This post will cover an overview of the Online Video Platform (OVP) space, based on the latest information gathered at the Online Video Platform Summit that was put together on November 18-19 in San Jose, California. If you’re a potential new OVP user, current one or an actual OVP, there’s something for everyone on this post. Continue reading ‘The Online Video Platform Madness’
In this follow up post, I’ll go through the advantages and pitfalls of having an Enterprise create and maintain an internal webcasting service from scratch.
Does it make sense to have all Enterprises invest in building/supporting a streaming infrastructure, studios, application licenses, systems and people to support an internal multimedia department? Would that internal infrastructure be more flexible to leverage new tools in order to deliver cutting-edge solutions and services than external companies?
A few years ago, the answer would have been a resounding “yes”. However, the technical barrier-to-entry and costs keep inching lower, while vast improvements and innovations are made in cost-effective and efficient webcast services, it is now much harder for me to answer that question. Continue reading ‘Webcasting for the Enterprise – Part 2′
The landscape of webcasting has rapidly evolved over the past few years. In this post, I’ll cover which tools and strategies will work best for setting up a low-cost, highly effective and ROI-based webcasting program/system for the Enterprise, and what to stay away from…
Back in 1999, I streamed my first training webcast across the continent, from Mountain View, CA to a remote office in India. Even though the video stream was very low quality and the latency was more than 30 seconds, it was still very exciting. The ability to offer up-to-the-minute, train-the-trainer programs from corporate offices proved to be quite effective in order to help our customers understand how to use our e-commerce products, so THEY can take their business online. It was obviously much cheaper and more time-effective than flying people out. Back then, this grassroots webcasting effort was mostly a local encoder that I would take to classrooms to originate the stream, and a local server in a make-shift datacenter closet. Everything within the digital video and streaming workflow had to be manually set up, customized and monitored.
10 years later, anyone can stream video through their cell phone (kyte, qik) or laptops (LiveStream, Justin.tv, Ustream.tv), most media providers provide live webcasting (ON24, Origin Digital and many others), online video platforms are rolling out live video streaming (Ooyala, Brightcove, etc.) and there are lots of tools for the geeky type who still love to handle the technology hands-on. With so many options to choose from, how can you know which one will work best for your Enterprise?
In this post I’ll uncover the various multimedia presentation/packaging options for your content, which I’ll often refer as “multimedia vehicles” and how all of these vehicles have specific attributes that can enhance your content. Picking the right multimedia vehicle can be quite challenging, since it is affected by various parameters: content, audience, purpose and location.
As you already know, “Content is King” (and as per Laurence’s comment in my previous entry, “Experts are Kings” as well).
However, grabbing the viewer’s attention through creative content solves only a part of the Digital Media communication program for the Enterprise.
Now that you’ve decided to use either social video sites or an Online Video Platform to manage/distribute your online videos [see previous post], it’s time to take a look at putting your video to work, and achieve your business goals.
You do have business goals behind it, right?
Whether you are doing videos for marketing (read: pre-sales), or various internal/external communication and training programs, the success factors for the Enterprise is all about ROI: showing management how much business their online video investment is generating.
The thing I love about the iPhone is that I only have to carry a single device that acts as a little media system. Not only does it act as a cell phone, but it takes pictures, videos, connects to various online apps, check email, browse the web and many other things.
This makes me wonder WHY we have so many specialized systems to run our cable/satellite TV with DVR, gaming/blu-ray/media storage, audio system, VoIP, etc. Why can’t they all be on a single system?
Case in point: DirecTV’s hardware runs on less than adequate OS, CPU and Memory which aren’t upgrade-able. It’s also ‘closed’, meaning there’s no way to have your media on your DVR play on your phone, PS3 or other devices. Sony did a good job with the PS3, other than the ‘closed’ OS they have on there. And then we have our laptop/desktops as well using yet another OS, CPUs, memory, etc.
Each of these media devices ought to be one. Similar to the iPhone example, but taking it to the next level.
Due to the lower technical barrier to entry into digital media communications (production/delivery), everyone can create content and put it online. However, Content is sometimes treated as an afterthought. We should be reminded that Content is King. Without it, the flashiest and most innovative digital media programs would ultimately fail.
So, for this article I’ll talk about the importance of Content, and what media producers in corporate communications may want to think about.
No matter what Online Video Platform (OVP), digital signage, or broadcast/webcast method you’re leveraging, no one will watch your media (or will watch once but never return) if you do not have compelling, relevant, timely, digestible content.
Is your company looking to leverage online video as part of their training or marketing communication programs? Can’t decide between placing your media on YouTube or an Online Video Platform? If so, read on…
There are social video sites (YouTube, Blip.tv, Vimeo, etc.) and there are Online Video Platforms (Brightcove, Ooyala, Feedroom, KickApps and many more). The first difference you will see is that one is FREE while the other one demands a bit more of a financial commitment.
While FREE is good, you also get what you pay for in some instances.
The Digital Media world is far from being truly “connected”.
Imagine an integrated, adaptive, interactive rich-media platform built on industry/open standards that delivers and aggregates content onto all digital devices in order to speed up communications, collaboration, learning, marketing and sales.
The current problem is that various vendors only solve pieces of the puzzle, thus creating a cumbersome (and pricey) operation to manage.
Think of a clock. Simple, right? It shows the time of the day. Now, think all the devices that show the time (alarm clock, watch, car, microwave, oven, computer, etc.) and tell me they are all showing the exact same time, to the second. They’re not? Not a surprise.
Now take that analogy to a video feed. Again, this is just data. You’d think that core video data can be manipulated on a cloud to display on all devices at the same time, or as video-on-demand.
I’m often reminded of the limitation when I want to view media content from my various devices, anytime, anywhere (SlingMedia looks promising but is only TV-to-web). Video is also losing steam in this multi-tasking, A.D.D. world. It needs more interactivity nowadays. It needs to leverage the video medium to its fullest in order to provide an experience solution for entertainment, commerce and learning. Allow me to explain the vision:
This blog will cover a wide array of topics, but they all come down to digital media.
A little bit about me: I’ve been in the business since 1999, recording training material about Netscape e-commerce suites and putting it online as video-on-demand for our instructors and clients. Nowadays, after being a media producer, webcaster, client services manager and multimedia Lead, I now provide technical media strategy for Sun Microsystems Inc (for now). I’m also always delighted to help out my friends with their Digital Media questions, wherever they are.
So, what’s “Walking Beyond the Line” about? It’s about walking the path of the media convergence of all digital devices and media services on the internet, television and radio. How a new generation deals with these so called “connected devices”.
Next: Media Connected Services…
LB
