TubeMogul InPlay is a video analytics service used by major online video platforms like Brightcove and Viddler. \u00a0For a long time it’s also been available, at no cost, to individual video publishers. \u00a0But this week, TubeMogul announced via email to InPlay subscribers that the service will be shutting down…at least for individual video publishers…by the end of October. \u00a0It seems those that pay for the service will be unaffected and everything will continue to work as normal.<\/p>\n
Here’s the text of the email that was sent:<\/p>\n
To Whom It May Concern,<\/p>\n
I\u2019m emailing to let you know that we are planning to stop offering free video analytics. \u00a0We made this decision so we can focus more resources on our video advertising platform for brand advertisers. \u00a0Other free video analytics services include Google Analytics and Mochibot Flash Analytics. \u00a0Alternatively, our analytics come built-in to the Brightcove online video platform. \u00a0We plan to shut down the service by the end of October but if you need more time just reach out.<\/p>\n
Sincerely,
\nMarco<\/p><\/blockquote>\nThis is bad news for small business owners who have relied on InPlay for their video analytics (like me). \u00a0In fact, I liked InPlay so much that I integrated it into my do-it-yourself video hosting platform, Video Rebel<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n
But it’s also a lesson on the Internet in general; if you’re not paying for it, don’t expect it to be there tomorrow. \u00a0When something is given away on the Internet, without being subsidized in some way…and especially when it comes to video…it’s common for it to suddenly disappear.<\/p>\n
So what alternatives are there to InPlay? \u00a0The most viable is probably Google Analytics. \u00a0But integrating analytics, Google or otherwise, into a video player can sometimes be a bear.<\/p>\n