The Internet is filled with content providers that claim to be able to stream your content with ease. The reality is that few providers offer a robust enough platform to handle the needs of an individual or organization that experiences viral success online. Many people begin by using YouTube to handle the cataloging and distribution of their online content, but as videos become more popular, a more robust content delivery infrastructure is needed.
In this article we will compare the features of Ustream and TikiLIVE. Both are very popular providers and offer users an easy way to quickly upload content to the Internet for live video streaming.
Ustream
History: Ustream is a live video streaming service that was launched in 2007. It is popular among users due to the ability to upload content for free. Much like YouTube, Ustream caters to users who are not looking to pay to use a video sharing service.
Disadvantages: While Ustream offers a free platform for users to create videos, this creates several disadvantages, which are inherent with most free video content providers.
• Bandwidth Limitations – With any free service, there are almost always limitations and Ustream is no different. Their free video sharing service offers significant bandwidth throttling that can significantly deteriorate the viewing experience for your users. This is especially true as your videos begin to become increasingly popular. Due to increased Internet speeds, users are becoming less patient when it comes to buffering and delayed video content.
• Advertisements – One of the ways that free content providers can continue to exist is through the use of advertisements that are embedded in your videos. While this may be okay for users that are simply sharing videos with friends and family, this may not be sufficient for those looking to convey a professional image online. While this may not seem like a big deal for someone who is just starting to post videos online, as your content becomes more popular this could cause some users to look elsewhere for similar content that is not riddled with advertisements.
Verdict: While Ustream may be fine if you are just beginning to create content online, it is likely not for everyone. If you already have a strong online following, investing in a paid video content provider may be a safer option. This way you will not have to worry about advertisements or bandwidth limitations which are common with all of the major free content providers including Ustream and YouTube.
TikiLIVE
History: TikiLIVE is a video streaming provider that has been around since 2007 as well. While TikiLIVE operates as a paid live video streaming provider, the service has seen consistent growth over the years due to a commitment to a robust infrastructure as well as a strong customer experience. As a leader in the live streaming arena for a number of years, TikiLIVE offers a suite of features not seen from the majority of other content providers.
Advantages: Due to TikiLIVE’s strong user base, the company is able to provide a platform that offers several key advantages, compared to free video sharing sites such as Ustream and YouTube.
• Robust Content Delivery Network – The success of your online videos largely has to do with the infrastructure that is being used to serve your content to viewers. This infrastructure can vary greatly depending on your content provider. Because TikiLIVE’s infrastructure is not riddled with users trying to upload scores of content for free, they are able to provide a network that is scalable and lightning fast. This allows you to focus on creating high-quality videos, not on whether your users will be able to view them without any buffering or other streaming issues.
• Full HTML5 Compatibility – Another huge benefit of TikiLIVE is that it was built with the mobile user in mind. With all content being HTML5 compatible, your users can view your content from any device whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, computer or set-top box.
• Social Media Friendly – Social sharing of videos is one of the top ways that your videos can become successful online. TikiLIVE makes it extremely easy to share your videos with followers on Twitter, Facebook and other popular social media networks.
• Multiple Monetization Methods – With TikiLIVE you can charge viewers to access your live content or even charge for pay-per-view access to your archived content. Opening up monetization options for your content can be a great way to create additional revenue for yourself or your organization.
• Live Chat – Ready to drum up excitement about your online content? With TikiLIVE, you can offer a live chat feature to interact with your followers prior to the live streaming of your content. This can allow your fans to connect with you outside of your video content.
• WordPress Integration – As many are aware, WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) on the planet. Because of this, TikiLIVE has added features that make it incredibly easy to integrate your videos directly into your web site. No longer do you need to learn complicated HTML or CSS; simply rely on TikiLIVE to handle all of the technical coding required to get your video content onto your website.
• Analytics – With TikiLIVE, you can access instant metrics on how well your videos are performing. This allows you to cater your content to your audience’s wants and needs, which is essentially the backbone of all marketing.
Verdict: If you are looking for a feature rich content provider that will deliver no matter how popular your content becomes, TikiLIVE should be at the top of your list. By investing in top-notch infrastructure, TikiLIVE has created a network that is hard to beat in the audio and video streaming arena.
Need More Information About TikiLIVE?
If you would like to talk with one of our knowledgeable customer service representatives, give us a call at 305-289-4557. In addition to phone support, we also offer email support as well as live chat should you prefer. If your current content provider is not going above and beyond to meet your needs, give TikiLIVE a try today!
