Item: IBM Video Streaming
Rating: 1
Author: Verified User

Implementation Rating

At the end of the day, Ustream is a video streaming service. When my team gets errors when trying to stream, from multiple locations in multiple geos, there is a problem, and the service hasn't fulfilled its purpose. When we have users saying that they are having playback issues, again the service hasn't fulfilled its purpose. Try explaining that to the CEO when he asks why the stream is suffering.

Unfortunately for us, Ustream doesn't really have competition in certain areas of their service. The Okta integration, and the video library, and the ability to set up channels with unique stream keys that always stay the same is great, and unique to Ustream. It's too bad we spend so much time actually trying to stream. If we ever find a competitor who offers those same features, we're definitely going to look at switching.

Usability

It can't be usable when it doesn't work, and additionally, there are serious problems with the video library management. [There is] No way to do bulk tasks, no way to use keyboard commands for functions like video trimming or thumbnail selection. Things don't always sync, things get lost. It's a disaster.

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

It is being used to stream our town halls, intro sessions, and all company wide internal communication to all the employees in the company. We use AJA and Black Magic capture cards and a Black Magic 2/ME switcher for video injest, and stream to Ustream via Wirecast Pro. We run about 10 or so streams a week.

Pros and Cons

The ability to record and host videos for rewatch in the future.
Okta integration.

Streaming. There are so many problems with streaming. Often times streams will drop out for seemingly no reason, both from a transmitter perspective in Wirecast, and for end users.
The interface for the dashboard for video management is terrible.
The trim video function is terrible, and almost impossible to use.
The thumbnail selection is terrible.
The ability to customize the playback portal is terrible.
The customer support is terrible. They always deflect blame.
Price is WAY too high for the level of service we're getting. Everything is an extra add-on. It used to be cheaper for more service, now it's more expensive, extra functions that were previously available included are extra charges, and the terrible unreliable service is still the same.
There is WAY too much latency from when you stream to when users can see the video. Compared to YouTube, where it's almost immediate. Viewers on Ustream are anywhere from 5-120 seconds behind live (averaging about 20-40 seconds), where as youtube, are between 5-20 (averaging at about 5 seconds behind).

IBM Cloud Video Business Outcomes

We are able to spread internal communication easily.

Likelihood to Recommend

The ability to stream at any time to a specific channel is nice. But any instance of mission critical work, Ustream is not to be trusted to pull through.

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Bob Lee
(Vendor Representative) commented 7 years ago
Hello. My name is Bob Lee and I am responsible for the Voice of the Customer programs here at IBM Cloud Video. I’m writing to thank you for taking the time to review our platform and reach out to you to see how I might help. Our customers truly matter to us and it is my job to try to understand how people use our solutions and work with other teammates across the organization, not just to celebrate our customer’s successes, but also to help address any issues they encounter. I would appreciate the opportunity to chat about your experiences and explore any ways that I may be able to help. Please reach out to me directly at lbob@us.ibm.com so we can schedule time to talk at your earliest convenience.

Ustream: Can't live with it, can't live without it.

Software Version

Overall Satisfaction with IBM Cloud Video (including Ustream)