ChaserTV iMap streaming is an service provided by Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. (WDT) available for ChaserTV subscribers. With iMap, subscribers are able to increase the viewership of their streams and also earn a per-minute revenue for viewers watching their streams.

To stream into iMap, a ChaserTV subscriber must launch and run the iMapTracker software while also streaming video into the iMap video servers.

By running the iMapTracker software you agree to the following terms and conditions regarded your video streams:

Viewer Minutes

• Streamers in iMap will be compensated based on the amount of time a viewer watches their stream. The first viewer minute is counted 15 seconds after the streamer’s video begins playing, then every minute thereafter as long as the video is playing.
• A viewer hour is counted as 60 viewer minutes.
• Streamers will earn a compensation of $50 per thousand viewer hours ($0.05 per viewer hour).
• Viewer minutes will accrue for both live and video clip playback.
• Viewer minutes WILL accrue from videos viewed in the ChaserTV iMap, as well as any other iMap products provided by WDT on other websites.
• Viewer minutes not will accrue from videos viewed in on-air video players provided to broadcasters or video players provided to the National Weather Service offices.
• Viewer minute payments are for our U.S. based streamers only. We do not currently have the provisions to handle international payments.
• Viewer Minute Fraud
  • Unfortunately, some streamers have chosen to attempt taking advantage of our payment system by generating viewer minutes for themselves using fraudulent methods. While we have no problem paying for viewer minutes generated by actual viewers, fraudulent viewer minute inflation will not be tolerated.
  • Any streamer found to be artificially inflating their revenue with fraudulent viewer minutes will have their account terminated without notice, with a loss of any remaining streaming subscription as well as all accrued revenue.
  • We consider the following to be in violation of our fraudulent viewer minute rules:
    • Systems set up for playback of a stream continuously and/or unattended, without viewer interaction
    • Simultaneous playback of the same stream in multiple browser windows or multiple browsers on the same computer
    • Continuous playback of a stream on the same computer that is broadcasting the stream
    • Attempts to access or probe our servers using any undocumented methods
• While we will not disclose specific methods we use to monitor anomalous viewer minutes, rest assured we will not terminate any streamer unless we have definitive proof they are attempting to defraud us.

SPC Bounty Days

• On days with an SPC moderate risk area defined on the 20Z outlook, the ChaserTV streamer with the highest number of viewer minutes will earn a $25 bounty in addition to their viewer minute payments.
• On days with an SPC high risk area defined on the 20Z outlook, the ChaserTV streamer with the highest number of viewer minutes will earn a $50 bounty in addition to their viewer minute payments.
• Regardless of the location of the SPC risk areas, bounty days are considered to begin and end at midnight Central time.
• SPC bounty payments are for our U.S. based streamers only. We do not currently have the provisions to handle international payments.
• The top ten streamers for the current day can be seen at http://chasertv.com/tracker/admin/currenttop10.php

Payments

• WDT will issue and mail payment checks within 45 days of the end of each calendar month.
• WDT will only issue checks for earned payments of $50 or higher. Earned payments less than $50 in any month will be rolled into the next month. These earned amounts never expire, and will continue to be rolled into subsequent months until the $50 threshold is reached.
• Streamers wishing to cancel their involvement with ChaserTV and iMap streaming will forfeit any amount earned that is under the $50 payment threshold.
• No payments will be issued until WDT receives a completed IRS W-9 form.
  • This form is available for download HERE.
    • Return signed form by faxing it to (405) 579-7780, scanning it and emailing it to us, or by mailing it to:
      Weather Decision Technologies/ChaserTV
      201 David L Boren Blvd
      Suite 270
      Norman, OK 73072
    • Please inform us if you want your payment checks sent to an address that’s different than the one on the W-9 form.
• WDT is required to submit an IRS form 1099-MISC for any year a streamer earns $600 or more.

ChaserTV Subscription Refunds

• Streamers are expected to purchase their annual subscriptions with ChaserTV as usual. However, the first payment check issued after a subscription purchase or renewal will also include a refund of the streamer’s subscription price.

On-air Use

• In exchange for viewer minute payments, streamers agree to allow limited use of their streams, without further compensation, by WDT’s broadcast partners for use on-air. On-air broadcasts of live streams, with proper attribution, lead broadcast viewers to watch the streams on the internet, thereby increasing viewership of all streams.
• Streamers have the ability to prevent access of their streams to any or all broadcasters by enabling the embargo system in the streamer’s administration console.
• Once a station is embargoed, the streamer will not appear in the station’s broadcast portal or in any of the station’s iMap products online.
• WDT’s broadcast partners are given the following terms regarding on-air use of streams:
  • On-Air, broadcast use of streams
    • The iMap video streamers have granted WDT’s broadcast partners permission their streams to be shown live, on-air, and without compensation with the understanding that the following conditions and restrictions will be followed by the broadcaster:
      • Broadcasters are only authorized to use streams visible to them via their broadcaster portal. Streams not appearing in the portal but visible on other iMap sites are off limits
        • Broadcast portals provide an ad-free video player, suitable for on-air use
        • The video player in broadcast portals is larger than that available on public iMaps
        • Streamers have the ability to embargo their video from any broadcasters they choose, and the broadcast portals enforce these restrictions
        • Broadcast portals play the streams from non-public video servers, ensuring availability even during events which result in high loads on the public video servers
      • Streams in the broadcaster portal are intended for live, on-air use only
      • Streams shall not be recorded for later playback, except for portions of streams recorded as a result of previous, live, on-air use
      • Streams and recordings of streams shall not be sold or otherwise redistributed
      • Attributions appearing in the upper left corner of the video streams shall be shown as-is or recreated by the broadcaster to be visible during on-air use
• WDT will not restrict any streamer who desires to pursue legal action against a broadcaster for unauthorized use of the streamer’s video.

Recording and Archives

• WDT shall be permitted to record and archive any video that is broadcast to them by iMap streamers.
  • Streamers shall have the ability to access and download their video archives via the administration console.
• WDT shall be permitted to create video clips from portions of the recorded archives.
  • These video clips can be made available by WDT for viewing at any time, following the same restrictions as live video usage.
  • Streamers will accrue the same per viewer minute compensation for clips as they receive for live video.
• WDT shall be permitted to archive still images sent by the streamers via the iMapTracker software.
• WDT shall be permitted to archive position reports sent by the streamers via the iMapTracker software.

National Weather Service Use

• WDT provides, without compensation, iMap live and recorded video streams to the National Weather Service offices for use in severe weather warning decisions.
• Viewership by the National Weather Service will not contribute to a streamer’s viewer minutes.

Promotion

• WDT and its partners shall be permitted to use still images and screen captures of a streamer’s video to promote the streamer and ChaserTV/iMap in print or online (Facebook, Twitter, etc).

Permitted Stream Content

• iMap streamers are visible on many websites, primarily television, newspaper, and radio sites. We want to make sure the content is consistent and what is expected for viewers on these sites.
• Since iMap is a commercial product, there are additional restrictions to what can be streamed. Any stream found with non-permitted content may be disabled.
• We want to keep iMap family-friendly. Please refrain from excessive profanity if you are streaming audio. Do not use profanity on screen overlay text. Streams found with explicit video content will be disabled.
• Permitted content
  • Streams showing the LIVE weather conditions outside
    • Stationary cameras are fine as long as the sky is visible
  • Streams showing LIVE work on a storm chase vehicle, or a demonstration of storm chasing equipment, whether indoors or outdoors
  • Streams from indoors at weather related conventions or other public events
  • Examples of non-traditional content allowed in the past
    • Christmas light tours
    • Fourth-of-July fireworks
    • Streaming from a combine during harvest
    • Streaming from a remote-controlled helicopter
    • Streaming a ruler set up on a patio during a snow event
• Content not permitted
  • Recorded video content
  • Streaming from indoors unless it’s listed as permitted above
  • Streaming music
    • The penalties for commercial use of copyrighted audio and video are much greater than non-commercial infringement, therefore we must ask that no music be part of stream audio
    • Incidental background radio sound will be allowed as long as it’s not the primary audio on a stream

Changes to iMap Streaming Terms

• These terms may be modified or added to by WDT at any time. Any changes will be made available on this website.
• Any streamer not agreeing to these terms should not stream into the system. Additionally, if you have any archive video clips you wish to remove from the system you must send a request to CTV Support asking for its removal.