PlanetStream Blog

Why pay for streaming when YouTube is free?

We are often asked why people should pay us for hosting streaming video when YouTube is free. It used to be easy to answer because the quality was so poor on YouTube but that's not so clear cut any more.

There are three main issues:

1. Unlike PlanetStream, YouTube give no guarantee of service or the quality of playback and it can deteriorate quite badly at busy times. So for professional users there is always the risk that a key visitor to your website could receive a poor impression of you.

2. Because YouTube is free they add their branding and their advertising to your video. This detracts from your image and dilutes your message. It's a bit like finding a professional person with an AOL email address. It makes you look amateurish and even cheap-skate.

3. Most importantly at the end of your video they add links to "similar" content. At worst this could be links to your competitors but even if it's complementary content it can distract your visitor away from your message.

We did a bit of a survey recently and got the following comment from a third party on a YouTube video embedded in a client's home page:

"I just watched the video that was on the link that you sent and then at the end saw a picture of a helicopter, clicked it and watched a Royal Air Force video and then a Sony Television advert, then someone doing tricks with a football and then ... all on the home page of their website which really distracted me from their services. I didn't end up reading any of the content on the page..."

When you consider that hosting your videos "properly" costs as little as £10 per month you don't need the above to happen very often to make that seem cheap.

At the end of the day there can only be one reason why YouTube is free. That is so that Google can derive benefit from your using it. Fair enough but don't you want to control how your videos are presented? To try PlanetStream's service for free (limited timescale though) call us on 01386 7929872 and see the difference.

Using Video To Present Industrial Products

Here's a simple example of how a video clip can enhance the "driest" of subjects.

We manage a site, Chutes-and-Shields.com, that sells add-ons to plastic injection moulding machines. They basically stop parts flying out of the machine and landing as scrap on the floor. Can you imagine how they work? Probably not, so take a look at a working machine using the products: chutes and shields video. Isn't that better than a pageful of words?

Now a lot of people can see the sense of using video to promote their products but mostly they assume it will cost a fortune to do. That's just not the case. This clip looks like it was produced on a Digicam or even a phone. It's not really very good. But it doesn't matter - it does the job just fine.

If you would like to know more about adding video content to your website get in touch by calling 01386 792972 or emailing sales@planetstream.net.

PlanetStream Launch Monthly Newsletter

PlanetStream are pleased to launch a new monthly newsletter to clients and other interested parties providing tips and advice on streaming plus latest news on PlanetStream in particular and streaming services in general.

Email sales@planetstream.net if you would like to join our mailing list.

Google takes on the iPhone with its G1 Handset… Just don’t expect any streaming media.

Details of the first mobile phone to use Google's Android software have been released - The G1 handset will be available in the UK in time for Christmas from T-Mobile. It will be available on contracts over £40 a month and includes unlimited net browsing. The G1 is  wi-fi and 3G enabled and has built-in support for YouTube.

The G1 has been released as a competitor to Apple’s successful iPhone. Sadly the G1 cannot compete with the iPhone when it comes to streaming media. The G1’software doesn’t support Adobe’s Flash or Apple’s QuickTime. Google did develop the aforementioned special interface so the phone can play videos from Google’s YouTube service. However, Google have announced the “Open Handset  Alliance” which is a group of more than 30 firms that will work together to make phone software easier to work with, including amongst others HTC, Motorola, Intel and Qualcomm.

The Open Handset  Alliance has been formed to ensure developers of phone software can access the core elements of Android software to help them develop and create  better applications – hopefully this will lead to support for popular streaming formats. It seems that we’re witnessing the birth of handsets that will eventually be able to offer all the capabilities of our desktop PCs. Oh, and you just might be able to make a call on them too….

PlanetStream can help you implement exciting audio and video content on your web site using our video streaming expertise and dedicated account management services. If you would like to discuss anything you can email me on steven@netsecrets.co.uk, call me on 01386 792972, or chat directly to me by clicking on the Chat Logo on the PlanetStream website.

Ofcom Confirms Recommendations On Next-Gen Broadband.

The price to consumers for next generation broadband, offering speeds of up to 100Mbps, should reflect the amount of money spent on investing in next generation networks, according to the UK telecoms regulator Ofcom. The statement from Ofcom is part of its report into upgrading the UKs network infrastructure to be able to handle next generation broadband across fibre cable networks. Ofcom have confirmed that they plan to publish a statement on super-fast broadband in early 2009.

Next generation broadband will almost certainly herald a revolution in internet access, as with the speeds proposed you will be able to view a massive variety of media – videos will stream effortlessly and it’s likely that HD content will flourish in both availability and popularity. One of the biggest problems currently facing content owners is trying to ensure that your video streams to the highest number of viewers online – due to the vast differences in the type of connections your audience will have, it’s a very important consideration to take when deciding at what Bitrate to encode your content.

Here at PlanetStream we currently recommend encoding your content at around 300kbps – this will ensure that the quality of the video remains high whilst also being accessible to those viewers on slower broadband connections. Another added bonus to using 300kbps is that it keeps the size of your files down. Below will see an example of the exceptionally high quality video streaming services available to you when you choose PlanetStream as your media hosting provider – This video is encoded @ 384kbps:

Our Media Streaming showcase is brought to you in association with Big Button Media, one of our content production partners who produce stunning graphics using cutting edge technologies.

PlanetStream can help you implement the same exciting live content on your web site using our video streaming expertise and dedicated account management services. If you would like to discuss anything in further detail, you can email me on steven@netsecrets.co.uk, call me on 01386 792972, or chat directly to me by clicking on the Chat Logo on the PlanetStream website.

PlanetStream Delivers Tudno FM To The World!

PlanetStream were recently contacted by Llandudno Radio Station Tudno FM who wanted to offer their broadcasts via the internet after receiving numerous requests from listeners who wanted to tune in whilst they were out of the Llandudno area. Tudno FM is Community Radio Station based in Llandudno, North Wales, who provide a local service with local voices. Shows consist of everything from a fast and furious Breakfast Show that could compete with any commercial station to a local and national Saturday Sports show.

After successfully setting up the live stream for our clients using our 24 x 7 VIVIDStream package, PlanetStream spoke to Karl Davies, Breakfast show presenter, about why Tudno FM had decided to offer a Live Stream facility, and his feedback about the service received:

“…We decided to take advantage of the 'Live Streaming' facility at PlanetStream because people who live in our 'TSA' often work out side of it and we had requests for the Listen Live feature.The Team at PlanetStream were Superb, offering an impressively supportive service with a friendly touch - Thanks Guys!…”

If you want to listed to Karl and the rest of the Tudno FM Crew, click here (Will open Windows Media Player).

PlanetStream can help you implement the same exciting live content on your web site using our audio streaming expertise and dedicated account management services. If you would like to discuss anything in further detail, you can email me on steven@netsecrets.co.uk, call me on 01386 792972, or chat directly to me by clicking on the Chat Logo on the PlanetStream website.

Is HDTV on its way to a PC near you?

Akamai Technologies has released a white paper in which it suggests that over 80% of European broadcasting organisations – Including TV Stations and Film Producers - are planning to offer high definition (HD) content online over the next year, with nearly half of those surveyed citing consumer demand as the driving factor behind increased HD content online.

The Director of Digital Media Europe at Akamai Technologies, Alex Gibbons, says "The shift toward Internet TV has users demanding new video quality standards and offers broadcasters ample opportunities to develop new premium business models around HD content."

Over 50% of those looking to offer HD content online plan to do so with bitrates of 4 Mbit/sec and over, with 20% aiming for over 8 Mbit/sec – at the moment streaming videos offered at these bitrates may not be available to the majority of people in the UK, as the current average speed of fixed line connections in the UK is currently 3-4 Mbit/sec (but this all depends on where you live in relation to your nearest telephone exchange.)

The paper also says that less than 1 in 5 companies surveyed currently offer online HD content, but nearly two thirds are planning to offer it within the next 12 months. Initially it appears that the content offered will be short in duration, such as movie or program trailers etc, with only about half of those surveyed suggesting they plan to offer longer content like TV Programmes or full Movies.

UPDATE - Government Review Of The UK'S Broadband Services.

A review of the UKs broadband services has now been released by The Department For Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (BERR) which has found that the government does not need to contribute public money to fund the installation of next generation broadband across the UK.

Review author Francesco Caio said there were "promising signs" that the market was already delivering high-speed broadband, but the case for government intervention, i.e. providing funds, was "weak". It also recommends that the government must oversee any plans or proposals that will aid the route to high-speed access for the UK. Next-generation broadband would boost the speed of connections to an average of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) and faster, which would make the delivery of streaming media faster for viewers to websites, increasing content owners exposure to potential customers.

The review was initiated back in February 2008 by Business and Competitiveness Minister Shriti Vadera. The government has said it will respond to the recently published review and its recommendations in "due course".

Government Review Of The UK'S Broadband Services.

The government is set to release its review of a proposal that will decide if firms should get subsidies to lay higher-speed cables for homes and businesses, as part of an eagerly anticipated review of the UK's current broadband services and network infrastructure.

 

Current Industry predictions have estimated a £5.1bn cost for upgrading the UK network for next-generation broadband, which would increase  the speed of connections linking both residential and business customers to the net, to 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) and beyond – this would mean a massive increase in people able to view streaming video almost instantly once a webpage with video content had loaded. The current average speed of fixed line connections in the UK is currently 3-4 Mbps, but this all depends on where you live in relation to your nearest telephone exchange.

 

There are concerns however that the cost of a national upgrade (or re-wiring) service may prove to be too high – indeed a report from the Broadband Stakeholder's Group (BSG) estimates the cost of installing fibre optic cables to replace the slower, ageing copper network at somewhere around £29bn.

 

There are sources claiming that the report indicates that the UK government is not obliged to provide subsidies to telecoms firms in order to accelerate the proposed upgrade. BT has already said

It plans to put 40% of UK homes within reach of next generation broadband by 2012 with a £1.5bn investment to upgrade its network. It looks like we’ll still be kept waiting, unless of course you happen live in Bournemouth….

Adobe Flash Media Encoding Server Debuts at IBC2008

Adobe recently announced that its Flash Media Encoding Server software, a scalable, high-performance solution for preparing content from a vast range of formats for delivery in Adobe Flash format should be available worldwide by the end of 2008, priced at around £3430 ($6000). The Flash Media Encoding Server software is a new addition to the Adobe Flash Media Server family of products.  Adobe will demonstrate Adobe Flash Media Encoding Server, as well as provide exclusive previews of new streaming video technologies currently under development, at Adobe's stand during IBC 2008.

 

As encoding is an essential element in content preparation for any content owners hosting video on the Web, and allied to the fact that Adobe Flash Player is already installed on 98% of Internet-connected desktops, Adobe is hoping that this new software will enable content owners to convert existing videos, such as MPEG-4, DivX, H.264, and others, to FLV or F4V formats and them host them online with streaming providers such as PlanetStream.

 

PlanetStream’s FLASHStream hosting provides a wide choice of UK hosted streaming packages with a powerful and easy to use control panel for uploading and managing your Flash media. It includes a comprehensive Statistics utility that reports on who has viewed your files, when and how often. [more on stats]. If you would like to discuss FLASHStream, you can email me on steven@netsecrets.co.uk, call me on 01386 792972, or chat directly to me by clicking on the Chat Logo on the PlanetStream website.