Information Technology Central Services at the University of Michigan
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Audio/Video Streaming Service and Rates

ITCom offers high availability, high-speed eStorage for various server and end user applications. Currently the production ITCom Helix server (streaming server for QuickTime, Windows and Real) uses eStorage to mount huge volumes of SAN stored media across the high speed IP infrastructure. This combination of eStorage and Helix server allows over 60 campus departments and units to use one shared streaming server license to meet all their live streaming and Video on Demand (VoD) needs.

Live Events

Rates are based on ITCom either streaming or archiving a RealMedia or Windows Media file provided by you, the customer, or encoding or archiving a Video/Audio feed provided by you, either as baseband or broadband signal at the UMTV head end. While this may sound ominous, it is in fact the way that almost all of the encoding and streaming on campus is done. This statement is here just to let you know that anything BEYOND this "normal" transaction will incur CONSULTING CHARGES.

Rates are calculated by per hour of live content time, not hours worked (ex: a one hour class will be charged for one hour).

These charges are a combination of streaming/encoder USAGE charges ONLY, and do not include hardware, software, engineering, development, or deployment.

These charges also do not include any audio or video production costs incurred in capturing the event. The customer is responsible for providing ITCom with an NTSC s-video or composite video signal and a complete audio signal (-10 dbv). Referrals to resources for production of the event are available on request.

We recommend archives of events be encoded at 400kbps at 400x300.

Live Event Services Billing Code Rate
Stream live event VS-AVSHA $60.00/hour
Consulting VS-AVSC $93.00/hour
24 hour/7 day Live Streaming (audio only/no archiving) VS-ASM $309.00/month
One-time service charge for each order SO-VI-STANDA $45.00

Storage Service

The Helix server storage is offered as a full enterprise solution for departments and units that want to be involved with video on demand and streaming video. The pricing is currently based on space allocated per year of storage billed on a monthly basis.

Storage Package Billing Code Monthly Rate
1GB VS-HOST1GB $50.00
3GB VS-HOST3GB $100.00
10GB VS-HOST10GB $275.00
50GB VS-HOST50GB $425.00
100GB VS-HOST100GB $550.00
250GB VS-HOST250GB $750.00
500GB VS-HOST500GB $1,250.00
1000GB VS-HST1000GB $1,750.00
One-time service charge for each order SO-VI-STANDA $45.00

Additional Information

ITCom reserves the right to refuse any non-academic requests for services.

Additional charges not included in these rates include any charges incurred to provide appropriate network connectivity, such as Ethernet, ISDN, T1, etc. Connectivity charges should not be necessary for most U-M campus sites.