Yahoo boosting video strategy

Acquisition of RayV

Yahoo announced recently the acquisition of RayV, an Israeli startup specialized in streaming high-quality video to online and mobile devices.

This shows, once more, Yahoo’s pursue for a more solid video strategy (including streaming video live or on demand), giving them technology infrastructure that enhances current capabilities.

Is Yahoo moving from search portal to content provider?

Several recent announces indicate the strategy of moving into content.

Only in 2014, several news came out about Yahoo and content / video related initiatives such as:

• Announcement of two 30-minte original series
• Commitment to revive Community, a popular ex-NBC sitcom
• Announced a partnership with LiveNation (live events promoter), to stream one concert per day for the next several years

The acquisition of RayV gives them the means to reach the users: they already had the content and now have the way to distribute it.

Main sources:

http://www.rayv.com/

http://yahoo.tumblr.com/post/91477497439/welcome-rayv

http://mashable.com/2014/07/11/yahoo-acquires-rayv/

http://www.cnet.com/news/yahoo-buys-startup-to-bolster-online-video-backend/

http://www.businessinsider.com/yahoo-buys-rayv-2014-7

http://recode.net/2014/07/11/yahoo-buys-israeli-video-startup-rayv/

High increase in video streaming on the web...

Thinking about the video streaming options and channels that we have discussed in class such as Youtube, Vevo among others... and with the broadband of the internet getting better and better every day... How important will be video streaming and live streaming in the web's future.... and what new opportunities they will bring in developing new video platforms... Undoubtly this is an interesting are to focus as research from Pew Internet Research Companu shows that 71 percent of online Americans are using YouTube and other sites. This is up from 66 percent a year ago and way up from 33 percent in 2006. I was strike by such big growth in just 4 years... and still we haven't seen announce challenging youtube directly yet... Youtube represents 52% of the streaming video traffic on the web... so how are companies are going to capitalize on that... Will brands continue to launch their youtube channels providing consumers unique exclusive content...? Is this currently working for consumers...? Those are interesting questions to ask as marketers and visualize a bit further about how this applications can end up working for some industries... What about if we can virtually shop in supermarket and shops... with livestreaming... or even virtually party with the music of the best dj's of the world with high quality high speed video streaming that the quality might become some good that you would feel almost the club experience... How useful can this trend become towards education... as people won't need to assist classes anymore... One interesting consequence of this phenomenon is how anyone can express their point of view of current events in matters of seconds and with very low technical requirements... and share it with the world... This is pretty powerful now that youtube represents 10% of the traffic worldwide and it became a good source for information for large media groups around the world.

Live Video Streaming via the iPhone

Since we were given an article regarding live video streaming in class last night, I thought this post on TechCrunch today was particularly relevant..

Looking Forward to Streaming Live Video from Your iPhone 3G S? Not So Fast.
TechCrunch: MG Siegler - June 10, 2009

According to MG Siegler, live streaming via the iPhone already secretly exists amongst tech-savvy users. And now that the 3G S, which supports video, is available, this activity could be even more widespread.

Currently, Apple doesn't allow live streaming apps into the App Store. Most likely this is because of its relationship with AT&T; "undoubtedly AT&T does not want live streaming video clogging up its network." When TechCrunch spoke with Ustream and Qik, two of the leading live video streaming corporations, they both seemed to be unaware of the iPhone's capabilities. Siegler suspects this is because AT&T and Apple aren't quick to discuss live video streaming, due to the traffic implications. "It has been widely reported that AT&T is prohibiting iPhone apps like the Sling Player from streaming video over its 3G networks due to bandwidth concerns."

According to the post, this reluctance presents a disparity in reasoning, to the detriment of video startups wanting to reach customers through the development of iPhone apps. “Currently, viewing YouTube videos on the iPhone presents a load that is likely larger than the aggregate amount of bandwidth used by many individual broadcasts [on Ustream] at any given moment,” says Ustream founder John Ham.

Although Apple announced it has opened its video APIs to third parties, solving the iPhone video capture problem, it does not mean either Apple or AT&T are ready/willing to discuss live video streaming.

Qik enables live video casting from a cell phone (about 40 supported handsets - including Nokia S60 series, some Windows Mobile devices, or a jailbroken 2G iPhone) via any 3G/GPRS/Wi-fi Internet connection. Click here for the company profile on TechCrunch.

Ustream.tv is a live video community where anyone with a computer, Internet connection and a web cam can set up his/her own channel and broadcast live. Click here for the company profile on TechCrunch.