What's going on with PPV streams?

[DogsPlayingPool]

It seems like lately there have been problems, and not related to only one or two stream providers. Even the solid guys have been hit with issues. Recently Accustats, TAR, MikeTv, and now the Seminole event have all had hiccups.

What's going on? Is there more to a PPV than a free stream that causes this? Seems to me there is an internet business opportunity for someone that can provide problem-free PPV services to streamers because it doesn't seem like anyone is currently doing it.

Just curious if anyone has an explanation.

Thanks.

 

[Bigtruck]

It seems like lately there have been problems, and not related to only one or two stream providers. Even the solid guys have been hit with issues. Recently Accustats, TAR, MikeTv, and now the Seminole event have all had hiccups.

What's going on? Is there more to a PPV than a free stream that causes this? Seems to me there is an internet business opportunity for someone that can provide problem-free PPV services to streamers because it doesn't seem like anyone is currently doing it.

Just curious if anyone has an explanation.

Thanks.

I have had no issues to date.

My first PPV was the T-Town Classic last February and every single viewer got connected except one in a hotel in Mexico. I did pay for tech support but it was worth every penny.

Ray

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

I have had no issues to date.

My first PPV was the T-Town Classic last February and every single viewer got connected except one in a hotel in Mexico. I did pay for tech support but it was worth every penny.

Ray

It seems like it has been a recent phenomenon, but lately it's been problematical. I'm no expert on internet streaming but seeing as it's been happening to several streamers lately who have had no issues with their free streams it makes me think the problem is with the PPV services.

 

[NeunBall]

I agree I have been having alot of problems with the ppv streams lagging and freezing up. The Seminole Pro Tour stream was especially bad as far as the chat lagging. Its really hard to enjoy a stream when you have to keep refreshing.

 

[Matt90]

that's true

I have had no issues to date.

My first PPV was the T-Town Classic last February and every single viewer got connected except one in a hotel in Mexico. I did pay for tech support but it was worth every penny.

Ray

Never have seen anyone on here complaining that they did not get what they paid for or were droped from a Big Truck PPV stream (credit where credits due ) Tech support should be a must for a PPV :thumbup:

 

[JCIN]

We have done more PPV streams than anyone over the last four years. We have had two big issues with our provider and a few incidents with either internet at the venue or equipment over that time. I am guessing between TAR matches and tournaments we have done close to 30 or so.

Our problem on the final day of the Earl/Shane match was that the PPV system glitched and everyone who bought on Sunday logged into a session that the system said had already ended. There really is no other explanation than shit happens.

Streaming is a chain. If any link in that chain doesn't work 100% then you get a problem. Combine that with a live event and there is nowhere to hide and no time to fix anything on the fly that your customers don't see.

If you watch enough live news or sports they have drop outs, audio issues, "technical difficulties" and these people spend untold millions on their systems. When you do it on a shoestring those little glitches the big boys have turn into big problems when you are running on bubble gum and bailing wire.

One of the bigest issues is that all the PPV systems require people to navigate shopping carts and payment systems and those things can be confusing for an internet savvy person let alone someone who just wants to watch a pool match every few months.

We have always had a 100% money back guarantee on our streams. I have never refused a refund to someone who asked for one even on occasions when there were no issues on our end or I know they were able to access the stream just fine. Every event I end up refunding usually 5-10% of the people. usually for something that has nothing to do with our service but if someone is unhappy they are unhappy so you give them the money back. As far as I know Accu-stats is very strong customer service wise as well on their PPV's. I can't speak to anyone else as I havent had too much experience.

Streaming is in its adolescence now. Its starting to find its stride but still stumbles once in awhile.

 

[Jfred]

PPV Streaming Issues

Hi Guys!

Just like to drop a quick note in support of Justin and Tar.

Eloquence and brevity - "There really is no other explanation than shit happens." I also thoroughly agree with every other point he made.

There IS a huge difference between tryng to do a professional job at PPV streaming and putting shows up for free on sites like Ustream. We've done both and I agree with many of the Forum posters - Free is better. It is certainly easier on the company doing the streaming.

Logistics, support, GOOD web design to lead customers/viewers to the event, easy to follow instructions, a chat room that specializes more in helping viewers than anything else, great moderators who are ALWAYS there to help, manning different email accounts to try to correct problems in minutes rather than hours, phone suppport in many instances.

There is a LOT of work in putting on a program.

The normal day for a broadcaster starts hours before the first rack is cracked and ends hours after the last ball is sunk. And this is IF there were no problems.

Streaming IS a chain and the weakest link always manages to show up just as a match is due to begin as opposed to the hour waiting for the next match to start.

Technology improvements, reduced bandwidth costs, greater customer awareness, good pricing, and of course - great matchups and events will help drag streaming from its current adolesence into early adulthood.

We will try to improve and join streamers like Justin and TAR in bringing you better experiences in the future.

Jim
Accu-Stats

 

[DogsPlayingPool]

Thanks guys for the informative responses. You've provided a much clearer picture of the differences providing trouble-free PPV events compared to free streams. I appreciate you understanding that I started this thread for information purposes and not as a slam on stream providers. As you are aware, I'm a paying customer of most of you guys when I have the time to enjoy the great events you put on.

Thanks again for helping us all understand the greater complexities of putting on a PPV event. :grin:

 

[sde]

I posted this in the Carom section a few weeks ago and I believe that it applies to pool also.


PPV

Personally I don't like the idea of PPV for live streaming of 3C.

Live streaming IMHO should not only be for the enjoyment of existing fans of 3 Cushion but equally if not more important is the opportunity for those not familiar with this beautiful sport to be exposed and hopefully develop an interest and become players.

On any ustream channel, below the chat window there are "Recommended Live Shows " with a thumbnail of the video that is being shown on that live show. Many people who may be watching a live show of a sleeping puppy, humming birds feeding or whatever, may look at the "Recommended Live Shows ", see a billiard table and out of curiosity click on it and we have a potential new fan of 3C. There is also the chance that the 3C stream be featured on the front page of ustream and gain many new viewers.

PPV will limit that exposure, along with the fact that a PPV show will get only about 10% of the viewers of a free stream, 10% is being generous.

Take for example the live stream of the Champion of Champions, there were 80-100 viewers most of the time we were on the air with a maximum of about 130 at one time. However, on average for the 4 days there were nearly 1000 "Unique Viewers" for each day. This is telling me that there are many people who just happen to stumble upon the show, I have no idea how long they stay and watch, but all of them have been exposed to 3C that may not have been otherwise.

For me trading a few dollars for the lack of exposure isn't worth it.

I have seen several AZBers that have said that they now have an interest in 3C, I have no way of knowing if that is the result of the live streams, but thinking that what Mi_Billiards has done, has had a positive result in bring new players to 3C is what keeps me going.

Steve
Mi_Billiards

 

[TVmike]

----

I've been wanting to post here but been so busy, streaming a lot and doing other stuff like making dvds and everything.

The original posters comments really should be "problems with streaming" it doesn't matter if its PPV or not. The only reason why your noticing problems streaming with PPV is it gets much louder when there are problems when people have spent money to watch. People get loud when we go offline for 2 minutes for a reboot when they are paying. But the truth is...

The issues with streaming are there to begin with which are too many to discuss as someone said "shit happens" and "streaming is a chain" which are both very accurate statements put in different ways. Adding PPV layer on top can only make things more difficult. I wouldn't say streaming is in it's infancy but certainly you have to be a super nerd at this point to negotiate everything at the highest quality. When people stop getting DSL at their business's is when I can stop worrying about bandwidth.

The problem that occurred while producing Bad Blood had absolutely nothing to do with anything I did at all and it took an hour or more to figure out that it wasn't on our end but on the providers end. However it's on my channel so people think it was my fault. I still haven't even got a email apology from ustream about that whole weekend which baffles me really. I simply wanted them to apologize to my viewers who purchased the bad blood event. I didn't even get that.

I suppose it could of been handled better at times but when I'm attempting to produce a match live when the players wont stop for a reboot as they do on my action shows or other streams it's going to cause even more issues... As it did. I was told if you ask earl to wait a minute he will flip the **** out so we didn't ask him.

None the less the show goes on.

 

[brophog]

I suppose it could of been handled better at times but when I'm attempting to produce a match live when the players wont stop for a reboot as they do on my action shows or other streams it's going to cause even more issues...

It could have been better handled by all involved, including yourself. I'm still seeing one commonality from you in regards to this event: a rather consistent focus on yourself. There is a continued push from yourself to sell your own skills to the audience. The letter that was posted here asking for an apology from Ustream read way; way more as an apology to you rather than an apology to the customers.

You're, in part, the guy at the drive thru window taking crap for what some corporate exec did that you'll never meet and have no influence on. It's not necessarily your fault, and you're mostly getting yelled at because you're the closest person there. I wish we lived in a world where people understood the difference between correlation and causation, and thought about things before they acted, but we do not.

Customer Service 101: Put a smile on your face, deal with it the best you can, and chew the appropriate ass in private. The biggest mistake you made is making yourself the focal point in everything. It may seem like protecting your reputation is important, but it only creates a bigger mess when handled in public. There will always be people that blame you, no matter what, but you alienate the others if you handle it in the way that you did, and ultimately, making a bigger black mark on your rep in the process.

 

[JB Cases]

I've been wanting to post here but been so busy, streaming a lot and doing other stuff like making dvds and everything.

The original posters comments really should be "problems with streaming" it doesn't matter if its PPV or not. The only reason why your noticing problems streaming with PPV is it gets much louder when there are problems when people have spent money to watch. People get loud when we go offline for 2 minutes for a reboot when they are paying. But the truth is...

The issues with streaming are there to begin with which are too many to discuss as someone said "shit happens" and "streaming is a chain" which are both very accurate statements put in different ways. Adding PPV layer on top can only make things more difficult. I wouldn't say streaming is in it's infancy but certainly you have to be a super nerd at this point to negotiate everything at the highest quality. When people stop getting DSL at their business's is when I can stop worrying about bandwidth.

The problem that occurred while producing Bad Blood had absolutely nothing to do with anything I did at all and it took an hour or more to figure out that it wasn't on our end but on the providers end. However it's on my channel so people think it was my fault. I still haven't even got a email apology from ustream about that whole weekend which baffles me really. I simply wanted them to apologize to my viewers who purchased the bad blood event. I didn't even get that.

I suppose it could of been handled better at times but when I'm attempting to produce a match live when the players wont stop for a reboot as they do on my action shows or other streams it's going to cause even more issues... As it did. I was told if you ask earl to wait a minute he will flip the **** out so we didn't ask him.

None the less the show goes on.

Well, FWIW I filed a PP claim against Ustream for the $25 I paid for the Strickland/Archer match - I jsut got the $25 back after one month and no answer from Ustream. SO, as promised I will be HAPPY to pay YOU the $25 since the issue was on Ustream's part and not yours.

I do have a question though and forgive me for being technically naive. Isn't it possible to record the entire match locally, i.e. have the cameras feeding into another hard drive separate from the one being used to broadcast from? Wouldn't this be better to insure that the match in it's entirety is preserved?

Anyway, PP coming your way.