I would like to assign a film for my course. What video streaming services does Babson have access to?
We encourage you to use films that are readily accessible through one of our three video streaming platforms and should be leveraged as a first choice (if possible).
This link opens in a new window This link opens in a new windowAny film assigned from one of these three databases has cleared copyright and can be linked in Canvas for class use.
Some films you wish to assign may not be available in one of the three databases and this is where challenges to film access often arise. Each film/video poses its own access challenges, but in our experience they usually fall into one of the following scenarios:
I cannot find the films I wish to assign in any of Babson's streaming databases. Is it still possible for me to get class access to the films I want to assign?
Perhaps. It all depends on the film and where it is made available. There are several scenarios which have their own unique challenges for class access.
The following scenarios consistently pose challenges for class access. None of the major commercial streaming platforms (such as Amazon Prime and Netflix) allow institutional pricing/access. Their business models are built on individual subscriber access. Higher education institutions have been trying to encourage major media vendors to allow institutional pricing for many years, but the companies are showing little to no interest in changing their business model.
What if the film/video I want to assign is only available on Amazon Prime, Netflix, etc?
This is very common and also the biggest challenge. If a film is available on only one commercial platform, the only option for viewing is on that platform. It is a violation of copyright for instructors to stream complete films during class using their own Prime or Netflix accounts. If the film is essential to the course, instructors should require students to purchase their own subscriptions, or, if the film is available to rent, should ask students to rent the required titles.
What if the film I want to assign is available through multiple platforms (Prime, Netlfix, Hulu, etc) for a rental fee?
This scenario is very common. the small rental fees charged to individuals for temporary streaming rights usually do not exceed $5-10 (dollars). It is reasonable to expect and require students to rent the film from a provider as a portion of the costs associated with accessing course materials, similar to renting/buying books or course packets.
A note on illegally "pirated" films on YouTube, Vimeo, DailyMotion, etc. Please avoid linking to illegal copies. These links are almost always copyright non-compliant and very often unstable. Google often polices their own content and removes illegal copies of songs on YouTube and have, from time to time, done the same for films.
What if a film is available only on DVD/Blu-Ray?
As the DVD/Blu-Ray format wanes in popularity, it is becoming less common to find films available in only this optical format. Many older films fall into this category. Laptops issued by Babson to students no longer have optical drives and as such students should not be expected to watch a DVD on their own. Horn Library does have a few external optical drives that attach to laptops via USB that can be used to watch DVDs, but this is not a good choice if you have large class sections with many students who all want to borrow the DVD and optical drives at the same time (usually on the day before a viewing assignment is due).
What if the film I want to assign is available only directly from the filmmaker or distributer?
Sometimes independent filmmakers and film distributers do not contract with large commercial vendors to make their films available to the public. Filmmakers and some studios sometimes work with customers directly. If you want to use a film from such a filmmaker or distributer, contact your library liaison to see what the best options might be.
How can I know where a film is available for streaming?
If Horn Library has no access to a film through one of its three subscription platforms, yet you would like to see all the commercial platforms through which the film may be available (whether with a subscription or for small rental fees), try looking on JustWatch.com. You can see every platform on which any film is available. You and your students can decide for yourselves which platform works best.