Product Updates

Hosting virtual events has become a practice that many event managers have had to adopt in the wake of the world pivoting to support remote engagement. In addition to providing appealing quality content for viewers, it has become exceedingly important to ensure that viewers also have a way to engage and communicate with others to enhance online experiences for those who would otherwise be connecting with people in person.

As a result, IBM Watson Media has redesigned the existing chat functionality to provide a new, reliable and scalable performance while offering highly engaging tools that could make the difference for virtual event participants – all while maintaining the core chat feature set that IBM customers have become accustomed to. Below are highlights of the new chat features that customers can start using today.

Ever dealt with a viewer you had to turn away because their connection speed was simply too slow, even at the lowest quality setting? Audio-only playback for video streaming can be a possible solution. It offers a low bandwidth option for an on demand and live streaming platform that can further broaden accessibility to content.

This feature was recently introduced for IBM Video Streaming and IBM Enterprise Video Streaming.

Looking for a faster method to upload videos? Need one that isn’t restricted to accessing the dashboard of a video streaming, enterprise video streaming or virtual events platform account?

IBM is introducing video uploading through APIs. This allows organizations to upload video files into IBM’s video platform programmatically, without requiring access to the account’s dashboard. This opens new opportunities for uploading files while also being a faster approach versus the traditional dashboard uploading.

Have a new version of a video but don’t want to lose analytics or redo embeds?

IBM is introducing a replace video feature for its video streaming and enterprise video platforms. This allows organizations to update outdated videos with newer versions while not having to worry about the logistics around URL links or instances where the video was embed. As a result, it provides a relatively quick method for content to be cycled and remain relevant to target audiences.

• Replace video but keep data
• Steps for replacing a video
• Use cases

Looking to offer your users a single sign-on experience from your video content?

IBM now supports using OpenID Connect (OIDC) based identity providers with its enterprise video platform. This expands the options that organizations have for user authentication to access live and on demand video material.

• What is OpenID Connect?
• Setting up single sign-on with OIDC for enterprise video
• Benefits of OIDC
• OIDC compared to SAML

Located in Europe and looking for a video streaming solution that has a server infrastructure also located there? IBM Watson Media is introducing a concentrated, shared server cluster for the Europe region, located in Frankfurt, Germany.

For organizations that elect to use this added service, they will be able to manage and deliver live and on-demand video strictly from a Europe based server cluster. As a result, servers from outside Europe aren’t used for those who elect to use this service. This introduces advantages to Europe based organizations and also the ability to comply with certain regulations.

Viewers now have more options related to how closed captions are displayed for video streaming content. This allows end users to customize closed captioning settings inside the video player for live and on demand captions. As a result, viewers can control a number of options from increasing font size for accessibility reasons to altering aspects like color of the display.

These settings are available for manually uploaded WebVTT captioning files and also automated closed captions from IBM Watson. Furthermore, the settings can be accessed and control the captions for mobile devices and desktops. However, please note there is a current limitation for these settings when viewing full screen on an iPhone.

• Options for closed captions
• Opening closed captioning settings
• Stored CC settings

Need an effective CTA (Call To Action) for your live video marketing? Looking to add clickable video overlays?

CTAs are an important element of the overall conversion process. While video marketing can be valuable to build brand recognition, sometimes collateral is created for later in the sales funnel with the desire to convert. For these and other instances, IBM’s streaming video and enterprise video streaming users can now add live CTAs directly into the video player. These clickable video overlays can provide a clear next step for prospects who are watching live streaming content. For more information on using live video as part of your marketing strategy, also be sure to download our How to Increase Conversions with Online Video white paper.

• Why are CTAs important?
• How live CTAs work for video
• Creating an effective CTA
• Clickable video overlay APIs

Want to know how to live stream Cisco Webex video conferences? Looking for ways to improve archiving and content discoverability through AI?

IBM Video Streaming from IBM Watson Media can be integrated into Cisco Webex Meetings or Events. Through this integration, Webex users are able to push out their video conference so it can be broadcasted on a channel page. This channel can be restricted for internal use, or open so that anyone with the link could watch.

• Webex integration advantages
• How it works
• Controlling the streaming layout
• Use cases
• Broadcast version delivery
• Live stream device compatibility
• Restricting access to Webex streams
• Automatic archiving for on-demand use

Need to create a simulated live experience for viewers? Interested in managing linear channels?

IBM offers live playlists with functionality that can replicate a live broadcast. Using this feature, previously recorded video can be presented to viewers like a live stream. These simulated live broadcasts can also work alongside live content, with broadcasters being able to push an actual live stream out that will take priority over the live playlist. As a result, they can transition from a previously recorded session, like a guest speaker, to a live session, like Q&A, for corporate communication or for virtual events.

For those looking to leverage this technology for virtual conferences and other events, be sure to check out our Definitive Guide to Running Virtual and Hybrid Events. This covers using this feature as part of a virtual event.

Note: this is not a new feature. It’s been with the IBM Video Streaming platform and IBM Enterprise Video Streaming platform for years. The update is that the feature is no longer Flash based and appears directly inside the dashboard under Playlists now.

• Advantages of simulated live streaming
• Linear channel: creating live playlists
• Simulated live use cases