By Diane Howard, Ph.D.
As more young and older audiences are viewing TV programs and movies over digital streaming devices and services, more and more Christian organizations are sharing wonderful content and programming via streaming to a range of devices. There are now thousands of Christian, family, and redemptive digital channels that are in the process of improving content, while keeping their copyrights, and delivering programming quickly and cost-effectively. Many of these channels are free to audiences.
At the beginning of the 21st century, TV programs became available via the Internet. For example, iTunes offered a paid service for some TV programs and series in 2005. Netflix began providing streaming content in 2007.
Digital media players became available, such as Apple TV in 2007. In 2008 the Roku streaming device emerged. Amazon offered its digital media player, Amazon Fire TV, in 2014. Such digital media, streaming devices have continued in updated versions.
Often, the only cost involved is a streaming media player (such as Roku on Amazon for around $25). Using streaming services in churches is good stewardship.
Further, you can produce your own digital series on a cost-effective, user-friendly platform to tell your wonderful eternally significant stories? With aesthetically pleasing backdrops; interviews with well-spoken, engaging leaders; and footage of vibrant, active examples that will also build in intensity to a climatic point and summarizing conclusion, it is not difficult to film an engaging documentary. You can also produce original dramatic stories for various audiences with a good writers, skilled actors, and experienced filmmakers.
Access to TV programs has developed from more traditional TV access to computers, smartphones and computer tablets. Apps for mobile devices in app stores emerged in 2008. Amazon Video launched worldwide until 2016. In 2017, YouTube launched YouTube TV. In 2015, traditional cable and satellite television providers offered Sling TV (Dish Network). Another satellite television provider, DirecTV, developed a streaming service, DirecTV Now.
Since 2016, “Smart TVs” have been taking over the television market. More viewers of all ages are using streaming services as their main means for watching TV and movies. As of 2018, Netflix is the dominant streaming, internet media and entertainment company with more and more competitors.
Companies, such as Katapy, enable content providers on digital channels to serve Video On-Demand (VOD), Live, Live Linear (24/7 Programming), and Live Event-Based Media to computers, tablets, mobile phones, OTT devices, smart TVs and more. They build custom apps and channels.
With Katapy, content providers stream to digital audiences to watch on their own time, on any device they choose, keeping full control over their content selection. They can help audiences get the most out of their content on their smart TV, OTT device, tablet, smartphone or computer with their own digital streaming media service powered by Katapy.
Their mobile apps support a consistent look and feel across all iOS and Android devices. Their connected TV channels support Roku, Apple TV, Android TV and Fire TV. Their mission is to create the best video-streaming experience for your audience across all devices.
They are experts at building video-based apps and channels and use their combined experience and lessons learned from previous projects to deliver the best possible results in record time.
After development, they publish mobile apps and OTT channels in the appropriate app or channel store for their clients, so that audiences can purchase and/or download them for their devices. They make video apps and channels available in popular app and channel stores.
They can design and implement video websites that render and stream video perfectly on any device; applications for smartphones and tablets including iPhone®, iPad™, Android and Amazon Kindle Fire; and applications for Internet set-top boxes such as Roku® streaming player, AppleTV, FireTV and GoogleTV.
In summary, Katapy does the following:
- Provides efficient, cost-effective digital platform technology for screens of all sizes anywhere in the world
- Presents, distributes with features beyond what we see today on many digital platforms
- Can process all formats of film very quickly
- Takes content on film and/or audio and processes them effectively
- Provides range of digital platforms, small and massive
- Can stream meetings in real time or delayed time to viewers all over the world
- Has educational features, like learning management systems
- Can use videos as stand-alone film segments or pieced-together for documentaries
Ongoing film/video documenting and program development for digital platforms is all the more necessary for Christian organizations because it is becoming the dominant form for seeing tv, movies, and Christian channels.
Further, with the latest developments, innovations with digital platforms, it is all the more important that content is shared by those with good communication skills and effective camera presence skills. These are not difficult to teach or learn. Even a little training goes a very long ways to reach, engage, and motivate audiences.
Personally, I am producing with Katapy and through my church, a digital documentary series that will focus on role-modeling, best practice Christian living, growth, and service. With a unique documentary approach, our digital streaming is aimed for universal application and encouragement.
Here is the teaser for our digital series. This is the simple format we are using for the first seven episodes for the digital series. We are using aesthetic backdrops of our church; interviews with well-spoken, engaging leaders; and footage of vibrant, active examples that will also build in intensity to a climatic point and summarizing conclusion. See the descriptions and links for the first seven episodes (an ongoing work in progress).
The first episode is now streaming from YouTube and from the church website. By the end of the month it is due on Roku and Firetv. The second episode is due for release March 1, 2019. Our desires and hopes are to encourage other churches and Christian organizations to use new cost-effective, user-friendly digital platforms to tell their eternally good stories. We don’t need to allow media that hurts our lives, families, and cultures to dominate our world. There are many viable solutions, alternatives taking their place today that we need to utilize and support them.
For more information, go to Katapy