Ustream.tv
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2009) |
| File:Ustreammainlogo.png | |
| File:Ustreamssite.gif Live, Interactive Broadcasting. | |
Type of site | Video streaming |
|---|---|
| Available in | English |
| URL | ustream.tv |
| Registration | Optional |
Ustream, established March 2007,[2] is a website which consists of a network of diverse channels providing a platform for lifecasting and live video streaming of events online.[3] The website has over 2,000,000 registered users who generate 1,500,000+ hours of live streamed content per month with over ten million unique hits per month.[2] It received $11.1 million in Series A funding for new product development from DCM and investors Labrador Ventures and Band of Angels.[4]
During the 2008 United States presidential election, the website was used by nearly all of the major candidates to help their campaigns, by allowing a greater number of voters to ask political questions.[2] Former Senator and 2008 Presidential Candidate Mike Gravel became the first candidate ever to stream an alternate debate on Ustream that allowed Sen. Gravel to respond to all of the questions being asked, as well as comment on the responses from the other candidates throughout a nationally televised debate.[5]
History
Co-founders John Ham, Brad Hunstable and Dr. Gyula Feher met each other while attending the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Ham (born June 9, 1978 in Torrance, California) had shown an early interest in being an entrepreneur, having started trading equities and options at 16 years of age. At West Point he interned with NASA and the New York Stock Exchange. He graduated from West Point with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, then was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army.
Hunstable (born on September 26, 1978 in Tarrant County, Texas) had shown an interest in technology since childhood, having started one of the largest Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) named, "The Dark Realms", at the age of 11. He graduated from West Point with a B.S. in Engineering Management, then was commissioned as a Captain in the US Army. While in the Army, he gained a MBA in Finance and Real Estate from Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.
While serving in the military, Hunstable and Ham teamed-up on a web-based digital photo enterprise developed and built by Dr. Gyula Feher, another Ustream founder. In 2003, the two were separated, forcing the photo venture to cease operations. Ham was deployed to Korea and Hunstable was assigned to work directly for the Department of Defense. After completing their tours of duty, Hunstable and Ham re-connected with Gyula and began a new business venture: Ustream.[6]
Birth of Ustream
Ustream.tv was born when the founders (Brad Hunstable, Johnny Ham, and Dr. Gyula Feher) wanted a way for their friends in the Army, who were deployed overseas in Iraq during the war, to be able to communicate with their families back home. A product like Ustream would provide them with a way to talk to all of their relatives at once when free time in the war zone was limited.
Previously, these three had worked together on an internet based event photo sharing website using technology created by Dr. Feher. In 2003, both Brad and John Ham were deployed to active duty, putting an end to this venture. After returning to civilian life, Brad and John discussed the idea of the general public using the Internet to share live video. Seeing this as a viable product, they contacted their former partner, Dr. Feher, in order to develop the technology required. Ustream.tv was founded in 2006, as experiments in broadcasting Brad's brother's (Nathan Hunstable) band (Venture) proved successful. Early testing involved Brad in the audience with a camera wired to a laptop (with a cellular card) in his backpack, sending the stream back to their test server.
Launching their public beta in March 2007, Ustream.tv is one of a series of live video sites including Justin.tv, Livestream, and BlogStar (formerly Operator11.com). The company has seen massive growth in the political, entertainment, and technology fields.[7]
Ustream.tv has witnessed many notable people streaming from politicians such as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Canadian sports show host Avry Lewis-McDougall and John Edwards[8] to artists like Tori Amos and the Plain White T's[9]. The technology community has also adopted Ustream to include Robert Scoble, Leo Laporte and Chris Pirillo.
Paid service
While Ustream's basic service is still free and supported by advertising revenue, Ustream started to offer Watershed, a pay-as-you-go version of their service. Watershed customers pay per viewing hour, charging from $0.25 to $1 per viewer.[citation needed] Watershed users don't have to display Ustreams Advertisements and logos and instead can provide their own.[citation needed]
http://www.ustream.tv/blog/2009/02/17/today-ustream-launches-watershed/
Methods
Ustream allows users to broadcast from the website once logged in or from a mobile using Ustream's mobile broadcasting app. Users can watch streams live on the website and on the Ustream iPhone and Android applications. The website allows users to interact, such as vote in polls, rate, chat etc. The iPhone and Android applications allows users to watch and chat.
See also
References
- ^ http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/ustream.tv January 1, 2010
- ^ a b c BusinessWire, "Ustream Continues Rapdi Growth, December 18, 2007
- ^ Broida, Rick Ustream At A Glance" PC Magazine, August 7, 2007
- ^ Cynopsis: Digital. April 14, 2008.
- ^ Mike Gravel, "Mike's Alternative Debate, January 31, 2008
- ^ WebWare, Merry Christmas, Mom: Ustream links soldiers with home, December 14, 2007
- ^ Ustream.TV Experiences Significant Business Growth; Company Adds New CEO, Industry Partners and Thousands of Users
- ^ YouTube and UStream Go Political
- ^ The Ustream.TV Blog » Blog Archive » Plain White T’s Event Serves 130,000