Dear OVPs: Let’s open it up – Part 1

On February 1st 2010, an Online Video Platform (OVP) called thePlatform introduced their new MPX beta aimed at simplifying online video content management. As per an earlier entry, each OVP is providing a front end management console built upon their Content Management System (CMS).

Each OVP’s Content Management Systems are different, but for the most part do exactly the same thing in a myriad of ways. The issue for a potential customer is to find out what CMS would work best for their media workflow, information architecture and how to tie it into their web CMS or Digital Asset Management Systems (DAMS).

The “one-stop-shop” approach of OVPs can actually make life harder for their clients. It might be in the best interest of the OVP industry to find ways to leverage the customer’s CMS. This would allow OVPs to compete on providing the simplest CMS integration, as well as developing intuitive/value-add front-end console to manage your video assets, players, etc. This would also open the door for easier migration between OVPs, which would contribute in developing a healthy competitive space.

Going forward, specialized technology shops (for live streaming, monetization, syndication, reporting, etc.) could just be a ‘plug-in’ that would extend an OVP in order for clients to use best-of-breed technologies for their business needs and budget constraints. Right now, OVPs cover a lot of services. Some of them do a better job at one thing than another. Would OVP users want a single provider do 100 things at 1% in a closed ecosystem or 1 thing at 100% in an open space?

(hint: Let’s open it up and see the best solution win!)

Where All OVPs Fail

Let’s say you’ve gone through the work of having your company agree to use an OVP (versus the “free” YouTube alternative) and you’ve done your due diligence in picking the most appropriate one for your functional/integration needs to reach your business goals and digital workflow. By now, you’re fully dependent on the OVP’s financial future and product roadmap (even if they have full-blown APIs for extensibility). But, what if you want to switch OVPs after you’ve created thousands of video posted everywhere from internal and external blogs, product pages, that you may or may not be able to control?

Online Video Platform Summit Debrief

Way overdue, but still relevant… This post will cover main conversation points that were discussed at the various sessions of the OVPS ‘09 back in November. If you’re interested in upcoming industry trends in online video and monetization, feel free to read on…

The Online Video Platform Madness

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.

Webcasting for the Enterprise – Part 2

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.

Webcasting for the Enterprise – part 1

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?

Digital Media for the 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.

Online Video for the Enterprise – Part 2

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.

System Convergence

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.

Kontent

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.