Item: IBM Video Streaming
Rating: 9
Author: Derek Hoiem

Implementation Rating

It's a good solution for reliability but needs better options for the embedded window, particularly for mobile, and could be a better value for small to medium broadcasters. I'd also like to see more features. The ability to have multiple channels (different viewing windows targeted to different audiences) is a nice feature.

Usability

The user interface is pretty straightforward, but simply needs optimization. (Please hire a seasoned UX person to fix it.) However, all of the key features are there and understandable. It's a great platform overall, a bit expensive, and could use some more options for its viewing experience, and a better "smart" embedding window for mobile applications.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I've been using IBM Cloud Video (UStream) for a number of years now in support of a music blog that I run, and also for events that I livestream for my clients. Although many other free solutions have come online in recent years (YouTube Live, Facebook Live, etc.) they simply are not as reliable as having a private streaming service. IBM Cloud Video allows us to stream from a multitude of professional devices, including Teradek gear that we use a lot, both reliably and easily. Also, the cloud recording is fantastic and allows me to have peace of mind that beyond our local recordings (from a camera or recorder) we will have a cloud-recorded video that we can download to give to the client and/or edit later.

Pros and Cons

Cloud-based video recording.
Reliable transmission of video, resulting in ease of starting a broadcast (more important than you think) and a clear and smooth picture.
Ability to save recordings, organize them, share them, and send them to other online video services.

The user interface is pretty good, but it definitely needs some improvements to help organize videos better, and request online restoration of videos that have been taken offline.
As far as I can tell, new features haven't been added since UStream was acquired by IBM. It seems like development has been paused, or focused on back-end improvements that we as users simply don't see. Would like to see some new improvements being made, especially at this price point.
The mobile viewing window lacks options and cannot detect device orientation. So I embed a video on a page that I can publish through an app, but then the viewing window does not orient correctly, without some complicated JavaScript that I personally have to write. This is an example of a feature that IBM should make and have part of the viewer window platform. Mobile friendly is essential in this day and age.

IBM Cloud Video Business Outcomes

Mainly we're able to provide a quality viewing experience without the noise of Facebook or YouTube to our audience, providing a better branding experience for our users. This shows that we're not just building on the back of another company that doesn't have our users in mind. So for us, using a solution like IBM Video allows us to portray a higher level of "trustworthiness" to our users/customers.

Likelihood to Recommend

For scenarios where you want a reliable broadcast window, without all of the noise from YouTube or Facebook. You can have a clean viewing experience embedded on a web page or mobile app. And also you can cloud-record your broadcasts so you can download and edit them later.

No-Nonsense Live Streaming Solution

Software Version

Overall Satisfaction with IBM Watson Media's Video Streaming