Webcast 5.7 Release Notes

Released: April 9, 2022

This release introduces an option for presenting pre-recorded videos in the video player during a Live event, lets you set the pre-live player layout, updates default branding colors, and adds support for the VTT caption format. These release notes also highlight other recent changes and improvements. If you have any questions about these changes, please email us at updates@webcasts.com or contact your account representative.

Release highlights

The following updates were highlighted in release emails to our subscribers.

By request features

Note: By request features aren't automatically included in your account. If you'd like to request one of these features, submit a Webcast 5.7 Release Feature Request (opens a web form). We'll evaluate your request and reply.

Play videos inline during Live events

By request. Available for video broadcasts, but not telephone (audio) broadcasts.

You can share pre-recorded videos in the main video player (where presenter webcams are shown). Use this option for pre-recorded keynotes, event introductions, and situations where presenters can't attend live.

In the Webcast admin portal, go to the Event Content tab and upload overlay videos. During the event, in the Live Studio go to the Overlay Videos tab, and under the thumbnail of the video you want to play, click Launch Inline.

Notes:

Live Studio Overlay Videos tab with Launch Inline option and event window with inline video playing in the video player

Set the pre-live player layout for Live events

By request. Requires slides and player layout switching.

When using player layout switching, you can choose the pre-live player layout - Slides Only, Video Only, and varied sizes of Video + Slides. Attendees see your selected layout while they wait for the event to begin, and it still is set when the event starts.

On the Player & Branding tab, select Use PowerPoint Slides and Enable Layout Switching, then select the pre-live player layout.

Use PowerPoint Slides and Enable Layout Switching features selected with Default Layout selected for the Pre-live Player Layout

VTT caption files for On-Demand events

By request. Available for video broadcasts, but not telephone (audio) broadcasts.

This release adds support for timed caption files in VTT file format. This format provides for a more immersive experience with subtitles shown inline with the video. One caption file per event. To upload a timed caption file, go to the Event Content tab and Under Optional Content, expand the Add Closed Captions section and click Upload Captions.

Note: This format is not supported on iOS devices (users cannot access the subtitles).

Accessibility updates

Faster access to MP4 archives

We've added a shortcut link to MP4 notification emails that lets you download the file securely from a web page. The file can be downloaded from the link a total of 10 times. Once the download limit has been reached, go to the Webcast Admin portal and download the file from the Event Summary.

Archive Complete email with the Download MP4 button and the Download page with the Download MP4 button

Added tracking for server-side registration

The new tp_hidden tracking parameter lets you pass additional data in the registration URL and track it in registration reports. In registration reports, the column heading is Hidden Field. You can use this new field in conjunction with event URLs with campaign source tracking (Email & Marketing > Campaign Source Tracking) and cost centers to track information in multiple ways for the same event.

In the following example, we used the tp_hidden parameter to populate the region where an attendee lives. The Hidden Field column in the report shows the values.

Registration Report with attendee registration information and the Hidden Field column

Other new features and enhancements

Webcast Admin portal and event setup

Reporting

Bug fixes

Fixes for event and portal setup issues

Bug fixes


Revision #8
Created 2 May 2022 18:41:49
Updated 23 June 2023 20:07:19