Adelaide Convention Centre’s (ACC) built-in web streaming service increased participation at the recent Grains Research and Development Corporation’s (GRDC) annual Research Update Forum by more than fifteen per cent. 

Adelaide Convention Centre was the first convention centre to install permanent web streaming capabilities in all its meeting rooms. 
 
The technology enables delegates to participate in sessions from anywhere in the world via remote access, including active participation such as asking questions, voting and completing questionnaires. 

The Forum attracted 350 delegates from around Australia, with a further 54 logging in to view live speaker presentations from their desktop computers and laptops taking advantage of the Centre’s media streaming website.  During the Forum, the Centre’s video cameras live streamed more than 50 presentations from the Plenary Hall and three other meeting rooms directly onto the site.  

ACC Chief Executive Alec Gilbert said conference organisers are increasingly looking for an integrated, cost effective approach to staging an event where it can be used as a platform to reach a wider audience through technologies like web streaming and digital media. 

“Technology cannot replace the experience of attending an event but it does allow for greater participation and engagement,” said Gilbert. 
“For conference organisers it also gives them an opportunity to explore new revenue streams by charging for access to the web streaming service. 

The web streaming service at the ACC is complemented by a Video on Demand service where people are able to view speaker presentations in their own time.  This service is popular with both remote participants and delegates.  

GRDC organisers ORM Agricultural Consulting and Communications have received a positive response from both GRDC and participants who took advantage of the web streaming service. 

ORM’s Matt McCarthy said we decided to offer web streaming because most of the Corporation’s stakeholders are based in regional and remote Australia and were unable to travel to the Forum.  
  
“We’re constantly looking for new ways to enhance the event experience for our clients and attendees,” said  McCarthy.