FAQ

Jeroenwijering.com

I was looking for jeroenwijering.com and I ended up here. What happened?
We've moved the entire site to longtailvideo.com. But don't worry: Jeroen's still here; he's the co-founder of LongTail Video, and he continues to be in charge of player development.

Players

What players do you have available?
There's the JW FLV Player, the JW WMV Player, the JW Desktop Player, and the Image Rotator.

What formats does the JW FLV Player support?
It supports playback of any format the Adobe Flash Player can handle (FLV, MP4, MP3, AAC, JPG, PNG and GIF). It also supports RTMP, HTTP and live streaming, various playlists formats, a wide range of settings, and an extensive JavaScript API.

How do I install the JW FLV Player/JW WMV Player?
You can find installation help in the JW FLV Player section of the LongTail Wiki.

How do I set up and configure the JW FLV Player / JW WMV Player?
The quickest way to get started is our Setup Wizard, which will render the code you need for a specific setup of the JW FLV or WMV Player. For example, you could choose to get embed code for an FLV Player that uses an RSS playlist, or you could get SWF Object 2.0 code for a WMV Player with a single video. You can also easily tweak colors and other settings with the wizard.

What variables (flashvars) does the JW FLV Player support?
Here's the complete list of flashvars.

Can I customize the JW Player?
Definitely. The JW Player (4.0 and up) has an API for use with JavaScript and ActionScript, in addition to support for Plugins. Examples of Plugin features include captions, sharing, recommendations, searching, analytics and ad serving. You can also change the look of the player with Skins. If you don't see a Skin or Plugin you like, build your own!

I need some custom Flash work. Can Jeroen or someone else at LongTail do it for me?
Possibly. Email us a brief job spec along with your budget (nothing under 2500 Euros, please) and we’ll get back to you within two business days.

Can I embed the JW Player inside a Flex application?
Yes, if you're using JW PLayer 4.2 or higher. You can find further help in the Using the Player in Flex tutorial.

Where can I find source code for the JW FLV Player or the JW WMV Player?
The source code for these players is available at http://developer.longtailvideo.com.

Where can I find the 3.x (or earlier) version of the JW FLV Player?
We recommend that you use the latest player available so that you can take advantage of AddOns and other general improvements. However, you can find 3.x player documentation here. If for some reason you need to download an earlier version of the player, you can find a complete list with .zip files for download.

Which CMS’s work well with the JW Player?
We can make some CMS recommendations that integrate with the JW Player.

How do I remove the link back to you that shows up on right-click in the player?
You're only permitted to remove this link if you've bought a license. Once you’ve purchased a license, please email us with your license # and we’ll give you instructions.

I found a bug in the JW FLV Player / JW WMV Player. Where can I report it?
Please use the Bug Reports section of the Forum.

I have an idea for a new JW Player feature. How can I share my idea?
Please use the Feature Suggestions section of the Forum.

Where can I find technical support for the JW FLV Player / JW WMV Player?
You can solve some frequently-encountered problems with the JW FLV Player fixes and the JW WMV Player fixes in the LongTail Wiki. You should also be sure to check the Setup Problems section of the Forum. If you still can't find an answer, email us and we'll get back to within two business days.

How do I uninstall the JW Desktop Player?
To uninstall the JW Desktop Player from your system, use the Add/Remove Programs utility in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel.
   1. Click Start.
   2. Select Settings.
   3. Select Control Panel.
   4. Double click the Add/Remove Programs control panel icon.
   5. The Add/Remove control panel displays a list of software on your system, including the JW Desktop Player. Select the Desktop Video Player by LongTail Video by clicking on it, and then click the Remove button.

Licensing

How can I order a license?
Please use our online Order Form. Thanks in advance.

Do I need to buy a license?
The player is open-source and free for noncommercial use. For corporate use or if you're planning to generate revenue from your site (e.g., by running any advertisements on the page, selling anything, etc.), you'll need to buy a license. If you're still not certain, contact us and we'll determine whether you require a license. As a general rule, if you need to ask, then you need to buy a license.

Are there any other reasons to buy a license?
If you buy a license, you're no longer obligated to credit us and you may alter or remove the link back to us that appears on right-click within the player. You're also no longer required to share any modifications you might make to the player.

How much are licenses?
A single site license is €49. A premium license (for use on up to 50 sites) is available for €149.

What payment methods do you accept for licenses?
You can pay for your license via PayPal, credit card or bank transfer.

I'm interested in a custom enterprise license with fewer restrictions. Whom do I contact?
Please contact us and with your requirements and we can discuss a price. Please be sure to include (i) how many sites you have; (ii) how many monthly videos you stream and (iii) your budget.

I purchased a license, but I didn't receive anything.
It's possible your order didn't fully process. Please contact us and we'll email your license within two business days.

I accidentally submitted my license order twice. What do I do?
Just contact us and we'll be happy to cancel the duplicate order for you.

I changed my mind about my order. How do I cancel?
Same deal: contact us and we'll help you.

How do I go about becoming a JW Player license reseller?
Contact us and we'll get you started. Once you get going, you can purchase licenses using the Reseller Order Form.

I have a license for a 3.x (or earlier) version of the JW Player. Does it apply to the 4.0+ players?
No. The 4.0+ players were released with a new license agreement, so any license you purchased for an older player doesn't apply. If you want to use the 4.0+ player, you'll need to purchase a new license.

I want to use both the JW FLV Player and the JW WMV Player on the same site. Do I need to buy a license for each?
No. One site license entitles you to use both players on that site.

Can I transfer my license to someone else?
No. Each license is non-transferrable.

I have another question about licenses. Where can I find an answer?
Check the Licensing Questions section of the Forum for an answer to your question. If you don't see an answer there, please create a new post; likely whatever question you have, others also have. If you still need help, contact us and we’ll help you out.

AddOns

What is an AddOn?
An AddOn is anything that extends the JW Player in some way. There are three types of AddOns: Plugins, Skins, and Modules.

I found a bug in an AddOn (Plugin / Skin / Module). Where can I report it?
Please report the bug on the page of the AddOn itself. There’s a "Submit Bug Report" box where you'll be able send your description of the bug directly to the developer.

I'm having a serious problem with an AddOn that LongTail needs to address immediately.
Please use the "Report This AddOn" feature on the page of the specific AddOn you're having trouble with. Be as detailed as possible in your description so we can deal with the problem right away.

Plugins

What is a Plugin?
Plugins are bits of software written in ActionScript 3 that get loaded into the JW Player via Flash variables in the HTML embed code (flashvars). Basically, they add functionality to the player. Examples are statistics engines, visualizers, active playlists, sharing and networking, video rotators and so on. Browse our Plugins Library to get a better sense of what kind of Plugins are available.

What do I need to use Plugins?
You need a JW Player 4.2 (or higher). Download it now.

How do I use Plugins?
You just need to make a reference to the specific Plugin in your existing JW Player HTML code. For detailed help, look at the Using Plugins Guide.

Are Plugins free to use?
Almost all Plugins are free, but the decision is up to the developer. Even if the Plugin is free, you might see a "Donate to Developer" option on the AddOn page. If you use a Plugin, we recommend you donate to the developer. Every penny counts.

Can I use multiple Plugins simultaneously?
Sure. Just separate the Plugin names with commas. You can find an example in the Using Plugins Guide. In some rare cases, you might find that two Plugins conflict, in which case you should let us know so we can work with the Plugin developers to resolve the problem.

I have a brilliant idea for a Plugin. Can LongTail build it for me?
We're always interested in hearing your ideas, but unfortunately we can't guarantee that we'll fulfill every request. Still, if there's enough interest, you just might see the Plugin you want developed sooner rather than later. If you need the functionality immediately and would like to send us a spec and budget, contact us (nothing under 2500 Euros, please).

How do I build a Plugin?
You can start with our Plugin Developers' Resources Guide for an overview. When you're ready for the details, check out Building JW Player Plugins and our step-by-step tutorial demonstrating the creation of a simple Plugin, YouSearch.

I want to build a Plugin, but I'm not sure what to work on.
LongTail maintains a Plugin Idea List of the most commonly requested Plugins, and we'd love to have you help out if something on the list catches your eye. Shoot us an email if you'd like to work on one of these Plugins.

How do I submit a Plugin?
The Plugin Developers' Resources Guide covers what you'll need to prepare your Plugin for submission. When everything's set, you can Submit the Plugin to our AddOns Library.

Does LongTail own Plugins after they are submitted?
LongTail hosts all Plugins, but you'll retain the intellectual property.

Where are Plugins hosted? Can I host my own Plugin?
Plugins are hosted on LongTail's servers. This single-repository architecture means that any JW Player can load your Plugin quickly and easily just by setting the Plugins flashvar.

Skins

What is a Skin?
Skins are AddOns that change the look of the JW Player (4.0 and up). Check out our growing Skins Library.

How do I use Skins?
Just add a reference to the Skin in your existing JW Player HTML code. You can find instructions in the Using Skins Guide.

How do I create a Skin?
There are many resources to help you. A good overview to get you started is available on the LongTail Developer's Wiki Skinning the JW Player Tutorial. Also be sure to check out the list of supported skinnable elements.

How do I submit a Skin?
When you're done creating your Skin and want to share it with others, submit it to our AddOns Library.

I have a Photoshop mockup of a Skin. Can you create it for me?
We wish we could make everyone's mockup a reality, but we can only consider custom work starting at 2500 Euros. If you're interested, contact us.

I have a different question about Skins.
Try the Skins and Plugins section of the forum. If you can’t find an answer, start a new thread. If no one answers your post, contact us and we’ll help you out.

Modules

What is a Module?
A module is a third-party platform or plugin that works with the JW Player in some way. It doesn't work "within" the player like a Skin or a Plugin. Instead, it serves as a bridge between the JW Player and other applications, platforms, and CMSs. For example, content management systems like Joomla or WordPress that incorporate the JW Player into their platforms are considered modules.

I have a third-party platform or plugin that extends the JW Player. How can I get it listed?
Submit your Module. Once we've reviewed it, it'll be posted in the Modules section of LongTail's AddOns Library.

I have a different question about Modules.
You can look for the answer to your question in the Modules section of the forum. Still no luck? Contact us.

AdSolution

Do you charge any fees for your service?
No.

How does LongTail make money?
We keep a small percentage of the revenue generated by ads that run on your site.

Is my player compatible with your AdSolution?
Our AdSolution works without any customization with the following media players:

• Pre-roll: All hosted or embedded FLV players, all JW WMV Players (Silverlight) and all DivX Players.
• Overlay Mid-roll: JW FLV Player 3.16+; Agriya HD Player.
• Post-roll: JW FLV Player 3.13+ and all Agriya Players downloaded after February 20, 2008.

Is my CMS compatible with your AdSolution?
We're compatible with any CMS as long as they are using an updated version of the JW Player or Agriya Player without any kind of modification. That means that PHPmotion, Drupal, Joomla, Wordpress, etc. all qualify. If you’re still not sure, contact us.

Does your AdSolution work with custom players?
Yes. If you have a specific question, please contact us. We might not have time to help with every customized solution, but we'll try.

What ad types do you support?
We support pre-rolls (ads before the video), overlay mid-rolls (ads during the video) and post-rolls (ads after the video). Check out our demos to see what the ads look like.

Does your solution work on people who embed my player on other sites?
Our overlay mid-roll ads work if you alter your embed code. Contact us for instructions on how to set up this functionality.

Is your solution compatible with SWF Object and SWF Object 2.0?
Yes.

What's the difference between your Revenue Share & Inventory Share Programs?
In the Revenue Share Program, we will run ads from our network and pay you accordingly. In this program, we keep a small percentage of the revenue generated from the ads. In the Inventory Share Program, you run your own ads and we carve out a small percentage of your inventory to run ads from our advertisers. We then keep the revenue generated from this small percentage and you keep 100% of the revenue your advertisers generate.

Can I run my own ads?
Yes. Through our new dashboard, you can simply cut and paste all of your affiliate ad tags into the system to run as either a pre-roll or a post-roll.

What ad formats do you support?
For pre-roll and post-roll ads, we support GIF, HTML, iFrame, JavaScript, JPG, PNG and XML. For overlay mid-roll ads, we only support XML.

What advertisers do you use?
We have relationships with a wide variety of ad networks, including premium advertisers like Google’s AdSense for Video, ScanScout, SpotXChange, YuMe and AdPepper. We're also compatible with DoubleClick's DART ad serving platform.

How do I get started with one of your premium advertisers?
Most of our premium advertising partners have strict requirements. You must have high-quality content, and in most cases you must own or license that content. If you think your site qualifies, sign up to let us know you're interested.

Can I choose which LongTail advertisers are displayed?
We run all types of ads, but we measure performance entirely on a CPM basis. Because click-rates on pre-, mid- and post-roll ads are so high, we find that performance-based advertisers often pay more than CPM-only advertisers, hence we use a mix across our publishers.

Do you run ads in languages other than English?
Yes, we geo-target our ads so that your viewers will see ads in their native language whenever possible.

Can I target my own ads to individual videos or groups of videos?
Yes. You can set up channels within the LongTail Dashboard and target your own ads within each channel.

Does the AdSolution work with the JW Player's built-in playlist?
Not at the moment, but we're working to add this functionality.

Can I track the ads individually?
If you run your own ads, you can monitor the performance of individual campaigns. However, if you exclusively run LongTail advertisers, we only provide general statistics on how your site is monetizing by channel. However, since we automatically optimize all our advertisements by publisher, there's really no need for you to track performance by ad - LongTail already does it for you.

Why don't you show clicks and revenue for the ads I uploaded? (Inventory Share Program)
We cannot track the ads that we call from your networks. You should be able to get this data from whatever advertiser(s) you are using.

What type of ads do you run (CPM / CPC / CPA)?
We run all types of ads, but we measure performance entirely on a CPM basis. Because click-rates on pre-, mid- and post-roll ads are so high, we find that performance-based advertisers often pay more than CPM-only advertisers, hence we use a mix across our publishers.

What CPM can I expect?
It's very difficult to predict CPMs because there are so many variables that affect performance -- content type, how long your videos are, time spent on site by your users, ads per page, etc.. The best way to find out is to try our solution for a couple weeks. And remember: If you've got premium content that you own or license, you should consider signing up for our premium advertisers to garner an even higher CPM.

I do not have any ads of my own; can you help me?
Sure. We have relationships with many different advertisers and can always find the right match.

What medium do you use to pay?
We can pay by either check or PayPal.

How often do you pay?
We pay monthly on a net-30 basis. Example: you will be paid for entire month of November (11/1/2008 - 11/30/2008) by the end of December.

Do I need to reach a minimum amount for you to pay me?
Nope. If you've only got one video on your site, no traffic and you earn a penny for the entire month, we'll pay it out. However, if you’d like, we can hold your payment until you reach a specified amount. Please contact us to let us know the amount.

Is your reporting real-time?
We receive clicks and revenue from our network of advertisers the next business day, so we are unable to report your performance until we collect and check all of the data.

Can I license your technology?
In some special cases, we do license out our technology. Contact us to learn more. Please include the number of video streams you have on a monthly basis so we can quote you a price.

Do you have an affiliate program?
We do offer a referral program. You can read all about it on the Account tab of the LongTail Dashboard.

I need technical help with the AdSolution. Where should I go?
For the quickest help, check the LongTail AdSolution Setup section of the LongTail Wiki and the Video Advertising Section of the Forum. If you still can't find an answer, Email us and we’ll get back to you within two business days.