Wowza Video upgrade

Introducing the new Wowza Video, your all-in-one solution for robust streaming and video on demand (VOD). It’s your integrated platform for business-critical applications. Whether it's live streaming, OTT video streaming, or VOD, the new Wowza Video is your go-to solution for reliable streaming. It offers:  

  • Streamlined live streaming with robust customization options.  
  • Versatile video (VOD) capabilities, including chapters and subtitles, transcriptions, file management, and video editing. There’s efficient content management for VOD with metadata, tags, and categories.  
  • Enhanced player configuration with Wowza Flowplayer, including the ability to have multiple players on hand.  
  • User-friendly playlists for easy video content organization.  
  • Monetization potential through client-side advertising integration. 
  • Insights into viewer behavior, content performance, and platform engagement through analytics.

We also have a new Wowza Video 2.0 API to programmatically integrate with the new Wowza Video experience. To learn more about the differences between API 1.x and 2.0, see the API migration lifecycle guide. For more information about the new Wowza Video, see About Wowza Video.

Who needs to upgrade 

If you’re a Wowza Video subscriber and have no assets (recordings, VOD streams, assets), you’ll be placed into the new Wowza Video don't need to be a part of the upgrade process. You can continue to use the public Wowza Video 1.x API without breaking anything, but we encourage you to use the Wowza Video 2.0 API instead with its new endpoints for VOD and CMS. Wowza’s new Wowza Video experience has robust VOD and CMS capabilities you may decide you’d like to use once you learn more about the new experience. To do that, you’ll need to integrate and use the Wowza Video 2.0 API. You can read more about the differences between the 1.x API and 2.0 in the API migration lifecycle guide

To learn more about the new user interface and enhanced functionality, see About Wowza Video.

If you are not yet in the new Wowza Video platform, you either have assets that need to be transferred or you’re a Wowza Streaming Cloud customer, and an upgrade is necessary to access the enhanced experience. The new Wowza Video consists of new VOD endpoints within the revamped Wowza Video 2.0 API, and, it is required to migrate the existing assets (recordings, VOD assets, asset records) to the new Wowza Video experience.  

You will need to upgrade if at least one of the following conditions apply: 

  • You have a Wowza Streaming Cloud account. This account must be upgraded to a Wowza Video account. 
  • Your company has assets (recordings, VOD streams, or CMS assets) within Wowza Video or Wowza Streaming Cloud that need to be moved to the updated platform to align with the new experience. 
  • Your company has a Wowza Video or Wowza Streaming Cloud API integration that includes assets. The integration should be updated to use the new Wowza Video 2.0 API. 

The upgrade process 

Here’s what you can expect during the upgrade process to the latest Wowza Video experience: 

All Wowza Streaming Cloud subscribers (with or without assets and no API integration with assets) 

  1. During your Wowza Streaming Cloud contract or subscription renewal, the process begins. You may need to complete re-contracting or subscription changes. The way you’re billed may change. If you don't have any assets that need to be moved to the new Wowza Video experience, you'll seamlessly transition to the new platform. If you don’t have assets, no further upgrade steps are necessary. 
  2. For those with assets, your assets will be moved to the new platform.  
  3. Upon completion of the upgrade, you will receive a notification confirming the transfer of your assets along with a CSV file of the old and new asset information.
  4. After the notification, your account will be placed into the new Wowza Video experience. 
  5. Start using the new Wowza Video. 

Wowza Streaming Cloud subscribers with assets created or accessed through an API integration 

  1. The upgrade process happens during your Wowza Streaming Cloud contract or subscription renewal time. You’ll complete any necessary re-contracting or subscription changes. The way you’re billed might change. 
  2. You’ll receive a notification of the duration of time it will take to move your assets to the new Wowza Video. 
  3. Wowza will contact you to initiate the upgrade to the new Wowza Video experience. At this stage, you can begin to review the differences between the new Wowza Video API 2.0 against the Wowza Video API 1.x in the API migration lifecycle guide.

    A designated upgrade maintenance window will be scheduled with you, specifying the date and time for your assets to be moved. You must have your API integration completed, tested, and ready for production before Wowza can move your assets.
  4. You can now begin to change your API integration through coding to API 2.0 within a test environment. If your company doesn’t have a designated test environment account for Wowza Video, you can sign up for a new Wowza Video trial and use it for testing purposes. 
  5. Complete your API integration to use API 2.0 in a test environment and ensure it is ready to be placed into production. 
  6. During the scheduled maintenance window, your assets will be moved to the new platform.  
  7. Upon completion of the upgrade, you will receive a notification confirming the transfer of your assets along with a CSV file of the old and new asset information.
  8. After the notification, you move the API integration into production. 
  9. Your account will be placed into the new Wowza Video experience. 
  10. Start using the Wowza Video 2.0 API and the new Wowza Video. 

Wowza Video subscribers with assets (no API integration with assets) 

  1. During your Wowza Video contract or subscription renewal time, the upgrade process happens. The way you’re billed may change. 
  2. Your assets will be moved to the new platform. 
  3. Upon completion of the upgrade, you will receive a notification confirming the transfer of your assets along with a CSV file of the old and new asset information.
  4. Your account will be transitioned to the new Wowza Video experience right after the completion of the upgrade. 
  5. Start using the new Wowza Video. 

Wowza Video subscribers with assets through an API integration 

  1. The upgrade process begins during your Wowza Video contract or subscription renewal time. The way you are billed might change. 
  2. You’ll receive a notification of the duration of time it will take to move your assets to the new Wowza Video. 
  3. Wowza will contact you to initiate the upgrade to the new Wowza Video experience. At this stage, you can begin to review the differences between the new Wowza Video API 2.0 against the Wowza Video API 1.x in the API migration lifecycle guide.  
  4. A designated upgrade maintenance window will be scheduled with you, specifying the date and time for your assets to be moved. You must have your API integration completed, tested, and ready for production before Wowza can move your assets. 
  5. You can now begin to change your API integration through coding to API 2.0 within a test environment. If your company doesn’t have a designated test environment account for Wowza Video, you can sign up for a new Wowza Video trial and use it for testing purposes. 
  6. Complete your API integration to use API 2.0 in a tested dev environment and ensure it is ready to be placed into production. 
  7. During the scheduled maintenance window, your assets will be moved to the new platform.  
  8. Upon completion of the upgrade, you will receive a notification confirming the transfer of your assets along with a CSV file of the old and new asset information.
  9. After notification, you move the API integration into production. 
  10. Your account will be placed into the new Wowza Video experience.  
  11. Start using the Wowza Video 2.0 API and the new Wowza Video. 

More information