IBM Cloud Video facts for kids
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Type of site
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Video streaming |
|---|---|
| Available in | English, German, Hungarian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Korean |
| Owner | IBM |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | March 2007 |
| Current status | Active |
| Native client(s) on | iOS, Android |
IBM Watson Media is a company that provides a platform for live video events. It is part of a larger company called IBM. IBM Watson Media was known as Ustream and later as IBM Cloud Video before its current name.
Before IBM bought Ustream, the company had over 180 employees. These employees worked in offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Budapest. Ustream also received money from investors to help develop new products. In 2016, Ustream officially became a part of IBM. On April 1, 2018, Ustream changed its name to IBM Cloud Video. Soon after, it changed its name again to IBM Watson Media. This new name shows that the platform uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology from IBM's Watson.
Contents
How IBM Watson Media Started
The Idea Behind Ustream
Ustream was created by three friends: John Ham, Brad Hunstable, and Gyula Fehér. They wanted to help their friends who were serving in the Iraq War. These soldiers were far from home and had little time to talk to their families. Ustream offered a way for them to communicate with all their relatives at once. This made it easier for soldiers to stay in touch with loved ones.
Over time, many different people started using Ustream. Famous politicians like Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama used it. Video game players and artists like Kanye West also used the platform. Some people even used it to share their daily lives, like iJustine. Technology experts such as Leo Laporte also found Ustream useful.
Becoming Part of IBM
Early on, Ustream received investments from companies like DCM Ventures and Softbank. These investments helped Ustream grow. On January 21, 2016, IBM bought Ustream. The deal was worth up to $150 million.
After the purchase, Ustream joined other companies that IBM had acquired. These included Aspera, Clearleap, and Cleversafe. Together, they formed IBM's Cloud Video unit, which is now IBM Watson Media. IBM planned to use Ustream's technology to offer video services to large businesses and organizations.
How Content is Managed
Automatic Content Checks
IBM Watson Media uses a special service to protect copyrighted content. This service is provided by a company called Vobile. It uses a unique system to identify videos that might be protected by copyright. This helps make sure that people don't share content they don't own.
Sometimes, this automatic system can make mistakes. It might block content that is allowed to be used, like for "fair use" or if the person streaming has permission. For example, in 2012, a live broadcast of the Hugo Award ceremony was stopped. This happened because it showed short clips from nominated TV shows and movies, even though they were allowed. Ustream later apologized for this and adjusted their system. They wanted to find a better way to balance the needs of broadcasters, viewers, and copyright owners.
See also
In Spanish: IBM Cloud Video para niños
