“Make It Simpler, Deliver More.” Using “Blendvision” as the Engine, We Expand the Possibilities of Live Streaming Business

‍

BlendVision has been supporting us from the launch of the new online live streaming system to operational support for streaming operations, and has been a partner in contributing to the present and future of the streaming business. From 2018 to the present, KKCompany has supported the "uP!!!" service through technical assistance. Reflecting on the past, where we worked in tandem to maintain and enhance the streaming service, the present, which has entered a new phase with the introduction of "BlendVision", and the future outlook, we spoke with Tetsufumi Fujita and Akihiro Igarashi, group leaders of Service Planning 2G, LX Service Planning Department, Business Creation Headquarters at KDDI Corporation.

‍

Delivering selected content such as music and drama, KDDI presents the online live service "uP!!!"

‍

BlendVision Team(hereafter, BV): Could you please tell us about the services of 'uP!!!'?
‍

Ryouhei Igarashi from Business Creation Division, LX Service Planning Department, Service Planning 2G (hereafter, Igarashi):

"uP!!!" originally started in 2013 as a benefit service for au Smart Pass members. Afterward, in 2018, it shifted to a standalone paid membership service, and at this time, live video broadcasting began as part of the service. Since then, we have reviewed the service content several times, and from 2022, we unified it into a paid broadcast, now offering a service where a wide range of customers can enjoy various live videos.
‍

Tetsufumi Fujita from Business Creation Division, LX Service Planning Department, Service Planning 2G (hereafter, Fujita):

Essentially, the core of the service is 'exclusive content not available anywhere else,' including music concerts, theater performances, etc., featuring a wide lineup of content without bias towards specific genres.

‍

Building a live video streaming service from scratch. Supporting hand-in-hand from development to operation

‍

BV: Your company has been associated with KKCompany since 2018, but why did you choose us as your partner?

Igarashi:

Although it was decided to start a new live video streaming service, we had no experience or knowledge on 'how can we create a system for live streaming or archive streaming?' and we were literally starting from scratch. In such a situation, we consulted with three companies, but with a development period of about 3-4 months and a limited budget, KKCompany's proposal was the one that best matched our requirements, so we selected them as a partner.
‍

BV: So, it was almost a start from zero, wasn't it?

Igarashi:

Yes, that's right. At that time, it was a period when there were hardly any streaming platforms like we have now, so we proceeded with consideration, development, and implementation while receiving proposals one by one. We were saved by proposals from scratch, including the system side, such as embedding videos, sending them out, coordinating with the membership authentication system, as well as detailed parts such as 'What is the picture and sound quality that would satisfy viewers?' in streaming operations.

Furthermore, even after the service started, we continued to receive support in streaming operations and technical aspects. Back then, live video streaming was only a very small part of the entire service, so we only had about one broadcast a month. Every time we streamed, we operated hand in hand with the engineers from KKCompany, quite literally."

‍

Making paid live broadcasts as the pillar of 'uP!!!'. Introducing 'BlendVision' for service expansion

‍

BV: You eventually switched the streaming system to BlendVision in the progression. Can you share the background or circumstances that led to this decision?

Igarashi:

From the latter half of 2020, there was a policy shift to focus the 'uP!!!' service primarily on live video streaming, and accordingly, the operational workload increased significantly. While coordination with the engineers was going well, it was unsustainable to manually handle 7 to 8 broadcasts a month at peak times. There were other issues, like limitations on the number of streams, so when we discussed possible solutions, we were introduced to the packaged streaming platform 'BlendVision,' and we began the system transition.

‍BV: In the middle of the system transition, did you consider other streaming platforms?

Igarashi:

We investigated several streaming platforms, but a full-scale system transition would have financial barriers. We consulted on these aspects and initially conducted streams using both the old system and BlendVision in parallel on a trial basis. Eventually, as there were no significant issues, we decided to fully transition to BlendVision."

‍

Delivering more content with less operational burden. 'BlendVision' contributes to the sustenance and evolution of the business

‍

BV: What changes have happened since the introduction of BlendVision?

Igarashi:

The workload has significantly decreased. Previously, we had to contact the engineers for every broadcast, sharing schedules and requesting various settings each time, but switching to BlendVision has almost eliminated such efforts. We can make various settings by accessing the dedicated CMS from a PC browser, so nearly all routine operations are completed internally. For one-off broadcasts, two streaming staff members can manage without any issues. In terms of costs, we've been able to reduce running costs since we have fewer requests to the engineers.
‍

BV: After about a year of operation, what are your thoughts on the quality and functionality of BlendVision?

Igarashi:

Even with a large number of simultaneous accesses, there are no interruptions in video or audio. This is a very significant advantage. For a streaming service, being able to be viewed without issues is something taken for granted, yet it's also quite challenging. On that note, BlendVision is very stable, and we've never experienced any situation where content couldn't be viewed, even with broadcasts on the scale of 20,000 to 30,000 simultaneous connections. KKCompany also operates its streaming services in their home country of Taiwan, and I believe that such experiences are utilized in BlendVision.
‍

BV: How would you describe the usability?

Igarashi:

It's a very user-friendly system. You can feel that it's designed with the broadcaster in mind. Considerations like "After a live broadcast, settings for archived streaming will be necessary" are reflected in the interface, and most various settings can be intuitively managed while looking at the screen. This probably also comes from having extensive experience with broadcasting.
‍

BV: How has the reaction from viewers and the impact on the business been?

Fujita:

With the switch to BlendVision, we've been able to increase the number of contents we can stream, and our viewer count has been steadily increasing. When the number of viewers increases, issues often increase accordingly, but we've been able to maintain a relatively stable situation without any major streaming troubles.

In terms of business, without the current system, we wouldn't have been able to increase the content count this much, and perhaps, continuing the streaming service would have become difficult. In that sense, BlendVision is indispensable for "uP!!!".
‍

BV: How has the support been after implementing BlendVision?

Igarashi:

The response to inquiries and consultations is very quick. I have felt this consistently from the time of the old system to the present.

For example, when a customer contacts us saying they can't view the content properly, we communicate with the engineers to verify and consider the issue. They provide information immediately on possible causes and whether there's any way to avoid the glitch, enabling us to respond to customers promptly.

KKCompany is based in Taiwan, but all communication is in Japanese. We've never faced any language barriers.

‍

Creating value that only "broadcasting" can offer. Forging an even more proactive partnership than before

‍

BV: Please tell us about the future of "uP!!!"?

‍‍Fujita:

With the calming of the COVID-19 crisis and the recovery of real-life entertainment, the era where it was sufficient just to broadcast may be over. From now on, how can we create "value unique to streaming"? It is important to consider what kind of added value we can provide, not only in content but also in functional aspects.
‍

BV: What do you expect from KKCompany in future developments?‍

‍
‍Fujita:

We have had numerous discussions through the development and operation of the system, and we are currently continuing regular meetings, receiving various proposals. Also, many times, through daily communication, we pick up on detailed requests that lead to additional functions and improvements. We hope to continue this kind of collaborative partnership, creating new value for "uP!!!".