# HOW TO: What is a broadcast? How do I publish one?

**URL:** <https://forums.counterparty.io/t/how-to-what-is-a-broadcast-how-do-i-publish-one/32>\
**Category:** Counterparty\
**Created:** [February 2, 2014, 12:10pm UTC](https://forums.counterparty.io/t/how-to-what-is-a-broadcast-how-do-i-publish-one/32 "2014-02-02T12:10:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cityglut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@cityglut](https://forums.counterparty.io/u/cityglut)\
**Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 12:10pm UTC](https://forums.counterparty.io/t/how-to-what-is-a-broadcast-how-do-i-publish-one/32/1 "2014-02-02T12:10:37Z")

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A broadcast is textual or numerical data which is in turn used as the subject of bets. A series of broadcasts is called a ‘feed’. Someone who publishes a feed is called a ‘feed-operator’.  
  
There are two types of bets, Contracts for Difference ([font=courier]BearCFD/BullCFD[/font]) and [font=courier]Equal/NotEqual [/font]bets.  
  
If Bob wants to publish the price of gold, for example  
  
`broadcast --from=BOBS_ADDRESS --text=&quot;'The price of gold in USD.'&quot; --value=1260 --fee-multiplier=.01`  
  
[font=courier]fee-multiplier[/font] is the percentage of the bet that goes to the feed-operator, thus in this case %1.  
  
The command above would be a broadcast upon which users could create CFDs. An example of a&nbsp; broadcast upon which people could users could make an Equal/NotEqual bet is:  
  
`broadcast --from=BOBS_ADDRESS --text=&quot;'The price of gold in USD. 1=inc 2=dec'&quot; --value=2 --fee-multiplier=.01`

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**Author:** ![blackbeard](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex004/user_avatar/forums.counterparty.io/blackbeard/32/6_2.png) [@blackbeard](https://forums.counterparty.io/u/blackbeard)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://forums.counterparty.io/t/how-to-what-is-a-broadcast-how-do-i-publish-one/32/2 "2014-02-15T16:26:25Z")

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I’m trying to make a real world system that uses the blockchain to send out a request for assistance. Like let’s say I have a flat tire and I need someone to come and fix it for me. Would that be better as a broadcast or an order?

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**Author:** ![cityglut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@cityglut](https://forums.counterparty.io/u/cityglut)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2014, 4:52pm UTC](https://forums.counterparty.io/t/how-to-what-is-a-broadcast-how-do-i-publish-one/32/3 "2014-02-15T16:52:04Z")

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[quote author=blackbeard link=topic=4.msg542#msg542 date=1392499585]  
I’m trying to make a real world system that uses the blockchain to send out a request for assistance. Like let’s say I have a flat tire and I need someone to come and fix it for me. Would that be better as a broadcast or an order?  
[/quote]  
  
Great question! In my opinion, that would be better as a broadcast. The broadcast may be something like:  
  
`broadcast --source=BLACKBEARDS_ADDRESS --text=&quot;HELP! FLAT TIRE! READ MORE HERE: gotaflat.com&quot; --value= --fee-multiplier=0&quot;`  
  
With an order, you would first have to create an asset (FLAT), provide a description (same as broacast, perhaps) , and then sell that asset on the distributed exchange. It’s more work and also a contrived use.  
  
To make sure that your broacast cannot decide a bet, you must keep value empty.