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VIDEO PLAYER SPECIFICATIONS

bsp-admin-1 on May 19, 2009

I recently discussed the capabilities of the video player with one of our key account customers during the Project Launch phase. Before BEML, the primary choice was between adopting an existing template or creating a fully custom video player using Flash and/or JavaScript.

With BEML, the scope of player functionality has fundamentally improved. Now, everyone—except those with a Brightcove basic account—can easily create a custom template to suit their needs. For most users, it’s faster and simpler to duplicate an existing template and modify the BEML code to create a tailored variant. However, the real power of BEML lies in its ability to specify all the features of the video player in detail.

KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR CUSTOMIZED VIDEO PLAYERS

Below is a list of questions I use to help customers identify the parameters needed for building a customized player:

  • User Experience: At what point in the user journey does the player appear, and in what context?
  • User Interaction: What do I want users to do while watching a video? Switch to fullscreen? Read an article?
  • Post-Viewing Actions: What do I want users to do after watching the video? See more videos? Navigate to related content? Share it with others?
  • Content Type: What type of content will the player display (e.g., aspect ratio, quality)?
  • User Interface Elements: What interface elements should be included (e.g., menu overlay, playlist, control buttons)?
  • Styling: What styling considerations (e.g., design, branding) are necessary?
  • Localization: Does the player need specific labels for niche or non-English-speaking markets?
  • Sizing and Layout: How much space does the player need? Should it use an elastic or fixed layout?
  • Advertising Features: What display ad capabilities are required (e.g., banners, extended banners, background banners)?
  • Brand Marketing: What branding features should the player include (e.g., logo, colors, images)?
  • Syndication and Distribution: Does the player need to be syndicated or shared virally? Will it maintain its appearance in environments outside my control?
  • Advanced Options: What specific features are required (e.g., chaptering, custom buttons)?
  • Skills and Resources: Do I have the skills to achieve the above, or do I need help from Brightcove or a partner?

These questions form a solid starting point for building a fully customized video player. Of course, there are many more considerations, but addressing these will lay a strong foundation.

PROGRESSIVE DOWNLOAD VERSUS STREAMING

bsp-admin-1 on March 31, 2009

Several clients have asked about the difference between steaming and progressive download delivery methods.

In practice, you will very rarely realize whether the content has been streamed or progressively downloaded, unless you look for some of the distinguishing features described below.

What is Progressive Download?

With progressive downloads, the video is actually downloaded to the viewer’s computer, and stored in a temporary directory. Content will start playing out as soon as it is available locally.

If viewers want to fast-forward or skip to another section, they will only be able to do so if that part of the video has already been delivered and stored on their machine. The video is delivered via the standard http protocol like any other webpage.

Progressive Download Characteristics

  • Advancing is not possible unless it has been downloaded already
  • Does not effectively utilize Brightcove’s dynamic delivery feature
  • Less secure, content can be easily copied
  • More bandwidth is used as all parts of the video are downloaded, not just the watched portions
  • HTTP protocol in use

Progressive Download Benefits

You would think that streaming would be the obvious choice as it has certain advantages over progressive download. Having said that, in 2009, we have many customers who use progressive download. For example, one of our clients in Germany switched to progressive download because of the firewall restrictions on German cooperate networks.

Another reason for using progressive download, would be the use of the Brightcove sample to build an iPhone app, which works with progressive download.

What is Streaming Delivery?

Streaming video, on the other hand, is delivered via a streaming server without the file ever being downloaded to the viewer’s computer. As soon as the viewer presses play, the video will start to play.

Viewers can fast-forward or skip to other parts of the video immediately and the video will continue to play from that point onwards.

Streaming Delivery Characteristics

  • Advancing video is possible
  • Effectively utilizes Brightcove’s dynamic delivery feature
  • Secures video content via temporary video link
  • Allows you to serve more steams with less bandwidth
  • Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) in use

Streaming Delivery Benefits

One of the big positives of streaming media is that it only uses as much bandwidth as the viewer has watched, since only the portion of video viewed was delivered. Nothing is kept on the client side. Everything is on the server side and is being delivered via the Real Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), which is a proprietary protocol developed by Adobe.

Brightcove Video Delivery Support

Brightcove supports both types of delivery methods, which is set on the account level. If switching from one type of delivery to the other, you will find that the videos already uploaded to Brightcove will remain in the original format.

We have built a platform that centrally manages video content and viewing data, and we are strengthening our online marketing.

bsp-admin-1 on July 17, 2007

ENHANCING VIDEO MARKETING BY LINKING CDP AND VIEWING DATA

Treasure Data, a data business division belonging to Arm’s loT service group, provides a customer data platform (CDP) to more than 400 corporate customers worldwide, including Fortune 500 companies. This platform enables the provision of excellent customer experiences and digital business transformation by integrating data from the digital and offline activities of each customer and data generated by loT devices.

In 2017, Treasure Data was quick to develop a plugin that linked Brightcove Video Cloud and CDP in order to better understand customers. While they had previously had on-demand video content, they were now able to not only manage this efficiently on their owned media, but also obtain detailed data on who was watching which videos and to what extent, enabling them to conduct detailed information analysis to strengthen their marketing.
Since 2018, they have been holding an offline seminar called “PLAZMA” once a quarter to disseminate the latest information on the theme of digital transformation. This event features opinion leaders from various fields, technology partners, and many people who use CDP.

They have adopted the Brightcove Video Marketing Suite to begin full-scale marketing using video content from each session of this event, which they have been accumulating on their owned media.

One of the great things about this partnership is that we can design it with an eye to not only the collaboration between Treasure Data and Brightcove Video Cloud, but also the collaboration with various other marketing tools, while thinking about how we can provide more attractive solutions to the world in the future.

Hiroki Kobayashi
Marketing Manager, Treasure Data, Inc.

Providing content to a live audience that greatly exceeded expectations

In 2020, amid growing concerns about a new coronavirus outbreak in Japan, the decision was made to broadcast the live internet broadcast of the “PLAZMA” to reduce the risk. Treasure Data had originally had the idea of digitally transforming the “PLAZMA” itself. While they were developing their forward-looking vision, they were also quietly considering live streaming as a foothold, and in the end they decided to go ahead with the live streaming in response to social needs. However, by combining their previous experience in recording and filming with Brightcove Live, they were able to achieve this in a short period of time.

There were around 1,300 pre-registrations for the seminar, and based on past statistics we expected around 600 to 700 people to attend. However, in reality, around 400 people attended on both days, and the number of online viewers recorded around 850 on both days. In other words, we were able to provide content to 90% of those who had registered in advance and to more than 200% of the expected number of visitors. The average viewing time per day was about 90 minutes, which means that each viewer watched two sessions (40 minutes per session). After the event, there were many positive comments and expressions of gratitude on social networking sites and chat rooms.

Aiming to further promote online marketing

Treasure Data plans to continue to create groundbreaking content that has never been seen before, combining offline and online, live and on-demand distribution, and new technologies such as VR and 360-degree video, including events such as PLAZMA.

Mr. Kobayashi of Treasure Data says, “As a company that supports digital transformation, we ourselves would like to continue to take on various challenges with Brightcove.

He also said, “One of the great things about working with Brightcove is that we can design solutions that will be even more attractive in the future, not only by linking Treasure Data and Brightcove Video Cloud, but also by considering how we can link with various other marketing tools.