Viewing Beacon App Data in Google Analytics

In this topic, you will learn what analytics data is available to you for your Brightcove Beacon apps and how to examine that data in Google Analytics 4.

Introduction

To learn about the audience for your Brightcove Beacon Classic apps, you can use Google Analytics. To get you started, Brightcove will load the following into your Google Analytics account:

  • A customized report template for Google Looker Studio

Looker Studio

Looker Studio, a part of the Google Marketing Platform, is an online tool for visualizing analytics data in customizable reports and dashboards. Looker Studio offers features including:

  • Data Visualization - Create interactive charts, diagrams, and tables
  • Integration with Data Sources - Integrate from different data channels using partner connectors
  • Teamwork - Collaborate by sharing dashboards among team members

For more details, see Google's Looker Studio homepage.

Google Analytics

In addition to Looker Studio, you can use the standard analytics tools in Google Analytics to view customer behavior.

Viewing the Looker Studio report

Use Looker Studio to turn your data into data visualization stories, which include interactive reports and dashboards.

To view the customized Google Looker Studio report installed by Brightcove, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to Google Looker Studio.
  2. You will see a list of reports on the landing page:
    Looker Studio landing page
  3. Click on a report name to open it.
  4. The first page of an example report is shown here.
    Looker Studio report

Viewing dimensions and metrics

You can view dimensions associated with your Brightcove Beacon Classic apps within Google Analytics.

For details on how to configure these dimensions and metrics, see the Google Analytics Self Configuration with Beacon document.

  1. Log in to Google Analytics.
  2. Click on the accounts dropdown menu to see all your Google Analytics accounts.
    Beacon analytics accounts
  3. From the three-paneled dropdown, select:
    1. Your Brightcove Beacon Classic account
    2. Your app for which you want analytics
    Beacon analytics app groups
  4. In the left side navigation, click the Admin option.
    Click admin
  5. Click Custom definitions.
    Click custom definitions
  6. Click the Custom dimensions tab to see the dimensions for this app. Dimensions change per app.
    list custom dimensions
  7. Click the Custom metrics tab to see the single metic, Stars. This is the only custom metric for Brightcove Beacon Classic apps.
    list custom metrics

Events and parameters

The following events and parameters are reported to Google Analytics by your Brightcove Beacon Classic apps.

Events Reported to Google Analytics

Platform Event name Description Parameters
All loading Loading the app: loading method User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform
All sign_up When a user has signed up - Only applicable with Beacon Auth User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform
All login When a user logins a Beacon App User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform
All video_start When a user first starts a video - Applies only to video loaded on screen, across all players/locations in the apps. User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform, content_type, item_title, genre, production_year, country_origin

For Episodes: episode_number, season_number, episode_title

For Channels: program_title
All add_to_favorites When a user adds a video to the favorites list User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform, content_type, item_title, genre, production_year, country_origin
All rate_content User rates an asset in the app User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform, content_type, item_title, genre, production_year, country_origin, stars
All search When a user performs a site search User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform, search_term
All subscribe when a user subscribes to a package User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform, plan_name, payment_gateway, value, currency
iOS / Android screen_view User Properties : user_type, language

Event Parameters: streaming_platform, screen_name
Web / STV page_view streaming_platform, page_title
Web / iOS / Android user_engagement When the app is in the foreground or webpage is in focus for at least one second engagement_time_msec
Web / iOS / Android session_start When a user engages the app or website

A session ID and session number are generated automatically with each session and associated with each event in the session. Learn more
Web / iOS / Android first_visit The first time a user visits a website or launches an Android instant app with Analytics enabledh each event in the session. Learn more
Web / iOS / Android first_open The first time a user launches an app after installing or re-installing it

This event is not triggered when a user downloads the app onto a device, but instead when he or she first uses it. To see raw download numbers, look in Google Play Developer Console or in AppStoreConnect.

Supports measuring first_open conversions for users who accept Apple's iOS 14 app-tracking prompt.
previous_gmp_app_id, updated_with_analytics, previous_first_open_count, system_app, system_app_update, deferred_analytics_collection, reset_analytics_cause, engagement_time_msec
Web form_start the first time a user interacts with a form in a session form_id, form_name, form_destination
Android app_remove When an application package is removed (uninstalled) from an Android device

Android only
Web / iOS / Android app_store_subs

cription_renew
When a paid subscription is renewed

This event is set as a default conversion

Requires an initial subscription that was made on or after July 1, 2019

This event is not exported to BigQuery
product_id, price, value, currency, quantity, renewal_count

Parameters Reported to Google Analytics

Parameter Values Description
user_type Authenticated User, Trialist, Visitor, Subscriber Visitor: Anonymous users

Authenticated User: Authenticated user with no active subscription

Trialist: Authenticated user with a subscription in Trial status

Subscriber: Authenticated user with an active subscription (not in trial status)
streaming_platform Android, iOS, Web, roku, firetv, androidtv, AppleTV, samsung_tizen, webos
content_type movies, channels, episodes, events, series
genre Based on customer metadata assigned to the assets Only the first genre of each asset is sent to GA4 reports

Google Analytics Explorations

You can use Google Analytics Explorations to discover deeper insights about your customers' behavior. For details, see Google's Get started with Explorations document.

  1. Return to your Google Analytics homepage.
  2. In the left navigation, click Explore.
    Click Explore
  3. Create a new Exploration.
  4. Here is an example using events and parameters.
    Exploration with events and parameters
  5. Here is an example to provide insights about user behavior.
    Exploration of user behavior

Google Analytics learning resources

You have just scratched the surface of Google Analytics in this document. You can put together custom reports with daily or weekly summary information on selected assets, etc. A good place to start your journey of learning more about Google Analytics could be the Google Analytics 4 classes and/or the Google Analytics documentation.