IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming
Overview
What is IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming?
IBM Watson Media (formerly IBM Cloud Video) provides an enterprise video solution, powered by Watson AI, for creating, storing, managing, broadcasting and measuring the impact of live and recorded video.
There are two editions:
- IBM Enterprise Video Streaming (private or...
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Popular Features
View all 31 features- Live streaming (94)9.999%
- Video link sharing (92)8.080%
- Video quality / Bandwidth controls (91)8.080%
- Mobile compatibility (86)7.070%
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- Free Trial
- Free/Freemium Version
- Premium Consulting / Integration Services
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- About
- Competitors
- Tech Details
- Downloadables
- FAQs
What is IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming?
IBM Watson Media (formerly IBM Cloud Video) provides an enterprise video solution, powered by Watson AI, for
creating, storing, managing, broadcasting and measuring the impact of live and
recorded video.
There are two editions:
- IBM Enterprise Video Streaming (private or internal corporate communications)
- IBM Video Streaming (external events and monetized video streaming)
Both editions include storage, event support, custom branding, content management, multi-user accounts, and real-time analytics. Both are powered by IBM Watson AI for automatic speech to text conversion and automated closed captioning.
IBM Enterprise Video Streaming is an internal video solution that secures video assets for employee use (typically access via single sign-on/corporate directories). Individual viewer tracking measures engagement on a per video or viewer basis. This solution is often used in conjunction with IBM's Enterprise Content Delivery Network (ECDN) offering which does stream splitting and edge caching to help protect the corporate network from the strain of video going across the network.
IBM Video Streaming, an external video solution with optional monetization option, powers video streaming for large
external audiences. It offers scalability for massive viewership using the SD-CDN, a software
defined content delivery network built with QoS (Quality of Service) in mind to
reliably deliver video.
IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming Features
Video Marketing Features
- Supported: Lead generation
- Supported: Video personalization
- Supported: Audience for distribution
- Supported: eCommerce
- Supported: Support for advertisements
- Supported: Video SEO
Video Security Features
- Supported: Video access controls
- Supported: User management
- Supported: SSO support
- Supported: Password protection
- Supported: Video link sharing
- Supported: Embed restrictions
- Supported: Internal video
- Supported: External video
Video Player Features
- Supported: Player customization
- Supported: Embedded videos
- Supported: Video quality / Bandwidth controls
- Supported: Mobile compatibility
Video Analytics Features
- Supported: Streaming quality reports
- Supported: Per viewer tracking
- Supported: Per video tracking
- Supported: Video analytics dashboard
Video Hosting, Management & Storage Features
- Supported: On-Demand video
- Supported: Live streaming
- Supported: Impact of streaming on network
- Supported: Video upload & format support
- Supported: Video library / File management
- Supported: Video portal
- Supported: Video downloads
- Supported: Video editing
- Supported: High definition support
- Supported: Closed captioning / Transcription
Video Engagement Features
- Supported: Audience polling
- Supported: Audience Q&A / Live chat
- Supported: Video comments
Additional Features
- Supported: Scalability
- Supported: Enterprise Security
- Supported: Quality of Service
- Supported: Integrated Content Management
- Supported: Multi-CDN Delivery via SD-CDN
- Supported: Cloud-based Transcoding
- Supported: Social Sharing with Facebook and Twitter Integration
- Supported: Integrated Chat
- Supported: Live Analytics Dashboard
- Supported: Auto-Recording
- Supported: Custom Branding
- Supported: Lead Capture
- Supported: Live Playlists
- Supported: Support for Professional Encoding/Production Gear
- Supported: Enterprise Support Plans
- Supported: Managed Event and Production Services
- Supported: Enterprise Content Delivery Network (eCDN)
IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming Screenshots
IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming Videos
IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming Competitors
- Kaltura
- Dalet Flex
- Vidyard
- Akamai
- Brightcove
- Microsoft SQL Server StreamInsight
- DaCast
- Livestream
- Qumu
- Ramp
- vBrick
- Kontiki
- Onstream
- Wowza
- Sherpa
- movingimage
IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming Technical Details
Deployment Types | Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based |
---|---|
Operating Systems | Unspecified |
Mobile Application | Apple iOS, Android, Mobile Web |
IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming Downloadables
Frequently Asked Questions
IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming Customer Size Distribution
Consumers | 0% |
---|---|
Small Businesses (1-50 employees) | 15% |
Mid-Size Companies (51-500 employees) | 50% |
Enterprises (more than 500 employees) | 35% |
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Advanced Video Streaming Services in a Single Package
The off-air feature allows for select videos to play prior to scheduled broadcasts--essentially, it allows for teasers/trailers to play before the actual featured videos. This proved extremely useful for our organization to provide a looping informational trailer before we launched our scheduled programming.
In addition, the live feature integration is phenomenal. The platform integrates with Zoom and this feature takes precedence over scheduled playlists which is a exceptional aspect because the user has the ability to schedule transition videos of specific slides that will be interrupted when those on the Zoom side are ready to go live. My organization used this for a live Q and A session to further engage the community and spread awareness of a lesser known form of dementia.
Finally, the support team was beyond responsive and accommodating. Any and all questions we had with setting up the platform, hammering out the details, and configuring the videos to run smoothly were addressed by the communicative and attentive IBM support team.
Overall, this is an incredibly advanced and feature-packed platform that would serve any and all video requirements an organization may need. It is well worth the investment and I highly recommend it.
- Video scheduling
- Integration with live platforms like Zoom
- Off-air video capabilities for trailers and informative pre-feature clips
- Use of Q & A/chat box for delivering messages to panelists in external platforms like Zoom
- Superb technical support services
- It isn't always user-friendly or straightforward, but the technical support team will assist in any way they can to walk users through the platform.
Thanks IBM
- Clarity.
- Streaming capabilities.
- Ease of use.
- Integration with Zoom.
Ustream/IBM: Very dependable, needs minor product tweaks
[Updated review on 10/2020: I decided to update this review after IBM stripped one more piece of useful functionality (a simple YouTube integration) without notice this week, and after many months of glitches in their web CMS and cloud platform. We have been a "metal plan" (self-serve) customer for years, and unfortunately, I can no longer recommend this product that deliver excellent performance for a good price. The price now is too high for what it currently delivers, relative to market peers. Save your money and look elsewhere if you're budget is below $20K per year for a live/VOD platform for your company.]
- Rock-solid performance [updated review on 10/2020: not as reliable as 12 months ago]
- Good video management system back-end [updated review on 10/2020: glitchy, waning engineering support]
- Easy for non-technical users to grasp quickly
- Invoicing - would like to see email notification/automation [updated review on 10/2020: Improved - of course, because it helps them collect $]
- Updated templates for embedding channels on web pages [updated review on 10/2020: No major changes]
- Beefing up event notification and functionality and subscription opportunities (this was stripped away earlier) [Updated review on 10/2020: Nothing new here]
Service itself is good, but support from IBM is terrible and has impacted our business.
- Reliable service - we hardly ever run into technical difficulties
- The back end is rather complex and has lots of unnecessary sections. It is not intuitive.
Elementary
- Ready access
- Easy notice
- Update on viewership
- Renewal experience has not been easy.
- Credit card expiry and early notice would be good.
- Functionality could be better when in use.
IBM's screamin'-fast streamin'
- high-definition video
- graphic capabilities
- multiple channels for streaming
- titling capabilities
- preset keying options
- I initially saw dropped broadcasts due to usb conflicts with different accepted video mixers--this could have also been due to mixer/computer incompatibility.
- A handier GUI for audio instead of adjusting audio going to the audio window separately
- Some preset titling revealers for sports livestreaming would be helpful.
- An ability to link with existing scoreboards for livestreaming
Flexible, affordable, and powerful.
- Ease of use.
- Flexibility of using different streaming software.
- Great interface for viewers with no extra work.
- Occasionally, I've had issues with losing connection, making it impossible to stream.
- Metrics can be a little confusing to find accurate viewer numbers.
- The web interface can make finding certain things like chat windows difficult to find.
Streaming a Seminary Classroom
- The streaming platform is easy to navigate from the back end. It does not take extensive training for someone to step in as a video live stream producer.
- I like the functionality to create numerous channels to stream and host varying content.
- Although the platform has the capability to produce a complicated stream with a lot of moving parts, it is also user-friendly enough for an iPhone user to set up a simple stream on his or her phone very easily.
- When using a Remote Desktop source, it is very hard to connect the computer's audio to the stream. It has never worked well for us. And we have often had to use the audio from the room itself as opposed to directly from the computer.
- The chat feature can be more natively integrated into the video source (chats could be overlayed on the video itself as opposed to the side). It would make the interaction more prominent.
- The video editor could be significantly improved. It would be nice to be able to clip more than just the beginning and the end of a recorded video (i.e. if you want to clip a 10 second section from the middle of the video, you need to export the entire recording, import the file into a video editor, edit the video there, export the video out of the video editor, and then import the new file back into the Ustream channel).
IBM Watson Media Review
- It allows us to stream without special equipment. We mainly use our phones.
- The quality of the videos is amazing and I love the fact that videos auto-save and you can download and edit them for later.
- The program allows you to create playlists so that we can stream on our online channel 24/7
- I'd like the option to be able to upload the videos directly to Vimeo.
- The download speed could be faster.
- The program is great and was perfect for what we needed.
The best streaming service for live corporate events
- Channels - Having a channel that can be customized, and having a single link that can be shared before the event without having to update links to attendees is key. Attendees then being able to access the same link to view past broadcasts is important.
- Security - Password protection on a channel is great for those looking to have limited access or monetize a stream.
- Having separate Q&A and chat windows is great. Some events use one or the other, or both.
- Increased security - I would love to have channels be inaccessible to searches on the website, but still accessible via private link.
- A separate mobile app that presenters could use just for the Q&A and Chat module would be fantastic.
- Support for multiple hardware encoders so there could be a failover.
IBM Watson Review
- Streaming video.
- Recording sessions.
- Easy link connection.
- Password access to be able to view different projects.
- It does not allow for the streaming of two different languages at the same time, with the possibility to record in both languages on two different files.
- You cannot record a session for more than three hours.
- You cannot see the name of people who are connected as viewers.
- Stream and record significant events.
- Stream and record staff events and meetings.
- Stream events with moderately priced equipment.
- Better opportunities to stream using wireless connections.
- Simpler user interface.
Video streaming over multiple corporate sites
- Low cost hardware requirement
- Low cost subscription model
- Easy to use
- Automated subtitling included in subscription
- More generous streaming capacity included in standard package
- Better online video management tools - I discovered very old videos were being stored without my knowledge
IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming Brings Church to Travelers and Homebound Members
IBM’s video streaming service is cost-effective for us since we are such a small congregation. We are able to use open-source free products to support our video stream, making this a uniquely accessible approach to a service that is of primary importance to our mission statement.
- This service allows multiple viewers to either set up a free, ongoing account or watch anonymously without getting an account.
- Whether or not the viewer logs into an account or views anonymously, they can participate in the chat room, another feature of IBM’s software. Here, one can ask questions, make comments, and ask for technical support. Our webcasting team also uses this chat room feature to manage/test technical details related to webcast quality and other specific settings for the stream (I.e., sound, image, camera focus, etc.).
- The ability to auto-record is another useful feature for us. The company offers a generous 1000 hours of recorded content per month, which is more than enough for our roughly 4 hours of streaming per week on average. This makes it possible to save an entire year of worship and study time for playback.
- Occasionally, we experience a form of static that lasts for about 1 to 2 minutes. It appears in the live stream and in the auto-recorded file, but not in the live worship assembly. It occurs roughly 1 in every 4 hours of webcast time. I wish there was a way to trace the source of that recurring static. The diagnostic tools could be more robust.
- It would be nice if the chat room allowed a user photo/avatar for each user to personalize that a little more.
- I have wished for a way that an admin could use a “laser pointer” on the video window to point out something on the feed that other live viewers could see.
- It would be wonderful to have a mini-tutorial for viewers who are not technically savvy that would inform them of how to get to the site and explain how they can use the software. For example, how they can see and type in the chat room, how to maximize the screen and make it smaller. Some of our viewers are in nursing homes or otherwise limited in capability to learn to use this on their own.
A Simple Solution for a Live Streaming Extravaganza!
- Simple to use with easy configuration, setup, and integration.
- Allows for multiple channels with independent URLs.
- Low latency, less than 10-15 sec lag in some cases.
- Recording capabilities and management of recordings.
- It's a cloud-based product, which has more latency than on-premises.
IBM Watson Live streaming is Great for Religious Services
- It makes video streaming extremely simple. Anyone with basic computer skills can set it up.
- It is very reasonably priced and the service is much more reliable than free options.
- The quality is good.
- A few have complained about the audio quality, but I am not sure that this is an IBM Watson issue. It may be a microphone problem or an issue with users' speakers.
- I would like the system to be more compatible with Chromebooks. The audio was unacceptable when I used my Chromebook for live streaming, but good when I used my Mac.
- I'd like the silver plan to include more user hours.
Great service! Room to grow!
- Easy to set up
- Easy to customize, although there are very few options.
- The player is simple for the audience to operate
- Stream from the webcam through the browser is a great function, although we don't use it.
- It means your platform can be used with professional cameras with nothing but a BLACKMAGIC web presenter or a BLACKMAGIC ATEM Mini, both of which are cheap and affordable.
- Limited stats
- No registration options
- Vimeo is not as "well known" as other platforms
IBM Watson's Video Streaming Platform is excellent at everything we knew we needed and even had important features we never even dreamed of!
- Streams high-quality video and audio.
- Shows multiple feeds (camera and screen share) in the same view.
- Quickly change video sources to participant testing sessions.
- Sometimes bandwidth causes video quality to become very low.
Easy setup, great service. Our viewers love it.
- Once set up, very easy to start/stop streams
- Review saves streams, editing information
- Sharing saved streams with others
- Easy way to save streams and download later
- I do not like the free version going away. It allowed us to keep streams available when we aren't live streaming (once a year).
- Allow editing of multiple stream information (like the name).
A church's video of IBM Watson (Ustream Pro)
- It just works!
- Reliable.
- Handles different devices, formats and bit rates automatically.
- Support isn't all that helpful.
- The online interface is lacking, hasn't changed much in 9 years.
- No HLS ingest or other ultra low latency options.
Live streaming capabilities are great, but the Analytics Console could use some work
- Ability to create multiple channels for live streaming
- Quality and reliability of the broadcasts
- Easy to use and integrate with our website and social channels
- Bloated user interface
- Difficulty navigating between channels
- Analytics Console could greatly use improvement (i.e. dynamic reporting)
What's On Media - I Be Mobile
- I like the password protection
- The embedding options are great
- The feedback and support functions are great
- Playlists and scheduled broadcasts are good
- I would like more branding options
- I downloaded recorded streams that were of a lower quality than my actual stream quality
A reliable streaming service that we've only praise for.
- Storage of footage is excellent, clear and easily managed.
- Syncing to our streaming system is easy.
- Reliability is always good.
- The preview functionality of saved footage can be very laggy.
Great Company - Great Support - Innovative - Pricing Model could be Better for True Disruption!
- Customer Service
- Platform is easy to understand
- Lower price
Pretty good product.
- Stores media
- Transfers to Youtube
- Download capability
- Support
- Too Expensive
- Downloads take too long.