Information for visitors & contributors

PODCAST - RSS Feed: Your Alternative Live !

Alternative Channel offers its content via podcasts. It is an easy process: wherever you are, automatically and systematically receive on your audio/video reader or your computer the lastest news and videos from Alternative Channel! How does it work? Suscribe to the RSS-feed and install a free "aggregators" which will receive and read the feed.
Here are some examples of "aggregators" (readers) which enable to receive and read an RSS-feed:

• Google Reader
• iTunes,  audio & video for iPod
• Listen
• Akregatot
• Netvibes 

You won't need to check "manually" the lastest updates anymore or find lost among your emails the lastest news! All news and videos will be automatically delivered and you will be directly linked with the lastest Alternative Channel news, aware of our partners' initiatives and the lastest video contributions.

VIDEO TIPS

You want to promote a humanitarian or environmental oriented initiative?
You want to inform through videos your approach for sustainable development ?
Make your own video report and post it on Alternative Channel, the international web-tv dedicated to sustainable development and social responsability.

The video making process

An alternative video report is unconventionnal, you won't need important production means, just make sure your video offers an original point of view to a better understanding of the subject and proposes a story not already relieved by mass media.

According to us, an alternative video is a story, an eyewitness report, a coverage, giving a different or detailed point of view on an event or news. It must avoid institutional information sources to offer a better understanding on facts. Unconventionnal and non-conformist, it is an alternative to the stereotypes currently broadcasted by traditional media.

The video making process is not simply based upon an idea. Whatever it is a coverage, an eyewitness report or simply a short interview, everything must be structured and considered. The video making process, even the shortest one, must be carefully prepared BEFORE you even take you camera. Direction lines must be clearly define, your video must "hooked" , but you have to guide viewers without making them dependent of the delivered information and allow their mind to soar.

Reports (recommended length: from 1 to 6 minutes)
Subjects dealing with sustainable development and other socially conscious goals
It is recommended that the reporter be seen on camera
Sound must be clear and audible
The reporter should clearly conclude the report

Eyewitness Reports (recommended length: from 1 to 3 minutes)
Subjects should be legitimate stories of public interest
Reports should be intelligible and comprehensive
Reports must be endorsed
Eyewitnesses must agree to be held liable for their reports
Eyewitness reports should provide a unique perspective on an existing event

Information and Awareness Campaigns (recommended length from 30 sec to 3 minutes)
An Alternative Channel campaign, usually an ad or a short movie, has to raise awareness about a subject of public interest. We aim at webcasting campaigns about sustainable development, health and humanitarian projects, volunteer-driven projects, etc.

What are the freewares and softwares that can be used to edit a video?

The following list of video editing softwares and freewares is not exhaustive, they all can be downloaded through the web and some are perfect for begginers.

• Windows media maker: already installed on Windows XP or Vista
• Virtual dub : available for download on the web. .

Freewares for Linux:

• Kino
• Cinelerra
• Lives

Video editing sofwares:

• Magix Video Deluxe 2007 
  
• Pinnacle Studio
  
• Ulead Videostudio
  
• adobe premiere : for professionnal use

What are the video formats used on the web?

Nowadays, technologies used on the Internet for streaming and webcasting are the following:

• Windows Media (WM free encoder on microsoft.com) and .wmv file format
•  Mpeg4 (Quicktime Pro charged on Apple.com) and .mp4 file format
• Flash (Flash charged on adobe.com) and .flv or .swf files formats
• Real video (Helix producer free on Realnetworks.com) and .rm file format

All files formats will be accepted by Alternative Channel. We recommend to upload your files under Mpeg4 format (XviD, DviX, H.264). 900-1800Kbps, 640x480, 30 images per second and MP3 or AAC Audio.

What does « Streaming » means ? 

Streaming content is a technology used to instantaneously read video or audio sequences through the Web or intranet without previously download the file. We can distinguish streaming via RTSP:// using a dedicated server and streaming via HTTP:// also named as "false streaming" or "progressive download".

How can I convert my video to post it on the web?

Your documentary or video you would like to webcast on Alternative Channel is on a DVD or the format is not suitable for an upload on the Web? You have to convert the file. You can download, on the Internet, freewares that will help you to achieve this simple operation.

First step: if your video is on a DVD, you have to "ripp it", it means copy the content on your hard disk. Many freewares can be easily dowloaded such as DVD Shrink, DVD Decrypter, SmartRipper, Rippack etc.

Second step: To convert the file. You can use a video converter freeware to encode the video under the necessary requirements. Easy-to-use freewares such as SUPER or MediaCoder can be used by beginners. Settings required for a good quality are the following: output container: mp4, output video codec: XviD, DviX or H.264, 900-1800Kbps, 640x480, 30 images per second, output audio codec: MP3 or AAC.

Please try to keep your file not over 100MO.

If your file is too large to be uploaded via Alternative Channel, please do not hesitate to contact us: contact@alternativechannel.tv . Our team will be delighted to open an FTP acces for you in oder to upload your largest files. You can also send your DVDs to Alternative Channel by air mail: