Student Disability Commission

Asynchronous and Remote Access

Guide to Various Streaming Platforms

Finding the streaming platform that best works for your entity and constituents is crucial to providing asynchronous access to student events. There are a variety of streaming platforms available at varying price points that may meet your requirements. Keep in mind that using platforms without user paywalls provides access to most people as possible.

Zoom (recommended for hosting)

  • Zoom/Webinar is the most widely used platform for hosting virtual and hybrid events at the University of Washington.
  • As of the 2021-2022 academic school year, the University of Washington provides all students, faculty and staff access to a free Zoom Licensed account. This Zoom license allows users to host meetings with up to 300 meeting participants for an unlimited duration and allows you to save meeting recordings to the Zoom cloud or your personal computer to allow for asynchronous access
    • Not only does Zoom provide automatic captions, but it also allows for professional CART captioning to provide accurate captioning in real time as well as the ability to pin ASL interpreters along with meeting speakers.
    • Webinar option! Great for allowing panelists to share video, audio and screen. Participants can interact using Q&A, Chat and polling question. 
  • Note: In order to access the Zoom license capabilities, you may need to login using your personal credentials as sponsored net-id logins may only allow access to UW Zoom basic which limits video conferences to 40 minutes when more than two participants are present. For example, your ASUW work email may not allow you access to the Zoom Licensed Account capabilities. 

YouTube (recommended for uploading event recordings)

  • Livestreaming capabilities
    • No limit! Recordings will be saved in 12 hr increments.
    • Automated captions in English (see guide on YouTube Captions!)
    • Option for Professional Captions
  • Free option (recommended)
  • YouTube Premium for $11.99 (perks primarily for consumers). 
    • Allows users to download videos. 
    • Alternatively, if downloadable video recording is requested, if possible, you could share the file to avoid paywall.
  • Video uploads are automatically captioned with option to edit captions (see guide on YouTube Captions!)

Twitch

  • Free option allows for livestreaming
  • Variety of paid subscription options with cost varying locally dependent on cost of living of subscriber
  • Livestream up to 48 hrs. 
  • Great option for presenting video and video games
  • Option for professional captioning
  • No option for automated captioning

Vimeo (least recommended)

  • Vimeo Basic (free) plan has video uploading limits of 500 MB per week and 10 uploads per 24 hours and does not offer livestreaming capabilities.
  • Vimeo Live starts at $75/month billed annually with a variety of plans available depending on live streaming needs
  • Video upload restrictions increase to 5GB/week for $7/mo, 20GB/week for $20/month and Unlimited live streaming and uploading for $75/month. All billed annually. 
  • Automatic captioning provided to premium memberships for 2 hours a year