Live Streaming at Web 2.0 Expo (Does this Help or Hurt Conferences?)

Categories: Conference, Web Tools, WirelessPosted on April 16th, 2007

Mario Sundar took a picture of me Live Streaming the Conference (pic via Mario Sundar)

5 Foot tripod and 2 inch camera (pic via Mario Sundar)

I asked in the chat room during the live stream if hurt or helped Tim O’Reilly by me streaming the conference. For a lot of folks, paying $1500 is certainly expensive to attend (I think that’s the cost, I’m not sure) when you add in airfare and hotel and other travel bills, going to conferences can sure add up.

There were 30-50 people that were on the live cast at any given time, and I’m sure it will be more tommorow. Folks recorded it and put it on Google Video in near-real time, so the event was casted live. For those folks that were not able to attend, did this help or hurt the conference organizers?

I say help, the buzz and reach that the speakers and sessions got from this live streaming helped to carry it farther.

If anyone thinks it hurts, it sure is disruptive, because the whole setup is about 200 bucks (100 for camera, 100 for Wireless 3G card, but future laptops will have these built right in.

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This entry was posted on Monday, April 16th, 2007 at 7:17 am and is filed under Conference, Web Tools, Wireless. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Comments

Esteban Glas

As it popped up on yesterday's chat, I think it actually helps. It is free buzz and publicity, it makes this accessible to people who couldn't attend for various reasons and I don't think it hurts O'Reilly's business in the sense that people who are thinking on attending will do so, since, however good this experience is, nothing beats the real thing. So, you don't prevent people from attending, you generate buzz, and you help those who couldn't make it to San Francisco to "be there". It is a win-win situation.

jeremiah_owyang

Cool, thanks Esteban

IdeaTagger

I agree with Esteban. I can't imagine that anyone willing and able to attend in person will not do so because of streaming.

Dallas Freeman

I agree in this circumstance, however I could see it hurting smaller conferences. The only type of expos that will not suffer (at all) from live streams are those that are showcasing products.

jeremiah_owyang

Dallas thanks

We don't want to hurt smaller conference now or ever.

David Berkowitz

The value of an event is 10% content, 90% people. You won't build relationships through a video stream.

Lionel Menchaca

Jeremiah:

In my opinion, I see live streaming as a good thing. The net effect is that it allows more users to experience (and even participate) the discussions firsthand. It definitely helps from a buzz perspective.

And here's why I don't think it will hurt conferences: sometimes there's just no substitute for face-to-face meetings.

Often what defines success of a blog (especially from a corporate perspective) is the human element. No question that it is developed over time via online conversations, but in-person discussions really advance that process.