Media / Streaming Events

Media and streaming platforms generate some of the highest event volumes of any vertical. A single user session can produce hundreds of playback heartbeats, seek events, and ad impressions. This dictionary covers the full lifecycle from content discovery through playback, monetisation, and creator economics.

Acquire

Events that bring new users into the platform.

Event Name	Key Properties	Volume	Description
`user.signed_up`	`channel`, `referrer`, `plan_type`, `platform`	Medium	New user creates an account
`trial.started`	`trial_duration_days`, `plan_id`, `source`	Medium	User begins a free trial period
`content.shared_externally`	`content_id`, `share_method`, `platform`	Medium	Existing user shares content outside the platform, driving new sign-ups

Activate

Events that signal a new user is getting value from the platform.

Event Name	Key Properties	Volume	Description
`onboarding.preferences_set`	`genres`, `languages`, `content_types`	Medium	User sets content preferences during onboarding
`profile.created`	`has_avatar`, `display_name_set`, `profiles_count`	Medium	User creates a viewing profile
`first_content.consumed`	`content_id`, `content_type`, `time_to_first_play_seconds`	Medium	User watches or listens to their first piece of content

Engage — Playback

Events that track the full playback lifecycle. These events will be the highest volume in your system.

Event Name	Key Properties	Volume	Description
`playback.started`	`content_id`, `content_type`, `quality`, `is_autoplay`, `position`	High	User initiates playback of content
`playback.paused`	`content_id`, `position`, `duration`	High	User pauses playback
`playback.resumed`	`content_id`, `position`, `pause_duration_seconds`	High	User resumes playback after a pause
`playback.completed`	`content_id`, `total_duration`, `completion_pct`	High	Content finishes playing to the end
`playback.seek_started`	`content_id`, `from_position`, `to_position`	High	User begins seeking to a new position
`playback.seek_completed`	`content_id`, `from_position`, `to_position`	High	Seek operation completes
`playback.buffer_started`	`content_id`, `position`, `quality`	High	Playback stalls due to buffering
`playback.buffer_completed`	`content_id`, `buffer_duration_ms`, `position`	High	Buffering ends and playback resumes
`playback.quality_changed`	`content_id`, `from_quality`, `to_quality`, `is_auto`	Medium	Playback quality changes (manual or adaptive)
`playback.speed_changed`	`content_id`, `from_speed`, `to_speed`	Low	User changes playback speed
`playback.interrupted`	`content_id`, `position`, `interruption_type`	Medium	Playback is interrupted by external event (call, notification)
`playback.exited`	`content_id`, `position`, `completion_pct`, `exit_reason`	High	User leaves the player before content completes
`playback.heartbeat`	`content_id`, `position`, `quality`, `buffer_count`	Very High	Periodic ping every 10 seconds during active playback
`ad.started`	`ad_id`, `ad_type`, `position`, `content_id`	High	An advertisement begins playing
`ad.completed`	`ad_id`, `ad_type`, `duration`, `content_id`	High	An advertisement plays to completion
`ad.skipped`	`ad_id`, `skip_after_seconds`, `content_id`	Medium	User skips an advertisement
`ad.clicked`	`ad_id`, `click_url`, `content_id`	Low	User clicks through on an advertisement

Engage — Discovery

Events that capture how users find, organise, and save content.

Event Name	Key Properties	Volume	Description
`content.searched`	`query`, `results_count`, `filters_applied`	High	User searches the content library
`content.browsed`	`category`, `genre`, `browse_type`	High	User browses a category or curated collection
`content.viewed`	`content_id`, `content_type`, `source`, `position_in_list`	High	User views a content detail page or card
`content.rated`	`content_id`, `rating`, `rating_type`	Medium	User rates content (thumbs, stars, percentage)
`content.added_to_watchlist`	`content_id`, `watchlist_id`, `source`	Medium	User adds content to their watchlist or queue
`content.removed_from_watchlist`	`content_id`, `watchlist_id`	Low	User removes content from their watchlist
`playlist.created`	`playlist_id`, `is_public`, `content_type`	Low	User creates a new playlist
`playlist.item_added`	`playlist_id`, `content_id`, `position`	Medium	User adds an item to a playlist
`playlist.item_removed`	`playlist_id`, `content_id`	Low	User removes an item from a playlist
`playlist.shared`	`playlist_id`, `share_method`, `platform`	Low	User shares a playlist externally
`content.downloaded`	`content_id`, `quality`, `file_size_mb`	Medium	User downloads content for offline viewing
`content.download_deleted`	`content_id`, `days_since_download`	Low	User deletes a previously downloaded file
`recommendation.viewed`	`recommendation_id`, `algorithm`, `position`	High	A recommendation is displayed to the user
`recommendation.clicked`	`recommendation_id`, `content_id`, `algorithm`, `position`	Medium	User clicks on a recommended piece of content

Monetise

Events that track subscription lifecycle and revenue.

Event Name	Key Properties	Volume	Description
`subscription.created`	`plan_id`, `billing_cycle`, `amount`, `currency`, `trial`	Medium	User subscribes to a paid plan
`subscription.upgraded`	`from_plan`, `to_plan`, `amount_delta`	Low	User upgrades to a higher-tier plan
`subscription.downgraded`	`from_plan`, `to_plan`, `reason`	Low	User downgrades to a lower-tier plan
`subscription.cancelled`	`plan_id`, `reason`, `tenure_days`, `cancel_at_period_end`	Low	User cancels their subscription
`purchase.completed`	`content_id`, `amount`, `currency`, `purchase_type`	Medium	User makes a one-time purchase (rental, buy-to-own)
`ad_revenue.impression`	`ad_id`, `ad_type`, `cpm`, `content_id`	High	Ad impression is recorded for revenue attribution

Advocate

Events that drive organic growth through sharing and referrals.

Event Name	Key Properties	Volume	Description
`content.shared`	`content_id`, `share_method`, `platform`	Medium	User shares content with friends or social networks
`referral.link_shared`	`referral_code`, `share_method`, `platform`	Low	User shares their personal referral link
`referral.converted`	`referral_code`, `referee_user_id`, `plan_id`	Low	A referred user signs up and converts

Creator Events

Events specific to platforms with a creator or publisher ecosystem.

Event Name	Key Properties	Volume	Description
`creator.content_uploaded`	`creator_id`, `content_type`, `file_size_mb`, `duration`	Medium	Creator uploads new content to the platform
`creator.content_published`	`creator_id`, `content_id`, `visibility`, `monetisation_type`	Medium	Creator publishes content making it available to viewers
`creator.content_updated`	`creator_id`, `content_id`, `fields_changed`	Low	Creator updates metadata or replaces media on existing content
`creator.payout_earned`	`creator_id`, `amount`, `currency`, `payout_type`, `period`	Low	Creator earns revenue from views, ads, or subscriptions
`creator.milestone_reached`	`creator_id`, `milestone_type`, `milestone_value`	Low	Creator hits a milestone (subscriber count, view count, etc.)

Media Platform Customer Journey

Quick-Start: Top Events to Track First

Instrument these events first to cover the core content consumption loop and monetisation.

// Media / Streaming — Top 10 events to instrument first
const MEDIA_PRIORITY_EVENTS = [
  "user.signed_up",                // Acquisition: new user enters
  "first_content.consumed",        // Activation: user gets value
  "playback.started",              // Engagement: content consumption begins
  "playback.completed",            // Engagement: content consumption finishes
  "playback.heartbeat",            // Engagement: continuous viewing signal
  "content.searched",              // Discovery: intent signal
  "subscription.created",          // Monetisation: user pays
  "subscription.cancelled",        // Retention risk: user may leave
  "content.shared",                // Advocacy: organic growth driver
  "ad_revenue.impression",         // Revenue: ad monetisation signal
];

Back to Event Catalog Browse all domain event dictionaries and the universal naming convention.