How Wowza’s New VOD and Analytics and Features Create a Differentiated Viewer Experience

Picture this: you’re watching your favorite bingeworthy TV show when the main character is cut off mid-emotional speech by a jarring ad about homeowner’s insurance.

Sure, you’ve been subject to your fair share of ads on traditional cable, but it’s not the same. Traditional cable planned ahead. Ad breaks in television shows were specifically chosen as were the ads themselves. These days, many streaming services rely on automated tools for ad insertion, making it more likely that the crescendo in that horror movie you’re watching will be interrupted unceremoniously with the bright colors and brighter sounds of Flo from Progressive. In short, we are witnessing a trend where the viewer’s experience comes second to convenience and automation.

Wowza is helping customers improve user experiences with tools and features that help create a differentiated and higher quality experience for viewers. We’ve recently unveiled some new ways our customers can cultivate optimal viewer experiences and are continuing to invest in more.

   

Improved Player Customization Options

Our new player component registry adds functionality and makes it easier to take advantage of existing options. This new functionality includes new user interface (UI) components, as well as simplified player configuration and customization. Put simply, it gives customers more options that are easier to take advantage of. Now they can enjoy greater flexibility without needing to be tech experts.

Example Use Case: Houses of worship are often keen on providing a controlled and consistent viewer experience. They benefit from the ability to white label everything right down to the online video player. But more than that, they want the ability to provide the right viewing experience without needing extensive technical expertise to do it.

 

VOD Playlist Configuration

Our new embedded playlist UI makes it easy for customers to build playlists for viewers and make those playlists more navigation friendly. This is particularly helpful for larger video-on-demand (VOD) streaming libraries as it both improves content management for customers and discoverability for viewers. Being able to better organize and present content will keep viewers engaged by encouraging more media consumption.

Example Use Case: Media publishers often have a plethora of content to contend with. AI-enabled metadata that makes it easier to categorize videos is helpful but will only get them so far. The ability to make custom playlists to specifically target viewers will help these organizations make more efficient use of an extensive library.

 

Quality of Experience Analytics

Quality of experience (QoE) video analytics measure video performance, like startup time and rebuffering counts and duration, that impact viewer experience. Specifically, startup time measures how long it takes a video to load and begin. Rebuffering counts refer to the number of times a video stalls due to buffering, as well as the duration of these rebuffering instances. With the help of effective QoE analytics, you can identify problematic videos and proactively address specific issues more easily, the natural consequence of which is providing an overall more positive viewing experience and enticing viewers to keep returning to your platform or website.

Example Use Case: Sports streaming organizations typically deal in both live and VOD assets. When it comes to live streaming, low-latency and smooth streaming are essential. Streaming analytics can provide insights into a live stream’s performance, including average bitrate, latency, and more. Wowza’s newer QoE analytics offerings would provide additional insight into VOD assets, helping sports streamers take an even more data-driven approach to platform optimization.

 

Precise Ad Markers

Precise ad markers would help us resolve the very issue described at the start of this article. Ad markers indicate where an ad plays in a specific video, giving you the power to control when ads play, thereby providing viewers with a less jarring experience. Wowza customers can create their own ad markers using a web annotation tool called video timeline studio. This is especially valuable for customers wanting to monetize videos with longer watch times and higher viewer engagement.

Example Use Case: Realistically, anyone who uses ad-insertion as part of their streaming monetization strategy would benefit from this. However, let’s take a moment to talk about news and information portals. They frequently use ad insertion in videos and the less narrative driven nature of their content makes it far more likely that users will fall off mid-advertisement instead of powering through. The less invasive the ads, the less likely that is to happen.

 

The Wowza Advantage

Wowza is not the only streaming platform provider that includes tools for analyzing and improving viewer experiences. However, there are some strengths that set Wowza apart form the pack:

• Innovation first – We continue to evolve our offerings as new technologies and trends emerge. With Wowza, you get more than just a streaming solution, you get a partner that will grow with you and your needs. In fact, we were named an online video platform (OVP) innovation leader by Frost & Sullivan in their 2024 Radar Report.
• All-in-one streaming – Get the bells and whistles you need to make your ideal streaming solution without all of the complexity. Between our core technologies and extensive tech partnerships, we act as a one stop shop for streaming needs.
• Predictable total cost of ownership (TCO) – By not having to cobble together a long list of vendors to meet your every need, you’re also bringing down your costs and simplifying your payment structure. Wowza offers a predictable and controlled TCO, freeing you up to invest in quality content.

And now with these latest developments, we are continuing to make our UI even more user-friendly, so you have an easier time building the streaming solution that you and your viewers deserve.

But don’t take my word for it; start a FREE TRIAL today and find out yourself how easy it is to start streaming with Wowza!