Webcast provider – realizing online live streaming
At a glance (as of May 2026): A webcast provider broadcasts online events — annual general meetings, press conferences, town halls — to distributed audiences with broadcast-grade production. MediaEvent Services has produced corporate webcasts for over 20 years, using our own SlideSync platform with EU-based data processing.
Looking for a way to share your event with a variety of attendees, regardless of location? Many webcast providers allow reaching a wider audience thanks to modern live streaming. However, with a large number of different webcast providers, it is not always easy to make the right choice. We show you what you should pay attention to.
Basics: What is a webcast?
In simple terms, a webcast is a transmission of images and sound via the Internet. The name “webcast” is a combination of “web”, which stands for the World Wide Web, and “broadcast”. This method therefore allows content to be sent from a central location to a widely distributed audience – a form of communication known as one-to-many.
SlideSync: The webcast platform
MediaEvent Services provides such a platform with SlideSync, which enables you to stream content in real time. It is characterized by many exciting features that open up a wide range of possible uses. This includes not only the transmission of live events in the business sector, but also interactive training courses for companies and many other applications that enable a comprehensive and dynamic communication experience.
SlideSync makes it possible to transmit content to viewers via live streaming . The possible use cases are manifold. The most common contents include:
- Live Business Events
- Corporate training
- Meetings
- Product launches
- News formats
Technology required for a webcast
In order for webcasts to be streamed live to the audience, all you need is a laptop. All information and data such as audio, video, and other multimedia content must be produced, transmitted, and broadcast simultaneously so that the audience can follow it in real-time.
With an appropriate platform such as SlideSync in the background, the web event is made available to a wide audience efficiently and cost-effectively in high quality. In addition to a competent webcast provider, you will also need a stable and fast Internet connection for the stream, as well as the appropriate hardware equipment such as a camera, a computer, and a microphone.
We support the planning and realization of your corporate event .
What should a good webcast provider offer?
With the wide choice of providers available, it can be challenging to find the right webcast provider for your needs. By far not all webcast providers will be able to meet your individual requirements. But each provider offers its own unique advantages. Here’s what you should consider when choosing the right webcast provider:
Professional video hosting
Professional video hosting is one of the fundamental elements for a smooth webcast experience.
Possibility of interaction
Do you want to not only stream a video-only broadcast, but also conduct public Q&A, polls, and more at the same time? Your chosen webcast provider should therefore also integrate appropriate tools.
Secure connections
To ensure data protection and confidentiality, secure connections for uploading and streaming are a mandatory requirement for a professional webcast provider.
Transmission security should be based on redundant, resilient connections.
Modern transmission protocols
A stable, secure, and efficient connection therefore requires the use of state-of-the-art transmission protocols such as RTMP streaming or an SRT stream.
Overviews for analysis and monitoring
To monitor the success of your webcast and the feedback it receives, your webcast provider should offer analysis and monitoring tools.
Modern platform
In order for your webcast to run seamlessly and without complications, you should pick an easy-to-use platform that meets the latest standards. A good webcast provider should discuss your individual requirements to ensure you get the most out of your webcast.
Fast support
Since complications can always occur during webcasts, an easily approachable and customer-friendly provider is an advantage. This way, immediate assistance in case of problems and successful transmission recovery can be guaranteed by on-site or remote support.
How do you choose the right webcast provider?
When choosing a webcast provider, it is essential to determine in advance what you want to achieve with your live stream. This reveals the requirements that your matching webcast provider should fulfill in order to be able to deliver your stream to your audience in the best quality. In addition to the numerous functions offered, attention should always be paid to whether and to what extent the selected webcast provider can meet the required standards for data protection.
MediaEvent Services is your ultimate webcast provider whenever you are looking for professional live streaming and webcast platforms. Contact us today!
Webcast, webinar, or online meeting — what’s the difference?
The three terms are often used interchangeably in practice — but they refer to three distinct formats with their own tooling, effort and goal:
| Criterion | Webcast | Webinar | Online meeting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication model | One-to-many (broadcaster → audience) | One-to-many with moderated interaction | Many-to-many (everyone speaks) |
| Typical audience size | 500 to unlimited | 50–2,000 | 2–100 |
| Typical platform | SlideSync, specialised webcast providers | Zoom Webinar, Microsoft Teams Webinar | Microsoft Teams, Zoom Meeting, Google Meet |
| Production effort | High (camera crew, vision mixing, backup) | Medium (1 host + slides) | Low (self-service) |
| Typical use case | AGM, IR call, town hall, press conference | Training, product demo, webinar series | Team meeting, project kickoff |
| Budget per event | €2,000–15,000 (incl. production) | €500–2,000 | Included in license |
If you’re planning a webinar, Microsoft Teams Webinar or Zoom Webinar will usually do the job. If you’re broadcasting an annual general meeting or IR call with strict requirements around data protection, branding, and failover, you typically need a webcast provider with a dedicated platform and production team — the format difference drives the platform choice as much as the budget.
What does a professional webcast cost?
Webcast costs depend on format, reach, languages, recording requirements, and production. Three price bands in the DACH region work as orientation: self-service webcasts with an in-house presenter and standard platform start at €500–2,000 per event. A professionally produced AGM or press conference with on-site team, redundant transmission and multilingual support typically falls between €4,000 and €15,000 per event. For recurring formats like quarterly IR calls or monthly webcasts, annual contracts reduce per-event cost by typically 30–50%.
German enterprises with more than 250 employees use online and hybrid events at scale: 84% ran at least one such event in 2024 (Bitkom, 2024) — webcasts are part of routine corporate communication, not a special case.
Frequently asked questions about webcast providers
What’s the difference between a webcast and a webinar?
A webcast is a professional one-to-many broadcast — typical for annual general meetings, IR calls and large town halls with 500 to several thousand participants. A webinar is also one-to-many but with active Q&A and a smaller audience (50–2,000), usually for training or product demos. Online meetings (Microsoft Teams, Zoom) are many-to-many and built for smaller interactive groups.
Can we record the webcast and offer it as on-demand replay?
Yes, this is standard. Replay is typically available immediately after the event with a retention window of 30 to 365 days, depending on format and data-protection requirements. SlideSync provides an integrated media library with access control (single sign-on or token-based authentication). For regulated formats like IR calls, compliance often requires a fixed archive duration.
Can we deliver the webcast under our own brand (white-label)?
Yes. SlideSync allows full brand customisation: logo, colours, fonts, domain — participants see your CI, not the platform. With Microsoft Teams Webinar and Zoom Webinar, branding is limited (typically just logo plus an accent colour). For regulated industries or premium IR communication, full white-label is often a prerequisite.
Is the webcast GDPR-compliant and EU-hosted?
SlideSync processes all participant, question and analytics data exclusively within the EU; a data processing agreement (DPA) is standard. US-based platforms like Zoom Webinar, Vimeo or YouTube Live require a careful risk assessment under EDPB guidance, especially for IR calls, AGMs or regulated industries.
How do we integrate questions and interaction in the webcast format?
A professional webcast uses three interaction channels: written Q&A with moderation (questions are reviewed before publication), phone Q&A with live connection of individual participants (standard at IR calls), and live polls with real-time results. The mode depends on the format and the sensitivity of the content.
Can we deliver the webcast in multiple languages?
Yes, via parallel live translation tracks and live captions. Participants switch between language tracks live in the SlideSync platform. The tracks are produced either by live interpreters (standard for international enterprise events) or by automatic translation (sufficient for shorter formats).
How is failover handled for a business-critical webcast?
Three building blocks are standard for enterprise webcasts: redundant transmission paths (two internet providers, often fibre + mobile backup), redundant encoder hardware, and a backup team with identical setup at a second location. For IR calls and annual general meetings, escalation procedures (audio loss, speaker switch, slide backup) are also part of the planning — which a good webcast provider walks through with you in advance.
How long does it take to prepare a professional webcast?
A simple webcast format with standard platform and one presenter needs 1–2 weeks of lead time. An annual general meeting or IR call with multilingual delivery, multiple speakers and CI-compliant branding typically requires 4–8 weeks — including platform branding, test stream, dress rehearsal and escalation plan. For urgent crisis-communication webcasts we can deliver in under 48 hours.
Try SlideSync!
Let’s talk about your event!