Beamafilm
editBeamafilm is a platform for on-demand streaming of independent films, documentaries, classics and world cinema[1] with thousands of award-winning titles catalogued and tagged by genre and subject.
The platform facilitates access to curated content via different licensing options for institutional and consumer audiences. Members of participating libraries,[2] government and corporate organisations can stream for free via Beamafilm’s Institutional offering.[3] The platform also offers access to consumers via transactional video-on-demand (TVOD) and subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) offerings.[4]
History
editBeamafilm was founded in Sydney, Australia, on February 11, 2011 to pursue educational and independent streaming for feature documentaries. Initially backed by Screen Australia as a collaboration by Antidote Films and Pan Pacific Interactive, the service was publicly launched at the Australian International Documentaries Conference in February 2012. [5] [6]
Beamafilm’s catalogue has progressively expanded to encompass a broader range of content including drama, movies, and series and the platform’s development has evolved via API integrations with search engines[4] and partnerships with library technology providers such as OCLC, SirsiDynix, and Civica. Collaboration with film festivals, library consortia[7], procurement services, and industry associations[8] has occurred as the company has scaled its institutional and consumer offerings towards a global audience.
Beamafilm remains an independently owned company led by co-founder and managing director Louise van Rooyen.[9][10]
Services
editThe service includes features such as personalised profiles and recommendations, favourites, closed captions, clip creation, citation tools, and other tools for users to share videos, clips and watchlists with other members.
Beamafilm provides institutional libraries with a dedicated and customisable website through which their members can stream documentaries, films, and series. Enterprise-level services include statistics dashboards with access to marketing resources and programs, MARC records for all titles, and integrations with discoverability and learning management technology systems.
Business model
editParticipating public library patrons, college or university students and faculty can watch Beamafilm for free with their library member cards. Institutions pay when their members watch films, and filmmakers or rights holders paid via enterprise licenses.
Libraries can choose from licensing options such as fixed-fee unlimited access subscriptions based on the type or size of their user base, patron-driven acquisition’ where license fees are triggered when patrons view titles, transactional or single title licenses. Librarians can access a customised administrative dashboard offering user analytics data, film and marketing resources and account information.
Device support
editBeamafilm can be viewed online with a computer, mobile device, or television via a web browser supporting HTML5 video or via free Beamafilm mobile and TV apps for Android and Apple iOS.
References
edit- ^ "New TV Series & Movies streaming on Beamafilm Australia". Flicks.com.au. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ Webb-Liddall, Alice (2020-04-06). "Beyond Netflix: Where to watch TV and movies without spending a cent". The Spinoff. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "Beamafilm - full list of movies and tv shows online". JustWatch. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ a b "Move Over Netflix - Kāpiti Libraries Launch Movie Streaming Service | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "2010-2011 - Legacy distribution approvals - In the archive - Funding approvals - Industry development - Funding and Support". Screen Australia. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "Screen Australia Annual Report 2011/12" (PDF). Screen Australia Annual Report.
- ^ "EPIC vendors". natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "Beamafilm". alia.org.au. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "NFSA - Title Details". colsearch.nfsa.gov.au. Retrieved 2023-10-10.
- ^ "The New Media Oral History Project". Australian Media Oral History Group. 2017-09-12. Retrieved 2023-10-10.