This is where JW Player’s latest feature comes into play. Introducing Identity Management Profiles—a new, essential tool for an overall broadcasting experience.

Read along to find out more!

What are Identity Management Profiles?

The Identity Management Profiles allow multiple users to create individual profiles within a single account. 

Upon account creation, viewers can select their preferred profile for watching content. Similar to some of the most popular streaming platforms’ multi-profile features, each profile is personalized to reflect the preferences, watch history, and content recommendations specific to that user.

Benefits of Identity Management Profiles

JW Player’s latest feature offers a range of advantages that cater to individual preferences:

• Personalization: Each user gets a tailored experience based on their preferences, watch history, and content recommendations. Therefore, you can enhance user satisfaction and engagement by delivering content that aligns with individual tastes.
• Family-friendly: Multiple profiles are ideal for households with diverse content preferences. Parents to set up profiles for children with age-appropriate content restrictions. It ensures a safe and controlled viewing experience for younger audiences.
• Privacy and security: Individual profiles provide a secure space for each user within a shared account. It prevents mix-ups in watch history, preferences, and recommendations between different users accessing the same platform.
• Workplace and educational benefits: In professional settings, multi-profiles aid in maintaining focus and productivity by allowing users to maintain their content preferences and history, fostering an uninterrupted workflow.

Get started with JW Player today!

Enabling the multi-profile feature will upgrade your user experience by having tailored content. To explore how this innovative feature can elevate your platform and engage your audience further, contact us today and begin your journey of personalized streaming experiences.

The post Unlock Personalized Streaming With Identity Management Profiles appeared first on JW Player.

And after nearly a year of playing matches in empty stadiums and pumping in fake crowd noise, fans came back in droves. 

What was unexpected, however, was how many fans would come back. In fact, sporting event attendance is actually outpacing trends that were occurring pre-pandemic. 

With that said, as the average attendance for sporting events continues to grow, so do ticket prices. 

As we head into 2024, what we have is an environment where more people want to watch sports more than ever, while the cost of attending live sporting matches will create a barrier to entry for many fans. 

This means fans will be resorting to live streaming now more than ever to watch their favorite clubs or athletes. 

For sporting organizations who don’t own their own broadcasting rights, this might seem like an issue, but the fact is, you don’t need to own the rights to the live games to monetize video content. And here is how;

Fans want more content than just the matches

FC Barcelona recently sold off nearly half of its stake in Barca Studios for about $100m. Barca studios is the content production powerhouse that creates ancillary content revolving around the football club’s operations. It does not broadcast any live matches. 

The selloff came at a time when the club was backed into a corner. They had overcommitted to signing too many players prior to the 2022-2023 domestic season and had to pull several “economic levers”, as club president Joan Laporta put it, to avoid heavy sanctions. 

The 9-figure sum is a clear indicator of the immense appetite club supporters have to consume content from their favorite sports organizations.

Even if you’re not broadcasting matches, by providing a live streaming infrastructure that delivers exclusive content, you can continue to connect with fans after the match is over by providing the content and access they crave.

The most engaging experience isn’t always at the game

17 out of 20 English Premier League clubs announced ticket price hikes for the 2023-2024 season. 

Considering how bloated ticket prices were already, along with the growing cost of concessions and transportation, it’s easy to see how so many spectators will be priced out of the in-game experience.

Add to that the ubiquitous adoption of live streaming and the convenience of watching sporting events at home, and it becomes easy to see why cost-conscious fans would opt to stay home. 

This is why it’s more important than ever to invest in a video delivery service that brings the experience of watching a football match from the front row near the halfway line. 

Even if you’re not broadcasting live matches, a live streaming or VOD platform with the capability of delivering quality video to any device on any screen will ensure that the most engaged fans will always have an outlet to consume video content. 

Subscriptions and Identity Management

Paid tier services are more than just a way to bring in revenue from ongoing subscriptions. 

Setting up a subscription and identity management system to keep fans on site and engaged will allow you to collect first-party data from your users. 

This first-party data can then be used to create a curated experience that’s directly in line with what they’re hoping to experience. This also gives the content owner a direct relationship and contact point with the fan where they can explore further monetization, like merchandise sales. This would not be possible if that same content had been viewed free to air on social media for example. 

Tailored Ad Experience

Users are way more likely to respond positively to ads featuring products or services that they find relevant. 

In fact, a recent survey found that 54% of users responded favorably to ads that featured products or services that were highly relevant to their interests. 

First-party data is the best way for sports organizations utilizing an AVOD or SVOD monetization model to deliver ads to its user base. 

And for all the money people put into seeing sporting events, what they get, in terms of ad experience, is completely impersonal and irrelevant. 

By owning and operating the content cycle for sports clubs, even without broadcasting the matches, you can deliver relevant ads to the right audience at just the right moment. 

Utilizing first-party data, you’ll have as complete of a picture as possible of who your customers are. 

Prediction: 2024’s winners will have a streaming infrastructure in place that’s built to monetize beyond just viewing matches

Fans are investing more than ever into their favorite sports clubs, teams, and stars. It’s happening inside and outside of sporting venues across the globe. By supplying an ecosystem that capitalizes on their engagement, it ensures you’ll be able to maximize the ability to monetize even when the games are over. 

The post Understanding Your Audience & Monetizing Your Fan Base in 2024 appeared first on JW Player.

In this article, we’ll explore the art and science of repurposing video content, seeing why it’s important and providing practical tips to help you reuse your existing video assets.

Why Repurposing Video Content Matters

Before diving into the how-to, let’s first understand why repurposing video content is a game-changer. Breaking through the internet noise requires a strategic approach because of the sheer amount of content present on it. Repurposing allows you to leverage the time and effort invested in creating a video by adapting it for various channels and audiences. This not only extends the lifespan of your content but also enhances its visibility and impact.

Repurposing is not about being lazy, it’s about being smart and efficient and recognizes the significance of making your content work harder for you. It enables you to cater to diverse audience preferences, capitalize on different platforms and maintain a consistent brand presence without the constant pressure of producing entirely new material.

Let’s take a look at what things you should consider and keep in mind when you want to repurpose your video content.

1. Identify Your Goals and Target Audience

The effective way to repurpose your video content begins with a clear understanding of your objectives and the audience you aim to reach with that piece of content. Are you looking to boost brand awareness to a wider audience, drive website traffic or generate leads? Knowing your goals will guide the adaptation of your video content to align with specific outcomes.

Keep in mind and think on your target audience’s preferences and behaviors on different social media platforms. A video that resonates on Instagram might need adjustments to thrive on LinkedIn or YouTube. Or even different formats of the same video: a new video post on Instagram will need a different approach to how it gets uploaded as a different format like Instagram reels and Instagram stories. Same goes for TikTok and YouTube with their relatively new feature YouTube shorts. Think about the difference between short-form video and long-form content and how both are used for content marketing to different audience segments.

2. Break It Down to Micro

Your original video is an inventory of potential micro-content pieces. You can break it down into bite-sized segments that can stand alone and deliver value all on their own. These snippets can take various forms, such as short video clips, GIFs / animations, audio files or image quotes. Micro-content is perfect for sharing on social media, enriching your email campaigns or even as part of a blog post, which can boost your SEO. Invest in a powerful video editing software that allows you to easily extract and repurpose these shorter clips, or micro-content pieces, without compromising the high-quality.

3. Optimize for Each Social Media Platform

Different social media platforms have different preferences and needs when it comes to video content creation, so tailoring your videos for specific platforms maximizes their impact on new audiences. For instance, Instagram favors square videos, while YouTube thrives on long-form content. Understanding these nuances and optimizing your videos accordingly to fit those types of content makes sure they integrate seamlessly into the user experience of each platform.

A long-form video such as a webinar on a landing page can be shortened into short clips that can be reshared on other social media platforms, linking your audience to the long-form video through the social media posts, which is essentially your new content repurposed from your own longer video content. The marketing strategies of the most successful content creators and businesses keep in mind tailoring their content based on the unique characteristics of each social media channel and audience segments, which ensures maximum relevance and customer engagement.

Another thing you can consider is creating platform-specific intros or outros to address your audience in a way that feels native and true to the platform. Make sure as well that your videos are compatible with various devices and screen sizes to guarantee a smooth viewing experience for your audience and potential customers.

4. Transform Video into Other Content Formats

You aren’t just limited to just reshaping videos, you can rather expand to transforming them into different content formats. Transcribe your videos to create blog posts, infographics or podcasts. You have probably encountered podcast episodes on Spotify that are YouTube videos on top of being just a regular audio podcast, earning double the exposure and engagement.

This content format transformation not only caters to diverse audience preferences but also enhances your content’s discoverability through search engines (SEO). Providing multiple content formats makes sure that your message reaches a wider audience, including those who prefer consuming information through different mediums.

5. Utilize User-Generated Content

Your audience is a valuable resource for generating content. Encourage user-generated content by inviting your community to share their experiences and insights related to your video content. These customer testimonials not only expand your content library but also build a sense of community around your brand.

Implement features that encourage user interactions, such as comments, likes or sharing options. Using the power of your community adds a human touch to your brand and extends the reach of your content.

6. Maintain Brand Consistency

While adapting content for various platforms, it’s crucial to maintain brand consistency. Your brand identity should shine through regardless of the platform or format. This not only reinforces brand recognition but also builds trust with your audience.

Customize your video content with your brand colors, logo and other elements that align with your overall branding strategy. Consistency in branding enhances your professional image and establishes a strong connection with your audience.

In Conclusion

Repurposing video content is not just a cost-effective strategy but a necessity in the dynamic world of digital marketing. Embrace repurposing, adapt strategically to different platforms and breathe new life into your content with JW Player, an end-to-end streaming solution and video player. If you want to know how we can help your video strategy, book a call with our video experts!

The post How to Repurpose Video Content appeared first on JW Player.

CBR and VBR are two distinct encoding approaches in the digital media landscape. While CBR holds a steady bitrate ideal for live streaming high-motion content, VBR adapts dynamically to content complexity, perfect for on-demand scenarios.

Let’s compare their key differences and settle the CBR vs VBR debate.

CBR vs. VBR: A side-by side comparison

CBR encoding is ideal for live streaming video content with a higher motion degree. On the other hand, VBR is optimal for delivering content with a lower degree of motion, as it provides better quality at a lower bitrate.

Check out this comparison table to see their key differences and make a better-informed decision about which one to use.

CBR VBR

– Suitable for live stream encoding – Optimal for VOD transcoding

– Wide support and compatibility – Limited support and compatibility

– Delivers consistent results at a preset bitrate – Doesn’t interfere with video quality

– Suitable for time-dependent streams – Good for transcoding without time limits

What is constant bitrate (CBR)?

CBR encoding maintains a consistent bitrate while transmitting data. In simpler terms, the same amount of data is allocated for each second of an audio or video file.

Once you set your bitrate for your CBR-encoded video, it will use the same bitrate for the entire duration, regardless of the size or complexity of the file.

The CBR encoding method is commonly used for live streaming, where a stable bitrate is essential for a smooth playback experience.

CBR video will yield the best results when it’s set up with the correct encoder settings, so make sure to use a higher bitrate. Consequently, your video encoder can work with larger data portions.

Overall, CBR isn’t ideal for data storage, but will excel at encoding video in real time.

CBR use cases

• Streaming services: CBR is often used in live streaming applications where a consistent and predictable data transfer rate is essential for uninterrupted playback. Video streaming platforms, live broadcasts, and online gaming that require a steady flow of data benefit from CBR.
• Telecommunications: VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services and teleconferencing utilize CBR to maintain a consistent quality of service for voice communication. It ensures a steady bitrate, preventing abrupt fluctuations in call quality.
• Broadcasting: Traditional broadcasting, like satellite or cable TV, frequently employs CBR to maintain a constant quality of video/audio for viewers, ensuring a consistent user experience.
• Storage: Certain storage mediums or devices may prefer a constant bitrate to allocate space predictably. CDs, DVDs, and older media formats often utilize CBR to maintain consistent data rates.

Pros of CBR Encoding

• Consistency: CBR provides a steady and predictable bitrate, ensuring a consistent quality of audio or video output. This consistency is particularly valuable in applications where a stable bitrate is necessary for smooth playback or transmission.
• Compatibility: CBR-encoded files tend to be more compatible with older hardware, software, and playback devices. This is because they maintain a fixed bitrate throughout, making them easier to process for systems that might struggle with variable bitrates.
• Simplicity: CBR encoding is simpler in terms of implementation and decoding compared to Variable Bit Rate (VBR). It doesn’t require complex algorithms to adjust the bitrate dynamically based on content complexity, making it easier to manage in certain scenarios.
• Bandwidth Allocation: In situations where bandwidth allocation needs to be consistent and pre-determined, such as in broadcasting or streaming services, CBR ensures a set amount of bandwidth is always available for the content being transmitted.

Cons of CBR Encoding

• Inefficient compression: CBR tends to be less efficient in terms of compression compared to VBR. It allocates the same amount of bits to all parts of the content, regardless of complexity, leading to potential wastage of data on simpler sections.
• Quality sacrifice: In complex scenes or portions of content where more data is needed to maintain high quality, CBR may sacrifice overall quality to adhere to the fixed bitrate, resulting in potential compression artifacts or reduced visual/audio fidelity.
• Bandwidth utilization: CBR doesn’t adapt to fluctuations in available bandwidth. This lack of flexibility can result in underutilization of bandwidth during less complex segments or overload during more complex segments, potentially affecting user experience.
• Storage inefficiency: In scenarios where storage efficiency is crucial, CBR might not be the most efficient method. It may lead to larger file sizes compared to VBR-encoded files, as it doesn’t optimize bitrate allocation based on content complexity.

What is variable bitrate (VBR)?

Contrastingly, VBR encoding will dynamically adjust the bitrate depending on the complexity of the content. Unlike CBR, VBR switches to a higher bitrate for more detailed scenes, while using a lower bitrate during simpler sections. This results in uncompromised quality and an optimized file size.

On-demand video transcoding could benefit the most from VBR due to its flexibility. However, since VBR processes data longer, it’s not a great fit for live streaming.

There are three types of VBR:

• Quality VBR: Encodes data with single-pass encoding.
• Unconstrained VBR: Takes advantage of multi-pass encoding to determine the best available streaming quality while preserving the average bitrate.
• Constrained VBR: Also uses multi-pass encoding, but decides how to encode the data according to the maximum bitrate and maximum buffer window.

VBR use cases

• Compression efficiency: VBR is useful in scenarios where maximizing compression efficiency is crucial. It dynamically allocates more bits to complex or detailed parts of the content and fewer bits to simpler parts, resulting in better quality for the same file size compared to CBR.
• Multimedia streaming: VBR is advantageous in streaming situations where bandwidth availability varies. It optimizes the quality by allocating more bits to complex scenes and fewer bits to simpler ones, adjusting to available bandwidth without sacrificing quality.
• Optimized file sizes: When file size is a concern but maintaining quality is crucial, VBR is a suitable choice. It allows for better compression in sections of the content that do not require high bitrate, reducing the overall file size while maintaining quality.
• Digital storage: VBR is beneficial in digital storage applications where maximizing storage space is essential. It helps to reduce the file size without compromising quality significantly.

Pros of VBR Encoding

• Improved compression efficiency: VBR adjusts the bitrate dynamically based on the complexity of the content. It allocates more bits to complex scenes and fewer bits to simpler ones, resulting in better compression efficiency compared to CBR encoding.
• Enhanced quality: VBR often maintains higher quality in encoded files compared to CBR. By allocating more bits to complex parts of the content, it preserves detail and reduces compression artifacts, leading to better overall quality.
• Optimized file sizes: VBR can produce smaller file sizes while maintaining comparable or better quality than CBR. It optimizes bitrate allocation, resulting in more efficient use of data and reduced storage requirements.
• Adaptability to content complexity: VBR adapts dynamically to varying complexities within the content. It adjusts the bitrate according to the requirements of each scene or segment, ensuring better visual/audio fidelity where it’s needed most.

Cons of VBR Encoding

• Complexity and compatibility: VBR encoding is more complex than CBR, requiring algorithms to analyze content and allocate bitrates dynamically. This complexity might lead to compatibility issues with older or less sophisticated playback devices or software.
• Unpredictability: While VBR provides better compression efficiency, the variability in bitrate can be less predictable compared to CBR. This variability might not be suitable for applications where a consistent bitrate is necessary for seamless playback or transmission.
• Resource intensive encoding: VBR encoding requires more computational resources and time compared to CBR. Analyzing content complexity and dynamically adjusting bitrates can be more resource-intensive, impacting encoding speed.
• Bandwidth fluctuation challenges: In streaming scenarios with constrained or fluctuating bandwidth, VBR may pose challenges. It might adapt by utilizing more bandwidth for complex scenes, potentially causing buffering or quality fluctuations if bandwidth availability changes abruptly.

Bottom line

The choice between CBR and VBR will ultimately depend on the type of content you wish to stream.

Hopefully, our article helped you recognize how both methods compare and prepared you for your live streaming journey.

JW Player is a great starting point, whether you’re just getting started with live streaming or you already have broadcasting experience. Contact us today to learn more about our solution!

The post CBR vs. VBR: What’s the Difference? appeared first on JW Player.

Understanding AVOD:

Let’s start with AVOD – Ad-Based Video On Demand is a streaming model that allows users to access a library of content for free, with the catch being occasional advertisements during the viewing. You can think of it as the modern digital equivalent of watching TV with commercial breaks, but with the opportunity to choose what to watch and when to watch it. Popular examples of AVOD platforms include Hulu, Peacock, YouTube, Facebook Watch.

YouTube is one of the best known AVOD platforms. Audiences need to watch ads before they can watch a video, and if the video is long enough, it will usually be interrupted by ad breaks in real-time.

AVOD platforms work on the idea that users are willing to deal with ads in exchange for access to a wide range of free content. These ads, often personalized based on user data, serve as the revenue engine that keeps the AVOD service running without a subscription fee.

While we’re on subscription fee, let look at SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand) and how it’s different from AVOD. SVOD is a VOD (video on demand) model in which users pay a recurring fee, typically on a monthly basis, to access a library of video content. Popular SVOD services are subscription-based streaming platforms like Netflix, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Paramount+ and others.

What are FAST Channels:

On the other side of the streaming spectrum, we have FAST channels. Free Ad-Supported Television channels are a collection of linear channels offered over-the-top (OTT), just like the traditional broadcasting TV channel experience, without paying a subscription fee. Users can flip through channels, and like AVOD, these channels are free to access, with the revenue generated through ads being its business model.

Ads are inserted into the programming of these tv services at specified time intervals. The type of these ads can range from traditional commercial breaks to shorter, more interactive, forms of ads.

FAST channels provide a curated selection of content to the viewer, similar to the traditional cable TV model but with the added advantage of being available on various devices. Unlike traditional TV, which requires a set-top box, FAST channels can be accessed via multiple providers, including smart TVs, or connected TVs (CTV), mobile phones and computers.

These channels are made available on various FAST platforms like Pluto TV, Roku Channel, Freevee, Xumo, Samsung TV Plus and Tubi represent the FAST model, offering a broad range of channels spanning genres from news to entertainment.

Comparing AVOD and FAST Channels:

Despite both AVOD and FAST falling under the umbrella of free, ad-supported streaming, there are key differences between the two models. Let’s look at what these differences are:

1. Content Library:
   • AVOD: AVOD platforms typically offer a vast library of on-demand content like movies, TV shows and exclusive content. Users can choose what to watch and when, making it a more personalized experience.
   • FAST: FAST channels, in contrast, provide a linear TV experience with scheduled programming like traditional broadcasting. Users can flick through channels, but they have less control over choosing specific content.
2. User Experience:
   • AVOD: Users on AVOD platforms have the freedom to pause, rewind and fast forward ad-supported content as well as make their own watchlists. The on-demand nature of AVOD allows for a more customized and flexible viewing experience.
   • FAST: FAST channels mimic traditional television with an uninterrupted stream of programming. While some platforms may offer limited on-demand content options, the overall experience is more similar to channel surfing.
3. Monetization Strategy:
   • AVOD: Ad revenue is the main source of income for AVOD platforms. Advertisers pay to reach the platform’s user base, through ad insertion, allowing the service to remain free for consumers.
   • FAST: Similar to AVOD, FAST channels generate revenue through ad-supported video. Advertisers pay for slots during the linear programming, supporting the free access to content.
4. Content Discovery:
   • AVOD: Users actively choose what to watch and doing so by relying on search features and recommendations. The content discovery on AVOD platforms is driven by user preferences and algorithms that suggest relevant titles to them.
   • FAST: Content discovery on FAST services is more like on traditional TV, where users come across programming while flipping through channels.

Wrapping It Up

In the continued progress of streaming services, the distinctions between AVOD and FAST channels are becoming increasingly significant. AVOD platforms provide an on-demand and personalized experience with a broad content library, while FAST channels bring back the nostalgia of linear TV with scheduled programming and channel surfing. The common thing is the dependance on advertising to keep the content accessible to users for free.

As streaming continues to redefine how we consume content, understanding these models becomes important for users navigating the overflow of choices. Whether you lean towards the flexibility of AVOD or the simplicity of FAST channels, the future of digital content consumption seems firmly secured in the domain of free, ad-supported streaming.

If you want to know how JW Player can help you with your AVOD or FAST business model, book a meeting with our video experts!

The post AVOD vs. FAST: What’s the Difference? appeared first on JW Player.

In this guide, we’ll explain the ins and outs of CDN live streaming, from its basic principles to its practical applications, and how it is revolutionizing the way we consume live content.

Understanding CDN Live Streaming

To grasp the concept of CDN live streaming, it’s important to understand its two main parts: Content Delivery Networks (CDN) and live streaming. Let’s break it down.

Content Delivery Network (CDN): A content delivery network (CDN), or content distribution network, is a distributed network of servers designed to deliver content quickly to your visitors. The primary purpose of a CDN is to deliver web content, media files like text, images, videos and live streams, more efficiently to end-users. By placing servers in strategic geographic locations, a CDN closes the gap between content and consumers, leading to faster content transfers, enhanced website performance, reduced video hosting bandwidth, improved security, fewer service disruptions and limitless scalability. By distributing content across multiple servers, CDNs reduce latency and ensure quicker access to data.

CDNs play a key role in the distribution of video content through various streaming protocols like HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), and MPEG-DASH. For HLS, the widely used adaptive streaming protocol, CDNs help in optimizing the delivery of video segments to various devices and screen sizes. On the other hand, RTMP often requires CDNs to pass on the streaming content to multiple viewers. CDNs also assist in delivering content via MPEG-DASH, another adaptive streaming protocol.

Live Streaming: Live streaming is the real-time delivery of video and audio content over the internet. It allows users to watch events as they happen. Live streaming has found a wide range of applications in many different fields – from entertainment and sports to education and business. On the other hand, video on demand (VOD), provides pre-recorded on-demand video content that viewers can access at their comfort, allowing them to pause, rewind and select from a library of options.

CDN Live Streaming: CDN live streaming is the process of using a Content Delivery Network to distribute high quality content to a global audience. It upgrades the performance, redundancy and reliability of live streams by minimizing latency, buffering and downtime.

How Live Streaming CDN Works

So, how does CDN live streaming actually work? Let’s dive in:

1. Live Video Source: The live streaming process starts with a source – a video camera, a computer screen or any device that can capture video content. This source sends the live video feed to an encoder.
2. Encoder: The encoder processes the raw video and audio data, compresses it and encodes it into a format fit for streaming over the internet. This encoded data is then sent to a live streaming server. Additionally, a transcoder can transcode the video data to the desired video format before it gets sent to the live streaming server.
3. Live Streaming Server: The heart of the live streaming operation is this server. The server takes the encoded data from the encoder and uses a robust internet connection to send the content to multiple CDN servers, improving redundancy and reliability.
4. CDN Servers: The CDN servers are strategically located around the world. These servers store and distribute the live video content to viewers. The choice of CDN servers closest to the viewers minimizes latency and ensures smooth playback.
5. Viewer’s Device: Viewers access the live stream on their devices – computers, smartphones or smart TVs. The live streaming platform on their device requests the streaming content from the nearest CDN server, and the content is delivered for playback.
6. Content Delivery: The CDN servers monitor the viewer’s connection and device capabilities all the time. They adjust the quality and bitrate of the video in real time to ensure an uninterrupted and smooth viewing experience.

Key Technologies

• Load Balancing: To make sure that incoming traffic is evenly divided among multiple CDN servers, there is load balancing – the process which optimizes server performance and results in faster load times for viewers.
• Caching: CDN servers cache content to reduce the need for frequent requests to the origin server. Cached content is stored temporarily and makes sure there is a faster delivery and lower latency for repeated requests.
• Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABR): ABR automatically adjusts the quality of the video stream based on the viewer’s internet connection and device capabilities. It breaks down the video to small video segments in various resolutions and the quality which gets sent to the viewer is based on the speed of their internet connection. This ensures uninterrupted playback and minimizes buffering.
• Global Anycast Routing: CDNs often use global anycast routing to route, or connect, viewers to the nearest CDN server. This further reduces latency and enhances the overall workflow and experience.

The Benefits of CDN Live Streaming

Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of CDN live streaming, let’s explore the benefits that this technology brings to the table:

1. Global Reach: CDN live streaming allows content to be distributed globally, reaching audiences in different regions. This is crucial for businesses and event organizers looking to engage with a diverse and global audience.
2. Reduced Latency: By delivering content from servers closest to the viewer, CDN live streaming significantly reduces latency. This means that live events can be experienced in real time, boosting interactivity and engagement.
3. Enhanced Scalability: CDNs are designed to handle heavy traffic loads, so they can effortlessly scale up to accommodate millions of simultaneous viewers without compromising the streaming quality.
4. Improved Reliability: With multiple servers and load balancing, CDN live streaming is highly reliable. It minimizes downtime and ensures a seamless viewing experience. Most CDNs don’t have network points of presence (POPs) or third-party data center connections in every country, which means organizations must use several CDNs if they want a broader international presence.
5. Security: CDNs often come with security features, such as DDoS protection and encryption, to protect against cyber threats.
6. Cost Efficiency: CDN live streaming optimizes bandwidth usage, minimizing the costs that are needed with streaming large amounts of data to a global audience.
7. Adaptability: Because of its nature, adaptive bitrate streaming makes live streaming much more accessible to a broader audience.

Practical Applications of CDN Live Streaming

With its workings and advantages out of the way, it’s time to explore its real-world applications of CDN live streaming. Here are some areas where CDN live streaming has made a significant impact:

1. Entertainment and Sports: Live streaming has revolutionized the way we consume entertainment and sports content – from streaming live concerts and gaming events to broadcasting sports matches and tournaments, CDN live streaming offers a more immersive and interactive experience for viewers.
2. Business and Conferences: Companies use live streaming for webinars, conferences and virtual meetings, which makes global collaboration and knowledge sharing far more possible and accessible. Events like product launches and corporate announcements make extensive use of live streaming as well – think Apple or Microsoft announcing their newest devices.
3. Education: Live streaming has become a key element of online education in recent years. Educational institutions use CDN services to deliver lectures, webinars and interactive classes to students worldwide, regardless of geographical restrictions.
4. Gaming: Live streaming is what the gaming industry relies on to broadcast gameplay, tournaments and eSports events to a global network of an audience. This has given rise to a new generation of content creators and streamers who engage with their audience in real time.
5. Social Media: Social media platforms and apps use the live streaming functionality for users to share live moments with friends, followers and the world.

The Future of CDN Live Streaming

As technology continues to advance, the future of CDN live streaming looks promising. Here are some exciting developments to keep an eye on:

1. 5G Integration: The widespread deployment of 5G networks will further reduce latency and enhance the quality of live streaming.
2. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR): Live streaming will play a pivotal role in the growth of VR and AR experiences.
3. Improved Content Discovery: AI-driven content recommendation algorithms will help viewers discover and engage with live streams that fit their interests.
4. Sustainability: CDNs are exploring ways to reduce their carbon footprint through energy-efficient server farms and sustainable data centers.

Popular CDN Providers

Several CDN providers are widely recognized for their reach, reliability and performance. Here are some of the most well-known ones:

1. JW Player: On top of being a full end-to-end streaming solution, with JW Player you can do video content delivery as well. Deliver your content as efficiently as possible with dual and multi-CDNs, allowing you to compare cost and quality in any region. Minimize buffer time and get your videos crisply up and running in no time.
2. Akamai Technologies: Akamai is one of the oldest CDN providers, known for its network of servers worldwide.
3. Amazon Web Services (AWS) CloudFront: AWS CloudFront is Amazon’s CDN service, integrated with the AWS ecosystem.
4. Fastly: Fastly is recognized for its real-time caching and instant purging capabilities.
5. CDN77: CDN77 offers a global network with a focus on content delivery and live streaming services.
6. Limelight Networks: Limelight specializes in digital content delivery, including video streaming and edge computing solutions.
7. KeyCDN: KeyCDN is known for its simple pricing and a user-friendly approach to content delivery.
8. Microsoft Azure CDN: Part of Microsoft’s Azure cloud services, this CDN offers integration with other Azure services and data centers worldwide.

Conclusion

CDN live streaming is a major part of the digital age, making real-time content accessible to a global audience with reduced latency, improved reliability, and adaptability to varying conditions. From entertainment to education and gaming, CDN live streaming continues to reshape the way we experience live events. As technology advances, the future of CDN live streaming promises even more immersive and engaging experiences for audiences worldwide.

If you want to know how JW Player can help with your CDN needs, book a meeting with us and let our video experts break down our services and answer all your questions.

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Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a video conferencing user, or someone who values high-quality audio, grasping the concept of audio codecs is a crucial step in unraveling the intricacies of digital sound.

Let’s dive in!

What is an audio codec?

An audio codec is a hardware or software component used to compress or decompress audio data. Its main purpose is to reduce the size of audio files while maintaining a decent sound quality.

Therefore, audio codecs make it possible to store and distribute audio more efficiently, which is crucial for activities such as streaming music or video conferencing.

The compression process removes excess audio data, resulting in a smaller file size. During the audio playback, the codec decompresses the data, restoring it to its original quality or a quality determined by the user.

Applications of audio codecs

Audio codecs are employed in a wide range of applications, including:

• Music streaming: Services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music rely on audio codecs to transmit music over the internet efficiently. This ensures that users can enjoy high-quality audio while minimizing data usage.
• Video conferencing: Platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams use audio codecs to deliver real-time audio during video calls, ensuring clear communication.
• Mobile devices: Audio codecs are integrated into smartphones and portable media players to make the most of limited storage space without compromising on audio quality.
• Voice assistants: Smart speakers and voice-activated devices use audio codecs to process and understand voice commands.
• Gaming: In online gaming, low-latency audio codecs are crucial to provide a seamless experience and maintain effective communication among players.

What is lossy audio compression?

Lossy audio compression is designed to achieve a significant reduction in file size while sacrificing audio quality. These codecs employ sophisticated algorithms to analyze audio data and discard elements that are deemed less crucial to human perception. Therefore, this process introduces some level of data loss, which can manifest as a subtle loss in audio fidelity.

However, the degree of loss is often imperceptible to the average listener, allowing for efficient storage and transmission of audio content. Lossy codecs are widely used for music streaming, where optimizing bandwidth and storage space is essential, and the quality trade-off is generally acceptable to consumers.

What is lossless audio compression?

In contrast, lossless audio compression prioritizes the preservation of the original audio quality. When audio data is compressed using a lossless codec, the resulting file size reduction is achieved without any loss of audio information. This means that the audio can be restored to its original, pristine quality when played back, making lossless codecs ideal for situations where audio integrity is paramount.

Professional audio engineers often favor lossless codecs, as they ensure that every nuance of the original recording is retained. While lossless audio files tend to be larger, they are a crucial choice when uncompromised audio quality is the top priority.

A list of common audio codecs

Several audio codecs are in use today, each designed for specific applications. Here are some of the most common ones:

1. MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III): MP3 is one of the most well-known audio codecs, often used for compressing music and audio files. It became popular for its ability to reduce file sizes significantly while maintaining reasonable audio quality.
2. AAC (Advanced Audio Coding): AAC is another popular codec, known for its superior sound quality compared to MP3 at similar bit rates. It’s commonly used in platforms like iTunes and YouTube.
3. Opus: Opus is an open-source audio codec designed for real-time applications such as internet telephony and video conferencing. It offers excellent sound quality and low latency.
4. FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec): Unlike most audio codecs, FLAC is a lossless compression format, which means it retains the original audio quality while reducing file size. It’s a preferred choice for audiophiles who want the best audio fidelity.
5. Ogg Vorbis: This open-source codec is often used for streaming and online gaming due to its efficient compression and quality.
6. WAV (Waveform Audio File Format): WAV is a container format for audio data, often used for storing high-quality, uncompressed audio. While it’s not a codec in itself, it’s worth mentioning because it contains raw audio data.

What is the best audio codec for live streaming?

The choice of the best audio codec for streaming can depend on various factors, including your specific use case, target audience, and available bandwidth. Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is a popular and widely used audio codec for streaming, and it’s known for its good balance between audio quality and compression efficiency. AAC is used by many streaming platforms and services, including Apple’s HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) and YouTube.

Here are a few reasons why AAC is often considered a good choice for streaming:

• Audio Quality: AAC offers good audio quality, especially at higher bitrates. It provides better sound quality compared to older codecs like MP3, making it suitable for streaming music, podcasts, and other audio content.
• Compression Efficiency: AAC can compress audio data efficiently, allowing for smaller file sizes while maintaining good audio quality. This is important for streaming, as it reduces the amount of bandwidth required to transmit audio content.
• Compatibility: AAC is widely supported across different platforms and devices, including iOS devices, Android devices, web browsers, and various media players. This ensures that your audio streams can reach a broad audience.
• Adaptive Streaming: AAC is commonly used in adaptive streaming technologies like Apple’s HLS and MPEG-DASH, allowing for adaptive bitrate streaming. This means that the codec can adjust the quality of the audio stream in real-time based on the viewer’s available bandwidth, ensuring a smoother streaming experience.

However, the choice of codec also depends on factors like licensing, platform-specific requirements, and the specific needs of your audience. Different streaming platforms and services may have their preferred codecs, and in some cases, you may need to use multiple codecs to ensure compatibility.

For live streaming, it’s also important to consider the bitrate at which you encode your audio, as higher bitrates typically result in better audio quality but require more bandwidth. You should strike a balance between audio quality and bandwidth requirements based on your audience’s internet connection capabilities.

Conclusion

Audio codecs are essential components of the digital audio ecosystem, allowing us to enjoy high-quality audio content while efficiently managing file sizes for storage and transmission. Whether you’re streaming music, video conferencing, or simply listening to your favorite tunes on a portable device, audio codecs silently work behind the scenes to enhance your audio experience. Understanding these technologies empowers users to make informed choices about audio quality and storage efficiency in various digital media applications.

The post What Is an Audio Codec? appeared first on JW Player.

This article focuses on the best Dacast alternatives for 2023 and their unique features, pricing structures, and performance capabilities.

Dacast: An Overview

Similar to JW Player, Dacast is an end-to-end live streaming platform designed for hosting, monetizing, and broadcasting video content. Let’s take a look at their key features to see what it offers for video-driven businesses, educators, and content creators:

• Live streaming: Dacast offers live streaming capabilities and supports both live and VOD (video-on-demand). Its feature set includes adaptive bitrate streaming, low-latency streaming, and global content delivery.
• Video hosting: Dacast users can use the platform to host their video content and store it securely in the cloud. Basically, you can upload your videos to the platform and access them when you want to broadcast or share them with your audience.
• Monetization: Dacast supports AVOD, SVOD, and TVOD subscription models, so you can create monthly or weekly subscription structures. Alternatively, you can set up group pricing or channel packages for your audience. To accurately represent the streaming cost in the viewer’s currency, Dacast automatically converts the currency on its paywall.
• White-label streaming: With Dacast, you can customize the interface of your HTML5 video player and embed it on your website.
• OTT solution: With Dacast’s OTT platform, you can monetize and deliver live or on-demand content on your own OTT apps on every device. To protect your content, you can check out their security features, including DRM (Digital Rights Management), password restrictions, or geo-restrictions.
• RTMP live streaming: Dacast’s RTMP functionality includes streaming unlimited live video channels, VOD hosting, library organization, and video monetization features.
• HTTP live streaming: Dacast uses the HLS streaming protocol to distribute live streams on all platforms and devices. The HLS platform is scalable, meaning that it converts live streams into smaller files that are easier to distribute to a wider audience without a designated player.
• China video hosting: By signing up for Dacast, you can deliver video in China. Namely, the platform has an ICP license and a contract with Chinese CDNs, allowing users to host video-on-demand in China.
• Video API for developers: With Dacast’s video content management API and player API, you can build your own video CMS, or enhance your mobile apps.

In terms of pricing, Dacast offers three subscription tiers:

1. Starter: Priced at $39 per month when billed annually, the Starter plan offers 2.4 TB of bandwidth and 500 GB of storage per year. Creators or businesses with smaller audiences could benefit the most from this plan.
2. Event: The Event plan will cost you $63 when billed annually, and will allow you 6 TB of bandwidth and 250 GB of storage upfront. If you don’t want to sign a contract, but need bandwith, this is the plan for you.
3. Scale: Lastly, the Scale plan costs $165 per month when billed annually, and comes with 24 TB of bandwidth and 2000 GB of storage. This plan would be a good choice for business and organizational video streaming.

All things considered, Dacast’s solution doesn’t come without drawbacks. Upon research on G2 and Capterra, here are some of the most common cons that users have experienced:

• Weak API compared to competitors
• Some users on G2 report delays when the bandwidth is exceeded
• Some users want more payment plans
• Processing to full HD quality can take some time

Overall, Dacast is a platform worth looking at if you want a video streaming solution with basic tools to enhance your video content.

What are the Best Dacast Alternatives in 2024?

While Dacast is a decent live streaming and video hosting solution, taking a look at some alternatives will help you make a better-informed decision based on your specific needs. Let’s take a look at some of Dacast’s toughest competitors:

1. JW Player

JW Player is a complete video hosting solution designed for publishers, broadcasters, and companies that rely heavily on video content. The platform has been assisting businesses in growing and enhancing their video strategy since its launch in 2004.

The end-to-end VOD platform makes it possible for users to stream live events 24/7 across multiple platforms and devices, including web, OTT, and CTV.

Additionally, you can increase your incremental plays up to 60% while also expanding your ad potential. JW Player makes this possible through tools like the recommendations engine, article matching, and social media integrations.

And if you need to maximize your ad revenue, look no further. JW Player provides AVOD, SVOD, and TVOD video monetization options so you can make the most out of your video content.

All things considered, JW Player is a trusted video streaming solution that will provide top-notch experiences no matter the device. Here are their main selling points:

• Subscriptions and payments: Take advantage of the SSAI, CSAI, AVOD, TVOD, or SVOD monetization models to increase ad revenue.
• FAST channels: JW Player partnered with ViewNexa to bring you FAST channel integration.
• OTT apps: Delivering content to every device has never been easier with JW Player’s integrated workflows. Moreover, you can safeguard your premium content with studio-approved DRM, as well as Token Signing and Geo Blocking.
• HTML5 web player: JW Player’s fastest HTML5 player will allow your video content to look beautiful on any screen. Notable features include CSS and APIs for customization, and HLS & DASH compliant video playback.
• Video analytics: Utilize the comprehensive data insights to adjust your video strategy depending on your audience’s needs.

If you decide to team up with JW Player, you can try it out for free before contacting the sales team for more details on pricing.

Pros

• Easy conversion of live streams into on-demand content
• Support for two adaptive streaming formats
• Fast HTML5 video player
• Customization options
• Outstream and instream ad capabilities
• Native SDKs for building OTT apps

Cons

• Doesn’t support audio-only streaming

2. Brightcove

Brightcove, established in 2004, is a video hosting solution provider. It caters to large businesses and established content creators. The platform offers features like content monetization, OTT solutions, audience engagement tools, developer solutions, and retail/e-commerce integrations. Here are some key features to consider:

• Pay-per-view monetization
• OTT apps
• Native Video Cloud Interactivity features
• APIs and SDKs
• Retail and e-commerce integrations
• Social media integrations

However, pricing details are not publicly available and must be obtained by contacting their sales team directly.

Pros

• Intuitive user interface
• Up-to-date with latest technology
• Online resources and documentation available
• Quick response times from customer support
• Scalable solution
• Integration with Tier 1 CDNs

Cons

• Some users report longer upload speeds for larger files

3. Uscreen

Uscreen is a white-label, end-to-end video platform. The solution has all the necessary tools you need to distribute video content online or on OTT devices. You can take advantage of various monetization, analytics, marketing, or sales tools.

Moreover, the platform grants you control over your customers’ data, such as personal or billing information that is securely saved in their database and can be exported at any time. Here’s what else they have to offer:

• Branded OTT apps
• PPV live streaming
• Monetization tools
• Marketing and retention tools
• Video CMS
• Themes and templates

You can get started with Uscreen for free for 30 days. If you decide to continue, you can subscribe to the Growth plan for $149 monthly, or go for the Pro plan for $499 per month. The Plus plan with additional features is available upon contacting sales for users with specific requirements.

Pros

• Great customer support
• Easy to navigate for less tech-savvy users
• Regular updates with new features
• Affordable pricing
• Variety of templates
• Third-party integration

Cons

• Some users found the user dashboard confusing

4. Vidyard

Vidyard is a video hosting platform focused on helping businesses use video to increase sales and improve customer engagement.

Namely, Vidyard’s specialty are unique video messages for your outreach emails. They offer virtual walkthroughs, on-demand videos, as well as digital sales rooms. Here’s a quick overview of their main features:

• Video hosting
• Automated prospecting
• AI script generator
• Customization options
• Real-time analytics
• Marketing and social media integrations

To get started, you can sign up for Vidyard’s Free plan. After that, you can upgrade to the Pro plan at $19 per month when billed annually, or the Plus plan at $59 per month when billed annually. If you require additional features, contact sales for a custom plan.

Pros

• Ability to address customer questions in a personalized manner
• Ability to add call-to-action at the end of a video
• Easy editing
• Easy to use Chrome extension
• Video embedding options

Cons

• Slight learning curve in the beginning

5. Kaltura

Kaltura is suitable for enterprise-level organizations looking to deliver live and VOD solutions.

The platform finds its main use in larger companies or educational institutions looking to increase audience reach and engagement. You can broadcast both live or pre-recorded content in up to 4K video quality. Here’s what you can expect if you sign up:

• Developer APIs and SDKs
• Cloud TV platform
• Online community portal
• Video transcoding

If you want to take their features for a test drive, Kaltura offers a free trial with 2 free webinars. Then, you can contact their sales team to create your own plan by mixing and matching their features.

Pros

• Live chat support available
• Seamless learner experience with virtual classrooms
• Easy onboarding process
• Good value

Cons

• Might be too complicated for beginners due to the high customizability

6. IBM Cloud Video

Originally operating as Ustream, this scalable content delivery platform used to help military service members connect with their families through video.

Nowadays, IBM provides a live streaming and video hosting solution with monetization options, white-label streaming, and security options. Keep reading to check out their key features:

• HD transcoding
• Channel branding
• Interactive video options (live chats, polls, Q&A)
• AI closed captions
• Audio support for multiple languages
• Customizable registration forms and reminders

IBM offers three membership plans and a 30 day trial period. The Silver plan starts at $129 per month, the Gold plan starts from $649 per month, while the Platinum plan starts from $1,299 monthly. For more advanced features, you can contact the sales team and create a custom plan.

Pros

• Good corporate firewall support
• Multiple device compatibility
• Easy to set up and navigate

Cons

• Expensive

7. Vimeo

Vimeo is a video platform with a variety of tools and features ideal for small broadcasters.

The platform packs all of the essentials for editing, managing, sharing, and monetizing your video content. Let’s have a look at what this affordable solution provides:

• High-quality streams in 4k, 8k, HDR, and Dolby Vision
• Creation and editing tools
• Ability to create videos for social media platforms
• Ad-free player
• OTT
• Virtual events and webinars

Vimeo’s Starter plan will cost you $12 per seat/month, while the Standard plan is priced at $20 per seat/month. An Enterprise plan with enhanced support and security is also available when you contact the sales team.

Pros

• Full control over privacy settings
• Large creator community
• Reliable

Cons

• Some users on G2 experienced slow upload times

8. Muvi

Muvi is an online video platform provider aimed at streamers who want to start their own video streaming service.

With Muvi, you can customize your platform according to your branding, and you don’t need coding. Plus, you can use Muvi for music or VOD streaming, as well as monetizing your content. Check out some of their features:

• Metadata management
• MRSS feeds
• Geo-blocking
• Built-in CDN
• Smart TV apps
• Ad-supported subscription plans

To get all of these features and more, you can sign up for the Standard plan at $399 per month, the Professional plan at $1,499 per month, or the Enterprise plan at $3900 per month. The additional, Ultimate plan, includes all of the features of the Enterprise plan plus some more advanced tools and is available upon contacting sales.

Pros

• Elaborate metrics
• Beginner-friendly

Cons

• Some G2 users would like to see more templates

9. VPlayed

VPlayed is a video platform offering OTT, live and VOD solutions to customers looking to monetize and scale their video content.

The solution is built on microservice architecture and provides you a streamlined workflow with over 100 third-party service integrations. Their most notable features include:

• HLS/HTML5 player
• Video content management system
• DRM and security
• Video marketing tools
• Android and iOS mobile apps
• Real-time analytics
• Encoding and transcoding

To get a price on VPlayed’s solution, book a demo with their sales team.

Pros

• Multilingual subtitle support
• Dynamic watermarking

Cons

• Lack of free trial

10. Restream

Unlike the rest of the Dacast competitors on this list, Restream is primarily a simulcast tool. This means that it focuses on streaming video content to several different destinations.

Still, their Restream Studio solution allows in-browser streaming where you can engage with your viewers. Some of their noteworthy features include:

• Customization options (logos, overlays, backgrounds)
• Real-time audience engagement
• Multistreaming to 30+ social platforms

Restream offers a Free plan, a Standard plan for $16 per month, as well as a Professional plan for $41 per month.

Pros

Fast channel creation

User-friendly interface

Cons

• Lack of a background removal tool

Final thoughts

While Dacast is a compelling solution for video streaming, it’s crucial to consider alternatives that may better suit your specific needs. We’ve examined some formidable competitors and their own range of features, advantages, and drawbacks. By exploring these Dacast alternatives, you can make a more informed decision to enhance your video content strategy in 2023.

The post Dacast Alternatives: Online Video Platforms to Consider appeared first on JW Player.