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Brightcove Video Hosting Review


ConsumersAdvocate.org Rating: 4.4 / 5 (Excellent)
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Brightcove is a Boston-based company that has focused on internet video since its founding in 2004. It offers its own proprietary HTML5 player, live streaming functionality, video hosting, marketing automation platform integration, and OTT services that allow TV and film content to be viewed over the internet. The firm also consults with clients on the best ways to monetize their video content,

How is Brightcove rated?

Breakdown

4.5/5
Technical Specifications
5.0/5
Security
4.0/5
Related Features
4.0/5
Support

Overall Rating: 4.4 / 5 (Excellent)

Brightcove excels in the degree of control and security it gives content creators, in its analytics features, and in the design and function of its HTML5 player. The player itself is handsomely designed and is claimed to be the fastest in the industry. Its hosting packages clearly contemplate organizations with large amounts of video content, which Brightcove makes accessible through a well-designed video library. Though the company disappoints in its lack of SEO features, in almost every other way it stands at the forefront of the industry.

Brightcove Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications - 4.5 / 5

Like other players in the industry, Brightcove does not publish full technical specs for its hosting and player products. It offers infinitely scalable cloud-based transcoding and adaptive bitrate streaming. Also like others in the industry, Brightcove claims that its HTML5 player is the fastest in the industry.
Automatic optimization?
Yes
Storage
Storage for a minimum of 50 videos included in all packages. Premium packages allow an unlimited number of videos.
File Size Limitations
None
Other Notable Technical Features
Brightcove's HTML5 player pre-compiles and compresses plugins, skin assets, and thumbnails to minimize download size. Its API extensions eliminate the need for Flash. Users can mouse-over a bar to find specific points in a video.

Brightcove Security

Security - 5 / 5

Brightcove's security features are impressive. Its DRM formats include Widevine, PlayReady, and FairPlay. The firm offers a high degree of control to its clients in terms of how and where their videos are played. Videos can be watermarked and encrypted for further privacy and security.
Downloading Limitations
Access to videos may be restricted by domain, IP address, and publication date. Playback of sensitive videos can be limited by IP address and by network. Sign-in and security protocols can be configured to existing enterprise security and identity management tools.
Privacy Options
Brightcove offers a robust array of privacy options for both Android and iOS devices. Video creators can customize their content policies to synch with license agreements. Unencrypted output can be restricted on insecure devices (including jailbroken smartphones). Playback resolution can be limited on particular device platforms.
Secure SSL Certificate?
Yes
RTMPe Streaming?
Yes
Video Scheduling?
Yes

Brightcove Related Features

Related Features - 4 / 5

Brightcove's analytics package is one of the best in the industry and stands out for the impressive degree of data it provides. The firm also provides a great deal of control over how advertising is presented within a video. Though the company itself does not stress SEO, there are a number of third-party add-ons that can be purchased to perform these tasks.
Analytics
Brightcove's robust analytics package allows real-time tracking of player loads, the number of plays, the number of minutes viewing, the percent of content viewed, new/old/unique viewer data, attention span information, top domain identification, geographic data, traffic sources, and search terms. The firm's analytics integrates with Adobe and Google analytics platforms.
SEO Features
Video content can be indexed for SEO purposes.
Advertising Controls
Brightcove's video player gives its customers the ability to defeat some ad blockers. Customers have total control over the presence or nonpresence of advertising in their videos. The company's ad integration supports IAB video ad standards VAST, VMAP and VPAID, and accommodates pre-, mid- and post-roll ads as well as overlays and companions.
Lead Generator?
Yes
Video Subtitling?
Yes
Email Marketing Integration?
Yes

Other Notable Related Features

Brightcove offers a video library tool that can sort, search and organize videos.

Brightcove Support

Support - 4 / 5

Brightcove offers a solid array of webinars, on-demand training services, and a blog that contains a number of tips and suggestions. Its website allows people to create their own help tickets online and includes a support request webform.
Support Modes
Phone
Email
Included in Fee?
Yes

Company Profile

Full Name
Brightcove Video Hosting
Company Website
Headquarters
290 Congress Street, 4th floor, Boston, MA, 02210

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Top Rated
Our Partner
  • Fast HTML5 player that works on all mobile and desktop browsers
  • Javascript APIs allow extensive player customization
  • Content suggestion algorithms to enhance engagement
  • Real-time analytics
  • Prices start at $5/month
  • Password-protected sharing
  • Live event streaming
  • No revenue share; all ad revenue to the poster
  • Multi-bitrate HD encoding
  • Over 1 billion monthly unique global viewers