Online media broadcast system and method
An online broadcasting system is provided. The system combines live video streaming, video on demand (VOD), messaging and other media content provided by an owner of a live broadcast and/or by the owner's online followers. The media content may be combined into a single broadcast stream. The owner of the broadcast may use an online control room to choose in real time what multimedia content to provide to his/her followers. The system also provides for interaction between the followers and interactive elements that the owner may create through the system. A gaming and/or revenue sharing component also may be provided wherein the owner and the followers may earn points for viewing and/or interacting with sponsored media through the system.
1. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having stored thereon, instructions that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations for broadcasting media in a broadcasting system comprising a media stream combiner configured with at least one server, the operations comprising:
(A) providing at a first client device associated with a first user, a first graphical user interface including a first primary video player and at least one live stream video player including a video viewing pane with a video viewing pane size defined by a video viewing pane perimeter and one or more live stream video viewing pane selectable areas within the video viewing pane perimeter, each of the one or more live stream video viewing pane selectable areas including a corresponding selectable area size that is less than the video viewing pane size and that is selectable as an individual user interface element;
(B) providing at a second client device associated with a second user, a second graphical user interface including a second primary video player including a second primary video player pane and at least one additional video player pane overlaid the second primary video player pane;
(C) providing to a first at least one live stream video player a first live stream video;
(D) by the broadcasting system, receiving an indication of a selection of a first one or more live stream video player selectable area of the first at least one live stream video player;
(E) by the broadcasting system, when the indication of the selection of the first one or more live stream video player selectable area of the first at least one live stream video player is received:
(F) identifying the first live stream video; and
(G) providing at a first at least one additional video player pane, the first live stream video identified in (F).
2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , the operations further comprising:
(H) providing to a second at least one live stream video player a second live stream video;
(I) by the broadcasting system, receiving an indication of a selection of a first one or more live stream video viewing pane selectable area of the second at least one live stream video player;
(J) by the broadcasting system, when the indication of the selection of the first one or more live stream video viewing pane selectable area of the second at least one live stream video player is received:
(K) identifying the second live stream video; and
(L) providing at a second at least one additional video player pane, the second live stream video identified in (K).
3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , further comprising:
(D)(1) by the broadcasting system, receiving an indication of a selection of a second one or more live stream video viewing pane selectable area of the first at least one live stream video player;
(E)(1) by the broadcasting system, when the indication of the selection of the second one or more live stream video viewing pane selectable area of the first at least one live stream video player is received:
(G)(1) providing at a second at least one additional video player pane, the first live stream video identified in (F).
4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein a location of the one or more live stream video viewing pane selectable areas within the video viewing pane perimeter is chosen by the first user and/or by the second user.
5. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having stored thereon, instructions that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations for broadcasting media in a broadcasting system comprising a media stream combiner configured with at least one server, the operations comprising:
(A) providing at a first client device associated with a first user, a first graphical user interface including a first primary video player and at least one video on demand player including one or more video on demand player selectable areas each selectable as an individual user interface element;
(B) providing at a second client device associated with a second user, a second graphical user interface including a second primary video player including a second primary video player pane and at least one additional video player pane overlaid the second primary video player pane;
(C) providing to a first at least video on demand player a first video on demand video;
(D) by the broadcasting system, receiving an indication of a selection of a first one or more video on demand player selectable area of the first at least one video on demand player;
(E) by the broadcasting system, when the indication of the selection of the first one or more video on demand player selectable area of the first at least one video on demand player is received:
(F) identifying the first video on demand video; and
(G) providing at a first at least one additional video player pane, the first video on demand video identified in (F).
6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 5 , the operations further comprising:
(H) providing to a second at least one video on demand player a second video on demand video;
(I) by the broadcasting system, receiving an indication of a selection of a first one or more video on demand player selectable area of the second at least one video on demand player;
(J) by the broadcasting system, when the indication of the selection of the first one or more video on demand player selectable area of the second at least one video on demand player is received:
(K) identifying the second video on demand video; and
(L) providing at a second at least one additional video player pane, the second video on demand video identified in (K).
7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 5 , further comprising:
(D)(1) by the broadcasting system, receiving an indication of a selection of a second one or more video on demand player selectable area of the first at least one video on demand player;
(E)(1) by the broadcasting system, when the indication of the selection of the second one or more video on demand player selectable area of the first at least one video on demand player is received:
(G)(1) providing at a second at least one additional video player pane, the first video on demand identified in (F).
8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 5 wherein a location of the one or more video on demand player selectable areas in the at least one video on demand player is chosen by the first user and/or by the second user.
9. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having stored thereon, instructions that when executed by a computing device, cause the computing device to perform operations for broadcasting media in a broadcasting system comprising a media stream combiner configured with at least one server, the operations comprising:
(A) providing at a first client device associated with a first user, a first graphical user interface including a first primary video player and at least one live stream video player including a video viewing pane with a video viewing pane size defined by a video viewing pane perimeter and two or more separate and distinct live stream video viewing pane selectable areas within the video viewing pane perimeter, each of the two or more live stream video viewing pane selectable areas including a corresponding selectable area size that is less than the video viewing pane size and that is selectable as an individual user interface element;
(B) providing at a second client device associated with a second user, a second graphical user interface including a second primary video player including a second primary video player pane and at least one additional video player pane overlaid the second primary video player pane;
(C) providing to a first at least one live stream video player a first live stream video;
(D) by the broadcasting system, receiving an indication of a selection of a first one of the two or more live stream video viewing pane selectable area of the first at least one live stream video player;
(E) by the broadcasting system, when the indication of the selection of the first one of the two or more live stream video viewing pane selectable area of the first at least one live stream video player is received:
(F) identifying the first live stream video; and
(G) providing at a first at least one additional video player pane, the first live stream video identified in (F).
10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein a location of the one or more live stream video viewing pane selectable areas within the video viewing pane perimeter is chosen by the first user and/or by the second user.