| URL | ustream.tv |
|---|---|
| Commercial? | No |
| Type of site | Video streaming |
| Registration | Optional |
| Available language(s) | English, Japanese |
| Launched | March 2007 |
| Alexa rank | 533 (November 2011[update])[1] |
| Current status | Active |
Ustream is a website which consists of a network of diverse channels providing a platform for lifecasting and live video streaming of events online.[2] Established in March 2007,[3] the site has over 2,000,000 registered users who generate 1,500,000+ hours of live streamed content per month with over ten million unique hits per month.[3] It received $11.1 million in Series A funding for new product development from DCM and investors Labrador Ventures and Band of Angels.[4]
During the 2008 United States presidential election, the website was used by nearly all of the major candidates to help their campaigns, by allowing a greater number of voters to ask political questions.[3] Former Senator and 2008 Presidential Candidate Mike Gravel became the first candidate ever to stream an alternate debate on Ustream that allowed Sen. Gravel to respond to all of the questions being asked, as well as comment on the responses from the other candidates throughout a nationally televised debate.[5]
Contents |
Co-founders John Ham and Brad Hunstable met while attending the United States Military Academy at West Point. Co-founder Dr. Gyula Feher later joined the team as Chief Technologist.
Ham (born June 9, 1978 in Torrance, California) had shown an early interest in being an entrepreneur, having started trading equities and options at 16 years of age. At West Point he interned with NASA and the New York Stock Exchange. He graduated from West Point with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering, then was commissioned as a officer in the U.S. Army.
Hunstable (born on September 26, 1978 in Tarrant County, Texas) had shown an interest in technology since childhood, having started one of the largest Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) named, "The Dark Realms", at the age of 11. He graduated from West Point with a B.S. in Engineering Management, then was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Army. While in the Army, he gained a MBA in Finance and Real Estate from Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.
While serving in the military, Ham and Hunstable teamed-up on a web-based digital photo enterprise developed and built by Dr. Gyula Feher, another Ustream founder. In 2003, the two were separated, forcing the photo venture to cease operations. Ham was deployed to Korea and Hunstable was assigned to work directly for the Department of Defense. After completing their tours of duty, Ham and Hunstable re-connected with Feher and began a new business venture: Ustream.[6]
Ustream was born when the founders (John Ham, Brad Hunstable, and Dr. Gyula Feher) wanted a way for their friends in the Army, who were deployed overseas in Iraq during the war, to be able to communicate with their families. A product like Ustream would provide them with a way to talk to all of their relatives at once when free time in the war zone was limited.
Previously, these three had worked together on an internet based event photo sharing website using technology created by Dr. Feher. In 2003, both Ham and Hunstable were deployed to active duty, putting an end to this venture. After returning to civilian life, John and Brad discussed the idea of the general public using the Internet to share live video. Seeing this as a viable product, they contacted their former partner, Dr. Feher, in order to develop the technology required. Ustream was founded in 2006, as experiments in broadcasting Brad's brother's (Nathan Hunstable) band (Venture) proved successful. Early testing involved Brad in the audience with a camera wired to a laptop (with a cellular card) in his backpack, sending the stream back to their test server.
Launching their public beta in March 2007, Ustream is one of a series of live video sites, including Justin.tv, Livestream, and BlogStar (formerly Operator11.com). The company has seen significant growth in the political, entertainment, and technology fields,[7] however, Ustream has grown much less quickly than its competitors.[8]
Ustream has witnessed many notable people streaming from politicians such as Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards,[9] and Canadian sports show host Avry Lewis-McDougall, to artists like Tori Amos and the Plain White T's.[10] Notable lifecasters have made their mark on Ustream as well such as Justine Ezarik, E-TARD The 24/7 LifeCaster[11] and Hey it's Rachel.[12] The technology community has also adopted Ustream to include Robert Scoble, Leo Laporte, Chris Pirillo and Klasic Kumputerz.
In 2007 and 2008, Ustream won a CNET "Webware 100" Award.[13]
In 2008, Ustream won the SXSW People's Choice Award[14][15]
In 2010, Ustream, Inc. was recognized as one of the "Hottest Silicon Valley Companies" by Lead411.[16]
While Ustream's basic service is still free and supported by advertising revenue, Ustream started to offer Watershed, a pay-as-you-go version of their service. Watershed customers pay per viewing hour, charging from $0.25 to $1 per viewer. Watershed users don't have to display Ustream's advertisements and logos and can provide their own instead.[17]
Ustream allows users to broadcast from the Web site once logged in or from a mobile device using Ustream's mobile broadcasting application. Users can watch streams live on the Web site and on the Ustream iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone 7 applications. The Web site allows users to interact, such as vote in polls, rate, chat, and so on. The iPhone and Android applications allows users to watch and chat.