Wowza Streaming Engine 4.9.7 Expands Observability and Compliance Features

As video becomes deeply integrated into enterprise ecosystems, it’s powering everything from AI-driven analytics to mission-critical compliance records. Today, we are excited to announce the release of Wowza Streaming Engine (WSE) 4.9.7. This update is a deliberate step toward a more observable, automation-ready platform built for the growing demands of modern video operations. By focusing on production-ready event signaling and universal accessibility, we’re providing the infrastructure necessary for teams to scale with confidence.

Stream Observability Webhooks: The Foundation for Intelligent Video Workflows

A source disconnection or a recording interruption cannot go unnoticed, especially in mission-critical surveillance and monitoring. WSE 4.9.7 addresses this head-on with robust, resilient event logging and alerting infrastructure through configurable Webhooks.

Ensure Uptime with Event Signals & Alerts

Now, teams no longer have to scrape logs by hand. Webhooks are structured, machine-readable events that can trigger a notification the moment a state changes. By strengthening this event infrastructure, Wowza Streaming Engine is bringing streaming workflows and critical observability into the application ecosystem. These reliable signals will act as the central nervous system for AI-driven detection, analysis, and alerting capabilities.

Configurable retry logic adds resiliency to the delivery process. So, if a transient network glitch causes a delivery failure, the system will automatically retry. This ensures other systems never lose sight of a critical stream. Connection failures and recording state transitions are now surfaced as primary event signals. You can feed these directly into tools like PagerDuty, Datadog, Splunk, or ServiceNow.

In a high-stakes environment like a digital evidence or surveillance system, a recording that fails to start or an intermittent camera drop is a liability. With these Webhooks, an orchestration platform can receive an immediate confirmation that a recording has successfully hit the disk. If a disruption occurs, the Webhook triggers automated actions: alert an operator, create a support ticket, and notify on-call staff in real time. By integrating a custom-trained computer vision model, the system can generate logs and alerts for anything the camera can see.

Universal Accessibility: CMAF Captions and the Path to Modernization

In our recent deep dive into The State of CMAF in 2026, we discussed how the industry is rapidly moving toward standardized workflows. Notably, the transition to CMAF bridges the gap between media containers (.ts and .mp4). But, it also requires consistent, compliant caption support across multiple protocols. Wowza Streaming Engine 4.9.7 supports this caption workflow for both CMAF HLS and CMAF MPEG-DASH.

Accessibility Without Compromise

This update enables high-efficiency delivery without sacrificing accessibility or failing to meet strict compliance standards like CVAA. WSE 4.9.7 provides:

• Universal Format Support: Full compatibility with CEA-608/708, WebVTT, and TTML.
• Frame-Accurate Synchronization: Precise alignment of captions across the entire adaptive bitrate (ABR) ladder.
• Protocol Flexibility: Seamless multi-language caption delivery across both HLS and DASH.
• Codec Modernization: Full integration with HEVC/H.265 and 4K CMAF packaging.

Higher-Quality Video for Higher-Quality Intelligence

Beyond compliance, the ability to successfully deploy CMAF for HEVC and 4K workflows has an impact on the future of video operations. Modern video systems are becoming inputs for real-time intelligence and computer vision. As organizations move from legacy codecs to 4K and HEVC, they’re not just improving visual quality. They’re also increasing the usable data available to AI models. Higher resolution and more efficient encoding give computer vision systems more detail to analyze, improving anomaly detection and scene understanding.

With expanded caption support in WSE 4.9.7, teams can upgrade stream quality to these higher standards without compromising accessibility or compliance.

A Resilient Foundation for What’s Next

Beyond these core feature enhancements, Wowza Streaming Engine 4.9.7 includes a comprehensive roll-up of security patches and stability fixes. These reinforce the platform’s reputation as the most reliable engine for production environments. These under-the-hood improvements harden the infrastructure required for the high-density, low-latency workflows of the modern era. So, when you integrate the next generation of AI-driven event detection and automated stream management, your foundation can handle the complexity.

To see these updates in action, join us on February 24 for our “Under the Hood: WSE 4.9.7” webinar. Our engineering team will host a deep-dive walkthrough of the new Webhooks, demonstrate the frame-accurate synchronization of CMAF captions, and answer your questions live. Whether you are looking to modernize your packaging for 4K workflows or automate your monitoring stack, this session is designed to give you the technical clarity needed to upgrade with confidence. You can register for the webinar here.

For a closer look at everything that changed in this version, review the official release notes. If you haven’t yet experienced why the world’s most innovative companies build on Wowza, there is no better time to start a free trial and begin operationalizing your video workflows today.