Elite TV/Studio66 - Live Webstream

aceman65 · 29-01-2011 17:28

Hi guys,

As promised, I said I'd try and keep you informed, as I got feedback. So here is Orca's response to last nights e-mails.

Hi - thanks for you feedback, I'll pass your comments on to the technical team to have a look at. An update on the streaming issues:

* Running live streams is far more complex than running video-on-demand services - as you're doubtless aware.
* In order to isolate the issue we are addressing each area - as Jamie says, currently the streams share the bandwidth with users in the Elite offices and the first step is to partition this off so that the streams run on dedicated, uncontended bandwidth. We hope to have this in place next week - dependant on delivery of a new router.
* We will also be putting variable bit-rate streams in place in the future - though this is more intended to support very low bandwidth connections (such as viewing on smartphones) rather than broadband web connections. Where sufficient bandwidth is not available, the player will automatically degrade to a lower bandwidth stream.
* It's important to bear in mind that viewer's broadband connections can cause issues - home broadband in the UK typically ranges from 500 kb/s to 8 mb/s theoretically, however these are contended connections (shared with others on the local loop) and can get congested at busy times. This congestion would typically not be apparent when watching video on demand (eg. YouTube), as these services buffer many seconds ahead in order to manage interruptions and connectivity blips, however it is obviously not possible to buffer with low-latency live streams (increasing the buffer time and latency would degrade the experience for viewers who are talking to the girls on the phone). Anyone still on 500 kb/s - of which there are many - is almost guaranteed to have problems with the stream.
* Posts on the forums also cite the fact that we are running the streams for another channel (ChatGirlTV) which experiences similar issues, deducing that this must therefore be an issue at our end. Unfortunately the ChatGirlTV stream is running over a very low bandwidth broadband connection which simply doesn't have sufficient capacity to serve a decent stream - something which is outside our control but we are working with them to resolve.

We're as eager as you are to deliver a faultless stream (and we're proud of the picture quality we achieve given the bit-rate used) - and we expect to get to the bottom of these issues over the next week or so through a process of elimination and more robust connectivity from the Elite studios.

Any questions, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Will

As you can see, there are quite a few things in the pipeline to upgrade the service. So hopefully, some improvement will come from it.

I'm intrigued by the variable bit-rate option though. That could be a big improvement for those of us, with good download speed, as it would mean a lot better quality stream for us. but still allow low end users to watch at a lower quality. Big Grin

I'll keep you updated, as and when I receive further info.

All the best

Ace.

petecoyne36 · 30-01-2011 07:25

Is there any chance of putting a webstream up fro channel 900 even if it is only up occasionally. I've been trying to phone sammie pennington and don't have sky so can't get her number or watch her sadly:-(

dazaman · 31-01-2011 17:23

Here we go again Rolleyes

914 great 965 a no go zone laugh

EDIT: both no go zone now for me.

aceman65 · 31-01-2011 17:50

Yep, I'm not a happy bunny, at seeing that infernal ASSET box back. annoyed

I hope it's only temporary, whilst they sort out the third stream. But if they are able to but the picture up from channel 900, then they must already have the encoder in place. So why isn't the third tab already there?

Not only is this going back on their word. But they've cocked up as well, by proving they have already got the equipment in place for the third stream.

NOT HAPPY. annoyed

quiquems · 01-02-2011 18:22

Tuesday + Danica = Awful stream Sad

aceman65 · 01-02-2011 18:47

914, with Emma Spellar on seems fine to me. Big Grin

965, with Vikki Thomas on, is locking up. But since we can't post any caps or vids of Vikki, then there's no loss.

Later on however, that's a different story. I'm hoping they get it sorted by then. Because I don't want to miss two nights in a row. Although last night, had nothing to do with them. I just lost my Internet for 15 hours off & on.

quiquems · 01-02-2011 19:37

Both streams are locking up for me. Sad

Josh · 01-02-2011 19:45

At 19:40, stream ch914 is working well and there is some locking up on stream ch965. Guess what stream Danica will be on later on? annoyed

quiquems · 02-02-2011 16:07

Josh · 02-02-2011 22:32

From 6am to 10am, Stream ch914 did not work at all for me. 10am to 9pm, no problems with the 914 stream. 9pm to 10:25pm, Stream ch914 is not working again. I have also had no problems with stream ch965 throughout the day.

Is there any point complaining/highlighting issues anymore as the stream is so unpredictable and nothing has been done so far? It will probably get worse when the third stream goes live

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