1. Video, and video on demand (VOD) specifically, has become an effective tool for churches to communicate with and reach more people, including those at multiple campuses and worldwide. 2. An IPTV system is well-suited to distributing stored video files like sermons for VOD in houses of worship, as it allows delivery over an IP network without a separate AV network. 3. Key benefits of VOD for houses of worship include reaching audiences anytime anywhere on any device, and supporting satellite campuses by streaming content in real-time to multiple locations.

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In the house of worship market, the ability to communicate a message to as many people as possible is invaluable. Given the recent explosion in connected devices and how ubiquitous video has become, it’s no surprise that video has become an effective communication tool for churches. Many of today’s churches have multiple campuses, some of which may be located far away from one another. Through video, churches can broadcast their message to all locations in order to reach more people. In addition, video enables churches to connect with viewers all over the world. The challenge is delivering the message in a manner that is both cost-effective and efficient, while guaranteeing an exceptional video quality. for Worship
by Andrew Lemert
Key Advantages and Technology Requirements
IPTV systems – in particular those that support video-on-demand – have emerged as the best solution for video distribution in the house of worship market. This article explores the benefits of deploying an IPTV system that is capable of distributing stored video files, such as recorded sermons and curriculum, to a wide range of devices. In addition, it examines the key requirements one should take into consideration when setting up an IPTV system.
What is VOD?
Video on demand is a feature of digital television that gives users the freedom to choose what they want to watch from a wide selection of A/V content and view that content whenever it is convenient for them, rather than being tied down to watching it at a specific broadcast time. Another unique capability of VOD is that users can pause, fast forward, and rewind the content.
Organizations that offer VOD content often select IPTV technology as their distribution method. Why?

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Music Spotlight Audio First and foremost, with an IPTV
system, users can deliver video from
a variety of sources over an existing
IP network. They don’t need a
separate A/V network for distributing
live or video-on-demand content.
In addition, IPTV systems are more
flexible, scalable, and affordable
compared with traditional coax-based
broadcast systems. Using an IPTV
system, organizations can deliver a
high-quality SD and HD video to a
wide range of display types.
A house of worship can set up
their IPTV system to stream content
through a set-top box, a computer, or
other IP-connected device for real-time
viewing. Alternatively, audio and
video content can be downloaded to
a device such as a computer, digital
video recorder, or mobile device
equipped with a media player for
viewing at any time.
Benefits of VOD for
Houses of Worship
Increasingly, churches are offering
video on demand content over the
Internet. The biggest benefit is the
ability to reach faithful audiences
anytime, anywhere, on any device.
For example, let’s say a congregation
member can’t make it to a church
service. Perhaps they are sick, or
traveling. For whatever reason, they
can’t be present physically, but they
still want to receive the worship
message. By making VOD content
available online, a church can provide
the ultimate multimedia experience to
these members.
VOD also allows houses of worship
to support satellite campuses. As
churches grow, many choose to
add other buildings –— sometimes
located in a different geographical
location –— to accommodate an
abundance of church members. Using
an IPTV system with VOD capability,
churches can stream video content,
in real time, to multiple locations in
order to provide a universal worship
experience to all followers.
Audio
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Another benefit of VOD is that it enables churches to expand their reach without making an investment in physical infrastructure (e.g., extra buildings). A house of worship can simply and affordably put VOD content online and can connect with an unlimited amount of followers from all the around the world. It’s not just limited to communicating with people within a certain zip code. Anyone with an Internet connection can access archived sermons and events.
Key Technology Requirements
Before they can begin distributing VOD content, churches need to deploy an end-to-end IPTV system. While there are many solutions available, here are some key requirements one should look for in an IPTV system for house of worship applications.
Choosing an IPTV system that is based on a scalable, modular architecture enables churches to make a small investment upfront and add features as their needs change. For instance, a church may decide to deliver VOD content initially. Then as the popularity of the service increases and its budget allows, the church can very affordably add other robust capabilities such as network video record, which would allow recording of live sermons and events.
Ease of use and implementation are also critical in an IPTV system. Often, the A/V operators in the house of worship market do not have professional training. Choosing a system with a user-friendly Web-based interface will simplify the selection and playback of live and on- demand content. In addition, an IPTV system with an open-standard design will ensure compatibility with third- party equipment for quick and easy deployment.
Flexibility is another important feature in an IPTV system. Multiscreen video distribution can be extremely complex, given the number of different devices and networks that one needs to support. Churches should pick an IPTV system that can deliver high-quality video content to any screen, (e.g., TVs, set-top boxes, PCs, tablets, and smartphones) over any network (e.g., LAN, WAN, WiFi, cellular, and the public Internet).
Conclusion
After deploying an end-to-end IPTV system with VOD capabilities, a church can dramatically expand its global reach and enhance the worship experience for followers.
Andrew Lemert is the Executive Vice President, Visionary Solutions
Understanding the workflow goes a long way to setting up an effective VOD system. Image courtesy of Visionary Solutions