Ooyala, a video publishing platform is going social with its new addition of a social component to its videos. This week Ooyala Social was launched which is a new HD-quality Social TV experience, bringing video sharing and viewing to Facebook. Ooyala has been specializing in hosting videos for media and corporate clients such as the Telegraph Media Group, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Dell, General Mills, ESPN and TechCrunch. Ooyala Social will now enrich these content owners with its use to make premium on-demand and live video available on Facebook via rentals, subscriptions, purchases, and and more.
This platform has a number of features, which include the ability to allow for group-activated “screenings,” allowing a certain number of people on Facebook to unlock a viewing experience and users even have an option to share what they’re watching “Like” a video or “loan” a show for viewing them later on. The viewers have an option to have a chat together via a show or movie. There is even a part of the Ooyala Social which allows access for device and mulit-screen. For those who wish to rent or buy videos with credit card, PayPal, mobile phone number or the social site famous Facebook Credits, they can even enjoy their part here. The offering from the company includes an adjustable pricing plan: studios can set up an on-demand model, like Miramax, or go for a subscription model, like the one used by Netflix.
Facebook, no doubt has become a hub for those who prefer discovering online videos and an addition of Ooyala will only enrich the entertainment level of the social networking site users. Ooyala’s move however cannot be termed as surprising as its not the lone premium content publisher bringing in videos to the social platform. Miramax and TopGear are the ones who recently made their video collection available to Facebook. Netflix is even working on integrating with Facebook on a higher level, even though it will have to pass through a few challenges. To add to the list, Warner Brothers is dabbling its toes into the Facebook stream with movie rentals.
Ooyala CEO Jay Fulcher said that Ooyala holds an advantage over other video technology companies which is they are the only ones to have “built this deep integration with Facebook”. In the months to come, the company hopes that they would be able to acquire many more customers for their social platform, but it restricted itself to remain silent about any potential partner.
Fulcher seems to be more than just right in stating the advantage as it really brings into Facebook more than just bringing a selection of movies to Facebook. This can be better understood with an instance detailed here. If a Hollywood studio prefers to have a private screening, then it can be done via a special login for Facebook, after which they can create a unique experience for the targeted audience.
The uniqueness still moves ahead as Fulcher stated that a customer who makes use of Ooyala, can start a movie on their computer, and then watch the rest on their iPad or Google TV.
On the monetary terms, the revenue generation once again might be good, but as compared to the affected falling box office receipts and DVD sales, it might still have answers to be asked for.