Live 3 Billing & Usage Changes

Overview

With the introduction of Zype Live 3, Zype is updating how Live usage is measured, reported, and billed as part of a broader, platform-wide effort to simplify billing, reduce legacy complexity, and align Live with Playout and VOD usage models.

These changes introduce:

• A new Live 3 Encoder Hours usage metric, replacing Live Encoder Hours

• Retirement of Live 1 encoder hours usage metric

• A transition from Live Stream Hours → Live Gigabytes (GB) for delivery usage metric

• Retirement of additional legacy metrics that are no longer required

This article explains what’s changing, why it’s changing, and how customers can monitor Live 3 usage going forward.

Summary of Billing Changes

What’s Changing with Live 3 Usage Metrics

1. New Live 3 Encoder Hours

Live 3 introduces a new usage metric: Live 3 Encoder Hours.

What this measures

• The total number of hours a Live 3 encoder is active and available to stream live content

• 1 live encoder running for 1 hour = 1 Live v3 Encoder Hour

This metric reflects encoder runtime, not viewer delivery or audience size.

Where you’ll see it

• Zype Admin → Usage Report

• Displayed as Live 3 Encoding Hours

• Updated once every 24 hours

2. Retirement of Legacy Live Encoder Hours (Zype Live 1)

As part of the Live 3 rollout and the planned Zype Live 1 sunset, legacy Live encoder hour metrics will be fully retired at the end of March 2026.

• Legacy Live 1 encoders will no longer appear in Usage Reports

• Live 3 Encoder Hours will be the only encoder runtime metric going forward

Customers running 24/7 or always-on live channels must migrate to Live 3 prior to the legacy sunset to avoid service disruption. 

Live Stream Hours → Live Gigabytes (GB)

The transition to data-based usage metrics

Historically, Live delivery usage data was measured and attributed using Live Stream Hours. With Live 3, Zype is transitioning Live delivery to a data-based usage model, consistent with the other Zype offerings on the platform.  Meanwhile, engagement analytics data for Live 3 will be transitioning to Engagement data within the Analytics 3 platform. 

Effective with Live 3:

• Live Stream Hours are retired

• Live delivery usage is now measured in Live Gigabytes (GB)

• Live GB is reflected across Usage Reports and Analytics dashboards

This aligns Live delivery with:

• Playout Linear Live delivery usage

• Analytics 3 reporting for all future Engagement, Revenue, or Platform Dynamics data

Why Zype Is Moving to Live GB

The transition to GB-based usage provides:

• More accurate measurement
  Billing reflects actual data delivered

• Better alignment with viewer behavior
  Data-based usage collection accounts for bitrate, resolution, adaptive streaming, and concurrency.

• Improved transparency and predictability
  Customers can correlate delivery usage directly with audience size, stream quality, and network conditions

• Consistency across the platform
  One unified delivery metric for Live and Playout, with VOD to follow in later 2026

Additional Legacy Usage Metrics Being Retired

As part of the Live 3 rollout and Zype’s broader usage and billing simplification initiative, several legacy billable metrics are also being retired.

Retired Metrics

The following metrics will be removed from Zype Admin Usage Dashboards:

• Playout SSAI GB

• Paywalled vs Non-Paywalled usage breakdowns

These metrics will no longer be reported or billed going forward.

Why These Metrics Are Being Retired

These metrics were introduced to support earlier billing and product models but are no longer required with:

• Unified GB-based delivery measurement

• Analytics 3 as the standard analytics platform

• Simplified monetization reporting

With Live 3 and Analytics 3:

• Delivery usage is consistently measured in Gigabytes (GB)

• Monetization method (paywalled vs non-paywalled) no longer requires separate usage breakouts

• SSAI Ad delivery is accounted for within unified Live and Playout GB delivery usage

What This Means for Customers

• You will no longer see separate Playout SSAI Ads Stream Hours or GB line items

• You will no longer see paywalled vs non-paywalled Stream Hours or GB usage splits

• Delivery usage continues to be accurately captured under Live GB

• No action is required by customers for this transition

Where to Monitor Live 3 Usage

Zype Admin → Usage Report

Customers can monitor Live 3 usage directly in the Usage Report, including:

• Live 3 Encoding Hours
  Encoder runtime, updated every 24 hours

• Live Gigabytes (GB)
  Live delivery usage

Analytics & Reporting Alignment

• Live engagement analytics transitioned under Analytics 3

• Live GB usage is reflected consistently across:

  • Usage Reports

  • Analytics dashboards

  • Billing records

Live Stream Hour–based charts and metrics will be removed as part of this, and the Analytics 1 to Analytics 3, transition.  VOD Stream Hour-based and Playout Hour charts and metrics will remain.

What You Should Do Next

• Review Live 3 Encoder Hours in your Zype Admin Usage Report

• Stop encoders when not in use to control runtime costs

• Review Getting Started with Live 3

• Review the Live 3 Manual Migration Guide if migrating existing streams

• Contact Zype Support or your Account Manager with billing questions