers will be encouraged to upload videos to www.c-span.org for review, rating and comment by producers, and for consideration for airing on the network.

With Campaign 2008 around the corner, “Viewfinder” will be a valuable tool to enable the C-SPAN audience to participate in and respond to campaign activities, and will also become a direct link to viewer-submitted video from candidate events around the nation.

“We are proud that C-SPAN chose Streamload as the technology provider for its new ‘Viewfinder’ viewer video submission project,” said Steve Iverson, president and CEO of Streamload. “As digital media becomes more and more a part of our everyday life, it is exciting to see how influential media organizations like C-SPAN utilize video to promote interaction with its viewers and encourage feedback on important topics.”

The “Viewfinder” viewer submission system was created via Streamload’s versatile Web Services platform, allowing C-SPAN to leverage Streamload’s online storage system which currently processes over 750,000 file uploads and grows by 2 terabytes of unique user data per day.