YouTube Knock-off? Not Even Close!
The average Joe and his grandmother use YouTube these days, and there is nothing wrong with that (besides the endless stream of useless comments). However, what if Joe wanted more control and power with the distribution and publication of video content? Well, that person is no longer average, and that person has to be willing to pay for premium services to get that kind of control and functionality. This is where the discussion of YouTube ends, and Brightcove begins.
Brightcove 3's Main Interface
Brightcove 3.0 Features
Brightcove promises to "change the way you use video." These changes begin with drastic improvements:* Improved interface: Previously, users were required to download complex desktop software to upload and manage videos, but new improvements make the experience more streamlined and efficient.* Customizable players: Having control over a video player's styling and functionality is becoming more important, as companies want to make their customers' viewing experience more interactive and appealing. A simple language similar to HTML allows developers to make these customizations.* Improved delivery methods: Do those viewers need HD quality video or the kind that will operate on a mobile phone? It no longer matters because the Brightcove platform enables various methods of video formats and methods of viewing. This ensures that viewers on any connection and various devices can view video content.* API enhancements: One of the more important features is the inclusion of more control through the API. Publishers will have control over adverting while enabling them to add social media plugins as well. Videos will also be made visible to search engines. Finally, information about the video can be pulled and displayed on HTML pages. This is extremely useful functionality for a media format that was previously limited in previous times.
Entering Information About Videos
Tiered Pricing
Another significant change for Brightcove is the adoption of a tiered pricing system, which offers increasing prices for additional features and storage. The three packages -- basic, professional and enterprise -- range from thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars; this stuff is not cheap. Hopefully, this will lead to Brightcove's profitability in the future.Each package has its differences. For example, the basic package offers plenty of features but lacks the ability to integrate advertising or heavily customize players. That is fine for distributing video, but pointless if a company wants to generate revenue with their video content (who doesn't these days?).
Tiered Pricing Packages
The professional and enterprise packages seem much more appropriate for business usage. The primary differences between those packages are the amount of storage, API calls and management options.
