Most Common Terms in Online Video Streaming

Live streaming, one of the most advanced sectors that are going to be in full-blown usage in a few years, is currently meagerly known across the world. The sector is known to people as a technology used in smartphones but seeing live streaming as a business sector is still a vague idea among techies. But some of the tech-freaks who are familiar with the technology are already making full use of it and have started earning too.

There also exist plenty of people who bear the basic knowledge of what the technology is about and how it can be the next big thing in the world. There are the people who want to learn about it and be among the first ones to reap all its benefits but lack the knowledge of where to start. To get you started we have prepared a list of the most common terms. Here they are.

Live Streaming

Much like Live Broadcasting, live streaming is the process of telecasting content over the internet instead of a satellite. The audience will be able to watch this streaming content online on their Smartphones, Smart Televisions or any other Internet-enabled devices.

Live Streaming Devices

Live Streaming devices enable streamers to broadcast their live video content online. The device which uses an internet connection (generally Wi-Fi, or Ethernet), is connected to a recording device (Video Camera) and streams the content as it records.

Live streaming platforms

Live streaming platforms provide a space and servers to store and distribute the content. They also provide extra features like Analytics, Branding options, Password Protection, Ad Integration, etc., to make the streams engaging.

Bitrate

The amount of data transferred per unit of time in a video is known as bitrate. Correctly translated in terms of video, Video Bitrate is defined as the number of bits processed per second, meaning higher bitrate means higher resolution and lower bitrate means lower resolution.

Multiple Bitrates

Various bitrates are used in a live streaming to transfer data. Multiple bitrates are helpful to stream the same video in different devices with different resolutions and internet speeds, enabling every device to be able to play the video without any buffering.

Adaptive Bitrate

When the video is streamed using Adaptive Bitrate the stream adjusts itself to the device’s video specifications and speed and plays the video accordingly minimizing the buffering time. Some Live streaming platforms provide this feature along with other mentioned features and choosing the one that has this feature is beneficial for large-scale broadcasting.

Encoder

Encoders are used to convert the video format of the source video into something that is playable in all the devices. Though encoders are an integral part of live streaming devices, streamers who don’t use a device can use an external encoder to broadcast their content. Encoders also allow the live streamers to use various bitrates to extend their reach of devices.

Buffering

Buffering is known to almost every person who uses online video streaming websites like Youtube, Amazon Video, Netflix, etc. When a video is streamed from a different source onto your device buffering happens when the video is collecting additional data to play the video properly. This usually happens when a high-resolution video is played in devices with nominal internet speeds.

In Live Streaming, Streaming using Adaptive Bitrate technology helps minimize the problem of buffering which in turn keeps the audience engaged.

Bandwidth

Bandwidth is the amount of data offered by a service to a customer by service providers. In live streaming terms, this measures the amount of data offered by live streaming platforms to the streamers to stream their content. The more the bitrates, the higher the resolution and higher is the bandwidth required by the streamer.

CDN – Content Delivery Networks

CDNs are servers that are placed across the world for the fast delivery of digital content. The streaming content from the user will be transferred to the closest located server to a user and then the cached content is delivered to the user. A good service possesses more CDNs all over the globe that enables a fast delivery of streaming content.

Latency

This word is used to describe the time difference between Real-Time and online streaming time. Both the times are never the same and the latency can be decreased to a certain extent by using different features of the live streaming platforms.

Check out the Freedocast live streaming platform to know about the various features offered and how they work. You can simply avail the one-week free trial to enjoy all the options provided by filling in the details below.

Source: http://blog.freedocast.com/common-online-video-streaming-terms/

Measuring the Success of Your Live Stream Video

Many elements of live streaming have been discussed in the blog like how and where it can be used, how to maximize the reach, benefits, tips, etc. that pretty much established the dominance of online streaming and its scope. But what steps must one take after the completion of the broadcast? How does a video streamer know if the live stream is a success and if it has reached the target it is supposed to reach?

The aftermath is measuring the success of the stream which can be analytically powerful to tailor your streams and make them better. The success of the streams when measured properly can be a huge motivating factor and can weigh in to attract investors too. Below are some options through which one can measure the success of the live stream. Check them out.

Analytics from the Online Video Platform Provider

The platform providers often furnish the details of the views, users, and other relevant data to the user. The Freedocast platform provides the analytics both for Live and Catch Up videos. It allows the users to check your total No. of views, Live Viewers, Total Unique Users, Total Number of minutes watched, Average Duration Watched, Geography wise details, and Device/ Browser wise details. The platform also provides the Analytics for the live stream video watched on Freedocast website and the video embedded on other websites and Apps.

Platforms also provide data like Amount of Data transferred per country Total amount of data transferred per live broadcast, etc., which can be of tremendous assistance to measure the success.

Social Media Platforms Reach

The success of a live broadcast can also be measured by checking the social media platform Engagement and Reach.

A good video stream engages as much audience online as it does when it is offline. The number of views, Live and Offline shares, likes, comments and the audience reach are the common metrics that grant the basic idea of the success over time. These analytics are often provided by the respective social media websites or your own live streaming platform.

Google Analytics

Data from Google Analytics also assists in gaining more insights into measuring the success. Google Analytics also offers some paid tools which can provide the details like website traffic that when integrated with the live video broadcasting efforts can present a better picture of success. It also furnishes the details of the devices that the broadcast is being watched in and what website it is being directed from. Device data helps in gaining the various bitrates data which indicates at the bitrates you should be streaming at for a successful broadcast.

With the help of all this data, one can simply measure the success of the streams and can tailor his videos according to it. Streamers can also experiment with the timings and other factors that weigh in, in making their broadcast better and a massive success.