As Markets Evolve: A Perspective From Streaming Media East

Ever since I first entered the streaming media market many years ago, Streaming Media's website, publications, and trade shows have been those reliable destinations for me to sharpen my view of the market, meet like-minded people, and help contribute to strategic direction of our Tempo platform.

This week, Globecomm exhibited at Streaming Media East in NYC. As always, the show provided me an opportunity to catch up with colleagues and meet new people who share a passion for streaming media. However, there was something unsettling about this year's show that I could not quite put my finger on.

Then I realized it was that many of those familiar faces, who helped define streaming media in the enterprise, were not in attendance. I sent notes to a few to ask why they skipped the show. The reply was almost unanimous: they were too busy tending to their networks and customers.

Today, many of those pioneers who created this industry are realizing their vision of a connected enterprise, with video content elevating discourse across their organizations. The scale and complexity of their networks continues to expand, as does the importance of their mission. As they look down the road, they see the applications for their services expanding to include digital signage, learning, and an explosion of mobile applications.

All of this results in exciting and busy times for media managers. For me, I find it bittersweet that a consequence of their wild success is that we do not get to catch up at events like this. I guess that is what happens as markets evolve.

Ed Behan, Vice President Enterprise Services, Globecomm

Strategy and Creativity Matters Most in Today’s Media Communications

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the 2013 Spring Communications Media Management Association (CMMA) Professional Development Conference at McDonald’s campus in Oakbrook, Illinois. CMMA is the premier organization for media managers and provides professional development and networking for many enterprise organizations, such as Best Buy, Bank of America, Microsoft and Monsanto. Its always rewarding to hear that Globecomm’s Tempo product is the perfect solution to many of the challenges that Media Managers are facing today. With one platform delivering enterprise video everywhere, Tempo solves many of the headaches that these managers face within their organization.

This year’s conference was themed, “Get a Seat at the Table” and encourages Media Managers to become a strategic partner with all of their internal departments by:

· Consistently building and providing trust with their Senior leadership

· Continuously making a creative impact

· Defining an internal brand and promoting it within the company

The overall content of this year’s conference was fantastic and very well received from all attendees. I have two personal favorite keynote speakers from last week, which I would like to share.

The first was Ms. Bridget Coffing, Chief Communications Officer and SVP Corporate Relations, McDonalds. Bridget’s session was focused on the power and importance of strategic communications. From the moment Bridget began her presentation her honest and sincere perspective on the state of her business today was compelling. Bridget has been with McDonald’s since 2000 and she quickly reminded us that in 2005 McDonald’s was being slammed in the media from almost every direction as the company posted their first ever revenue decline. She discussed the importance of a team’s ability to develop and apply corporate messages in both favorable and unfavorable times as long as the over-all message “gets it right”. One of the most eye opening statements she provided was McDonald’s being mentioned in the media 22 times every second. Wow, that is a lot of communications to keep up with!

Another great keynote was delivered by Francesco Cordua, Director, Retail Design forMcDonald’s. Francesco leads the very talented team who transformed the McDonald’s brand strategy. With a direct, quick-witted confidence, his presentation focused on how design is strategic and creative decisions not only matter to the brand, but most times they define the brand. He provided examples of how McDonalds’s Creative Services overcame the challenge of finding their strategic partnerships and seats at the table.

Aside from the great content of this year’s spring conference the Tempo team also had a lot of laughs with our customers and prospective customers. One of my favorite moments was viewing the Tempo partner video. This was our first year to participate in the partner video segment and I think Tempo did a great job engaging the organization on our product. Our piece is different; a little edgy with a really cool soundtrack. We accomplished exactly what we intended to do; inspire intrigue and curiosity about Tempo.

“What is Tempo?”... exactly what people were asking after watching. That was precisely our strategy.

Check it out for yourself http://tempoeverywhere.com/videohome.html

Jennifer Flavin, Manager Enterprise Sales at Globecomm

A New World for Corporate Trainers

I remember how it used to be when I was the client using the old Interactive Distance Learning (IDL) approach to corporate training. We wanted to deliver high quality, video-centric content, but to get that beautiful full motion video experience; we had to put up with a lot of inconvenience and compromise. I also remember using those old two line black and white keypads to answer the instructor’s questions – the ones with umbilical cords strung all over the classroom. We had to tape the cords down just so folks wouldn’t trip.

These days, I’ve been spending a lot of time lately working with clients as they bring up their new TEMPO systems. The thing that strikes me the most is that TEMPO opens up a whole new world of convenience and flexibility to the corporate trainer.

Authoring courseware with an arcane set of PowerPoint add-ons used to require special PC software. We even had to upgrade our PC hardware just to get the add-ons to work. We would have to check for add-on patches and upgrades anytime there was a new release of MS Office. So basically, we ended up having to have special workstations just to be a courseware author. Our viewing options were limited, too. IDL meant only viewing on a TV monitor or a specially-configured PC. As the company went global, we were hamstrung by our North American satellite footprint. Operations outside the footprint were left in the dark, but bringing up additional satellites meant a huge increase in monthly charges.

Remarkably, TEMPO has changed all that. My TEMPO clients use full color, touch sensitive wireless keypads for interactivity. There are no wires to string and nothing for them to trip over. Anyone with PowerPoint, a browser and the right permissions can be a TEMPO courseware author. Tracking down add-on releases, patches and upgrades are no longer necessary.

My clients can deliver TEMPO courseware to a variety of devices: wide screen high definition TV monitors, PCs, laptops, tablets or smartphones. These devices can be connected by Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Edge, 3G or 4G. They are no longer held hostage in satellite footprint prison. Their courses go wherever the Internet goes without paying those huge monthly satellite channel charges.

TEMPO has changed the IDL game for my clients. This platform offers flexibility and convenience all while delivering that beautiful HD full motion video experience.

I say, “Welcome to the New World!”

Rick Darby
Rick Darby is President of SEDATA, LLC , consultants specializing in video-centric Interactive Distance Learning and technology-based training.