13 posts tagged with "ott"

As the world of entertainment evolves, over-the-top (OTT) platforms have become a game-changing force in the media industry. They allow users to stream content to their devices without a traditional cable or satellite subscription. Simply put, OTT media is all about streaming content directly to viewers!

At Teyuto, we are passionate about the potential of OTT platforms and the opportunities they present.

In this blog, we will explore the challenges and opportunities of launching an OTT platform. We will also have a close look at the potential for growth and innovation in the OTT market.

So, whether you are a content creator, a media company, or a consumer of OTT services, this blog will provide invaluable insights into the ins and outs of launching an OTT platform. Let’s begin with the hard part first!

The challenges of launching an OTT platform​

In theory, launching an OTT platform seems fairly simple. You can set up a website, purchase some video management software, and start uploading content. In reality, however, it is much more complex.

There are several challenges that you need to address for a successful OTT platform. For starters, the viewer wants a personalized experience. This can be in terms of suggested movies, TV shows, and other content to watch.

Then, there is the matter of subscriptions. How can you make the purchase process easier and more seamless? How can you make it so that the subscription renews automatically?

You also need to ensure that the platform is secure. You must protect the content from piracy, and at the same time, you need to ensure that the user’s data is safe.

All of this is while ensuring that your video content is as accessible as possible across all devices and platforms.

So, let's delve deeper into the major challenges you'll face while launching an OTT platform.

1. The competitive landscape of the OTT industry

As the OTT industry continues to grow, the competition is becoming increasingly fierce. There are several top OTT platforms for consumers to choose from, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+ alongside others.

To stand out from the crowd, you need to offer something different. You need to offer something that isn’t already there. This could be in terms of content or the user experience.

Before you start working on your OTT platform, research the market thoroughly. Identify the gaps in the OTT industry, and think of how you can address those gaps.

1. The cost and technical challenges

Building and maintaining an OTT platform requires significant financial investment and technical expertise.

From infrastructure and hosting costs to developing a user-friendly interface and ensuring smooth playback, the costs can quickly add up. But your users won't care about these costs.

They will only be bothered about how user-friendly and glitch-free the platform is. They will not think twice before leaving if they cannot resume a video on your OTT TV app after having watched a part of it on their smartphone.

To give a ballpark figure, the cost of building a high-quality OTT platform can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the scope and scale of the project. Additionally, OTT providers need to be prepared to invest in ongoing maintenance, R&D, and infrastructure upgrades to keep their platforms running smoothly and stay ahead of competitors.

However, you can minimize these costs by:

● Leveraging OTT solutions providers like Teyuto

● Developing a minimum viable product

● Outsourcing your development work

1. Securing content and licensing agreements

The success of your OTT platform will be largely dependent upon your ability to secure content and licensing agreements. This is a particularly challenging task for new OTT platforms, as content creators are often reluctant to do business with unknown entities.

You will need to convince content creators and producers that your platform is a good fit for their content and that you will market it effectively. You will also need to negotiate licensing agreements and fees. This can involve securing rights for different regions and languages, as well as dealing with exclusivity clauses and other legal hurdles.

1. Comprehensive video management

Managing large amounts of video content is a crucial part of operating an OTT platform. It requires a robust video content management system (video CMS) and a scalable OTT architecture that's compatible with all devices. Your platform needs to handle aspects like load balancing, uploading, transcoding, organizing content, gathering analytics, and reporting on viewership & engagement. This can involve multiple video management tools, licenses, and services, which can get difficult to manage and be expensive.

1. User acquisition and retention

It's great to have a cool new OTT platform. But you need people to use it. For this reason, user acquisition is a top priority, especially for new OTT platforms.

You must create a marketing strategy that will attract new users and encourage them to sign up for your platform. You’ll have to generate coupons, gift cards, and other promotions.

You also need to work on user retention. You’ll have to know and avoid abandoned carts, drive reselling campaigns, and even push cross-sells to your viewers. You must further engage your users with rich features like live comments, in-video polls, in-video CTAs, and so on.

1. Staying ahead of changing technology and consumer preferences

Consumer preferences change, and they change fast! The rise of streaming services (and the decline in linear TV viewership) is a prime example of it. So, consumer-centric innovations and content addition should not be an afterthought.

Today, the OTT TV industry is evolving rapidly, with new technologies and platforms emerging on a regular basis. This makes it all the more important to stay on top of trends and ensure that your platform always has an edge.

You may need to invest in ultra-low-latency streaming, Artificial Intelligence, or other technologies down the line.

Although launching an OTT platform is no easy task, the pros of launching an OTT solution clearly outweigh the cons. So, now, let’s take a look at some of the most promising OTT opportunities in the segment.

The opportunities in launching an OTT platform​

OTT offers innumerable opportunities to content creators, media companies, and consumers. Let’s take a look at some of the most exciting opportunities in the OTT industry.

1. The potential for growth in the OTT industry

As more people cut the cord and turn to streaming services, there is an ever-growing need for new OTT platforms.

According to Statista, the revenue in the OTT video segment could’ve already reached $275.3 billion in 2022. By 2027, this figure is expected to be $476.7 billion. Owning just a small pie of this growing market can lead to millions of dollars in revenue, even if you’re starting from scratch.

Also, there’s a growing demand for original and niche content, which can be a good entry point for new OTT platforms.

1. The ability to reach a global audience

One of the biggest benefits of launching an OTT platform is the ability to reach a global audience. With an OTT service, you can reach viewers all over the world, something that's not possible via traditional TV networks.

The burgeoning market for localized content also means that new OTT platforms can create content that is tailored to specific regions and languages.

The demand for such services is only increasing. By offering tailored content for specific regions and languages, you can stand out in a crowded industry and give your audience exactly what they want.

1. Flexible Monetization

You can monetize your OTT platform however you want. There are several ways to monetize OTT content, from Subscription VOD (SVOD) and Transactional VOD (TVOD) to advertising (AVOD), paid promotions, and hybrid monetization.

Generally, new OTT services offer a "freemium" model, which is a hybrid monetization strategy that allows users to access basic content for free and pay for premium content.

This approach is a great way to get new users hooked on your platform. Once they're hooked, they will be willing to pay sooner or later.

Another approach is to partner with advertisers. This could involve having an ad at the beginning of a video or including ads within the video itself, even if you’re live streaming (using VAST technology).

1. Robust analytics and user engagement

For great results, you need to have a strong understanding of your users. That's precisely where analytics comes in.

Analytics tools provide valuable insights into how users are interacting with your content, so you can make data-driven decisions about what to publish on your platform.

Additionally, you can use these tools to understand how your users are engaging with each other. What are they saying about your platform? Analytics tools can also help you understand where your users are coming from, or how they found your platform in the first place.

Now, having a strong understanding of your users is only half the battle. The other half is keeping them engaged. Backed by these insights, a major opportunity area for you is to uniquely engage users.

Perhaps, you can set up a workflow automation every time a user makes a purchase. Or, send emails and push notifications to update them about a video they may be interested in.

1. Unique and exclusive content

Unique and exclusive content is the need of the hour. That's why you can see leading OTT platforms investing their resources in creating original content. The only thing is they can't create content around everything! It sets your OTT platform's original content apart from them.

The OTT industry has brought a few tectonic shifts within the global entertainment landscape. First, it has lowered the barrier to entry for content creators. Second, it has increased the appetite for quality and original content globally.

So, if you think that you can quench this global thirst, the world is your oyster.

1. The potential for partnerships and collaborations with other industry players

As the OTT industry continues to grow, so does the need for collaboration. By partnering with other OTT platforms, you can expand your reach and offer a more diverse selection of content to your users.

In addition to collaboration, there is also an opportunity for video OTT platforms to partner with other industries. This could lead to a win-win scenario where collaborating players can tap into each other’s advantages.

Now that we’ve understood the pitfalls and the opportunities of OTT platforms, let’s find out how Teyuto can help you realize your dream – with a simple touch of a button.

How Teyuto can help launch your OTT platform?​

As we know, the world of OTT services is complex and constantly changing. For this reason, it can be difficult to get it off the ground.

Fortunately, there are companies like Teyuto that specialize in helping OTT entrepreneurs launch their platforms and overcome the challenges they face.

Here are some of the ways that Teyuto can help you launch your OTT platform.

1. Create and launch your powerful OTT platform

Teyuto is a global OTT solutions provider that specializes in building and launching OTT platforms. You can launch your OTT service in minutes using Teyuto’s no-code, drag-and-drop platform builder.

Deemed the best OTT provider, it helps you design and build a fully-customized, white-label OTT platform from scratch. Moreover, it also supports you to publish and maintain your OTT app. Teyuto has expertise in building powerful Mobile OTT Apps, TV OTT Apps, and web-based OTT platforms.

1. Feature-intensive yet Cost-effective

Despite being a category leader, Teyuto is the most cost-effective OTT service provider out there. Its plans start at just €29 per month! With Teyuto, you won’t have to spend several thousand or millions of dollars, even if you’re building a high-performance OTT platform.

Teyuto also provides a 14-day free trial. So, you can test the platform before you buy.

1. Monetize your OTT platform

Teyuto helps you monetize your OTT platform by providing a range of monetization options. These include Subscription VOD (SVOD), Transactional VOD (TVOD), and advertising (AVOD). Unlike other revenue share OTT builders, Teyuto doesn’t charge you anything for your user payments and subscriptions. So, you can reinvest that money in your business and grow at a faster pace.

1. Offer the best video search engine

A video search engine is the heart and soul of any OTT service. The challenge is that most of the solutions providers extend tag-based searches. This approach often returns no results when the "keyword" isn’t an exact match.

However, Teyuto's search engine will allow your viewers find exactly what they're looking for, leading to a seamless platform experience. It also has a great recommendation engine that can recommend series and packages to your users based on their usage patterns.

1. Seamless user experience

Teyuto's goal is to help you provide a seamless user experience to you and your viewers. One way it does this is through its Content Management Solution (CMS), which makes it easy to manage all of your content in one place. It also includes features like bulk uploading, auto recording (live streaming videos to VOD), organizing content as Collection, Series, and Packages, and a whole lot more!

Teyuto also enables you to improve your OTT platform by providing robust analytics and data. Its analytics features include watch time, number of plays, video views, top series and videos, and other detailed statistics. It also integrates with Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics to provide even more data about your OTT platform. Ultimately, all of this helps you make informed decisions for your platform's constant evolution.

1. Protect your content and users

At Teyuto, the safety of your content and viewers is one of the top priorities. The OTT solution provider extends a secure and reliable OTT platform with highly encrypted videos and signed URLs that prevent any unauthorized access. Teyuto also offers two-factor authentication on all of its plans. Other security features of Teyuto include simultaneous login sharing protection, geoblocking, malicious bot detection and removal, and SSL encryption.

1. Grow your OTT platform

Teyuto provides a wide range of marketing and engagement features to grow your OTT platform. These include unlimited coupons, unlimited gift cards, integrations with email marketing, and abandoned cart lists to name a few. On top of that, it also offers eCommerce integrations both in video and video players.

1. 24/7 support

Teyuto wants you to thrive! And, for it, it provides 24/7 support including email support, live chat support, and 1-on-1 onboarding calls. Its customer support team is highly experienced and trained to help you with any issues you have. On certain plans, you also get a dedicated account manager to help you with any questions you have.

1. Integrate with other applications

Through its API and Zapier integration, Teyuto allows you to integrate with other applications. The platform also provides webhooks for custom integrations. As an added advantage, its integration with Zapier not only helps you automate workflow processes but also connects these automated workflows with other popular apps like Mailchimp, Facebook, Hubspot, Google Sheets, Gmail, and 5000+ other platforms.

1. Stay at the top of Innovation

Lastly, and most importantly, Teyuto always remains at the edge of innovation in the OTT industry. This means that you get all the latest features, innovations, and best practices to offer the best possible user experiences. In other words, your OTT platform is always ahead of the curve and ready for whatever the future may bring without ever having to worry about R&D or development costs.

Final Words​

Disrupting the status quo, OTT platforms are game-changers in the media industry.

The competition is fierce. The growth is rapid. A lot of challenges have to be overcome. Many opportunities to be seized.

The time to act is now.

If you’re interested in launching an OTT platform, Teyuto is here to help. Get in touch with us if you have any queries or sign up for our 14-day free trial today. Godspeed!

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Are you looking for the best OTT solution providers to create your own OTT platform? If yes, then this post is just for you. Over the Top (OTT) Platforms have transformed the way we consume media and entertainment content over different devices such as smartphones and PCs.

To us unaware muggles, it looks simple to just “stream” the content online. But, behind this simple streaming process, there's a complex tech stack of OTT services with a lot of moving parts (such as video encoding, transcoding, transmuxing, device detection, last-mile content delivery, digital rights management, load balancing, and more.)

If you consider that all of this is done in a few hundred milliseconds (1 second is 1000 milliseconds), a smoothly playing video on any device is nothing short of wizardry!

No doubt then, that choosing one of the best OTT video service providers for your needs is crucial to ensure a successful and smooth launch of your own streaming service.

In this post, we will discuss what is an OTT platform, how it works, and the best OTT providers for building your own customized OTT platform.

What is an OTT Platform?​

OTT stands for Over-The-Top (OTT) media services that provide audio-visual entertainment content such as movies, TV series, corporate videos, etc., directly via the internet to end users of these services. Such video delivery services bypass the conventional broadcasting ecosystem of cable TV and satellite TV.

OTT platforms are also known as OTT video platforms, OTT streaming platforms, OTT video services, OTT video solution, OTT service providers, OTT video service providers, OTT video solutions, or, simply, online video platform providers.

Examples of popularly known global players in this space are Netflix, Apple TV+, Hulu, Prime Video, etc. Some examples of corporate OTT solutions include intranet, custom video portals, and industry-specific OTT platforms.

Examples of OTT Platforms​

Some of the use cases for an OTT solution include:

1. OTT Video Platform for Enterprises​

Enterprises can use an OTT platform to create their own intranet or custom video portal. This allows them to share corporate videos, training materials, and other content with employees in a secure manner. It also helps them save on travel costs by conducting virtual meetings via live streaming of events such as townhalls, conferences, etc., over the internet.

2. Educational​

OTT platforms can be used by educational institutions to create their own video portals for sharing course content with students. This helps them save on the costs of printing and distributing study material, while also allowing them to create an advanced, data-driven learning environment. The generated data can help them personalize training modules for their students.

3. OTT Streaming Platforms​

OTT streaming platforms are ideal for media companies that want to launch their own branded online TV channels or subscription-based VOD services such as Netflix, Hulu, etc. This is one of the most popular use cases for an OTT platform. OTT streaming platform enables you to reach your audience while bypassing conventional channels of broadcasting and their red-tapism.

4. Content Creators​

Content creators can use OTT platforms to launch their own branded streaming services and monetize their content via subscription-based models. This allows them to brand themselves better, reach a wider audience, and ensure they get fairly paid for the value of their work!

5. Sports Streaming​

Both sports broadcasters and individual teams can create an online TV channel using an OTT platform provider and live stream matches over the internet. It can increase fan engagement as well as revenue from ticket sales or sponsorships by reaching out to fans around the world.

They could even offer exclusive behind-the-scenes footage on demand so viewers feel like they're part of something special instead of just being mere spectators sitting passively in front of screens without any interaction whatsoever.

6. Religious Streaming​

Religious institutions can use OTT platforms to live stream religious ceremonies and other events over the internet. In today’s digital-first age, this approach ensures maximum attendance and helps ordained ministers to take the word of God where it should be – amongst the common masses!

7. Government Organizations​

Everyone is going online. And government organizations and departments aren’t behind! In fact, they’re leading the way with their digital services. Smart governments are using OTT platforms to make live streaming of important announcements or news easy for everyone – no matter what kind of device you're on! And that's not all… They can also create custom video portals where citizens will find government-related resources such as reports, policy issues, etc., in one place instead of having them scattered across multiple websites.

8. Nonprofit Organizations​

Nonprofits have a lot going on and it can be hard for them to get their message out there without some help from technology. It’s not about fundraising anymore – now there are many more different ways for nonprofits to use OTT platforms like live streaming events, creating videos that explain their cause with the help of an expert panel from across different fields, etc., or even making announcements while they're on the go!

9. Political Parties​

Politicians and political parties can use OTT video platform solutions to stream rallies so people who can't access those kinds of events in person still get to see what's happening firsthand - no matter where you might be located physically!

10. Private Live Streaming​

OTT platforms can also be used for private live streaming of events such as birthdays, weddings, or any other personal celebration. Here’s how it works! Just invite your friends and family members to watch the event in real-time on their TV sets while they're chilling out at home (or even if they're away from home). They'll never miss a moment again because, with OTT video platform solutions, you don't have ANY limits when presenting content over internet connections. You also don’t have to worry about annoying advertisements shown before every clip starts!

Different Implementations of OTT Platforms​

There are two ways in which you can build your own OTT platform – either by building it from scratch or using an existing white-label solution.

Let's look at both these options in detail below:

Building Your Own Customized OTT Platform from Scratch​

This option involves developing all the components required for delivering video on demand (VOD) and live streaming, such as transcoding, DRM protection, CDN delivery network integration, etc., yourself.

Today, a user may discover your platform on a smartphone, access it via a laptop, watch videos on a tablet, and, later, continue viewing the video on a Smart TV. So, what you will also need are front-end applications for various devices like smartphones/tablets (iOS & Android), Smart TVs (Android TV & Apple TV), PCs/laptops (Windows & macOS), and licensed video protocols that work with respective platforms.

The advantage of adopting this approach is that you have complete control over every aspect of your service. Do you want to encode videos in RTMP? Check. Want your delivery protocol to be HLS? Check. The video player must have your logo as a watermark? Check. Want delivery to only be in a particular region? Check. Everything will basically be customized to your needs.

But this approach is not without its challenges.

You will need to hire a team of developers with expertise in video streaming technologies and front-end development for different devices. This can be expensive as well as time-consuming (it may take months or even years). Also, you will have to invest heavily in infrastructure such as servers for transcoding videos into multiple bitrates/resolutions and CDN delivery network integration.

And still, you may end up with several loose ends. They may either affect your user experience or lead to a major security concern. There’s no point in reinventing the wheel, especially when there are dedicated solution providers that will give precisely what you need for a fraction of the cost that you’d otherwise experience. This is where white-label OTT solutions like Teyuto come into perspective.

Using an Existing White Label OTT Platform​

This option involves using the existing white-label solution from one of the best OTT providers. Such players offer all the required components out of the box, including content management system (CMS), video encoding & transcoding services, DRM protection, monetization options (like SVOD, TVOD, AVOD, etc.), payment processing, workflow automation, and analytics along with white-label apps for various devices such as smartphones/tablets (iOS & Android), Smart TVs (Android TV & Apple TV) PCs/laptops (Windows & macOS).

All these features are available under your own brand name. So, it looks like you’ve built everything yourself! Another advantage here is that there's neither an upfront investment nor you need to worry about locking in the capital in infrastructure (hosting servers, licensing, or CDN delivery network integration.)

The only thing you need to do is focus on your content and marketing strategy, while the OTT service provider takes care of everything else for you. This approach also allows you to launch your own streaming platform in a matter of days or weeks instead of months or years!

Our two cents would be that it's not wise to reinvent the wheel. If you are looking to launch your own OTT platform quickly and cost-effectively, then using an OTT platform provider is the way to go.

Factors to Consider While Building a Successful OTT​

Several online video platform providers are available, each with its features. Therefore, it's essential to identify the critical aspects. Before choosing an OTT platform provider, here are a few things you should consider:

• Genre: Choose an appropriate genre while building your own OTT video solution to share content, On-Demand videos, events, or movies that meet users' needs.
• Target Market: Strategic content delivery can make your audio or video content adaptable and compatible for streaming across all platforms and devices.
• Enhanced viewing experience: Deliver original content and focus on providing an engaging viewing experience. Focus more on streaming relevant content to the masses now that numerous OTT video service providers are available.
• User Behavior: Because your target audience is more diverse and dynamic, it's crucial to provide a variety of content to appeal to them. You can do this by using analytical tools like real-time traffic updates, viewership statistics, user behavior analytics, revenue reports, etc., to understand how they think and how they behave.
• Monetization Business Tools: The best business models for monetizing online video include live streaming and video-on-demand. Select the monetization strategy that best fits your company's requirements to generate revenue more quickly by increasing viewing through advertising. As OTT streaming service providers, you have plenty of room to grow your lucrative revenue streams.

Plan your resources: Create your own OTT platform based on the type of content distribution that would appeal to your audience. To give your customers a better viewing experience, make sure that resources are appropriately planned.

Best OTT Platforms for 2023 and Beyond​

Teyuto​

Teyuto is a video delivery platform that provides complete white-label solutions for OTT services such as Live Streaming, Video on Demand (VOD), and Subscription Based Services. One of the best features of Teyuto is that, unlike other service providers, it also provides you with a drag-and-drop channel builder. You can use it to create your customizable UI Design and tailor your platform’s interface according to your specific needs.

It barely comes as a surprise then that Teyuto has been recognized as one of the most reliable OTT platforms by many leading industry experts! For instance, it is rated as the Best Video Solution provider by Gartner’s GetApp while also being highly rated by Capterra, Trustpilot, and Product Hunt.

The support team is available 24x7 via helpdesk and chatbot anytime during the day. They also provide quick resolutions!

Pros​

1. No upfront investment required

2. Robust CMS with ultra-low-latency delivery

3. Cross-platform support including smartphones and TV apps

4. Rigorous Security including SSL encryption, PCI service provider certification, signed URLs, 99.99% uptime, geo-blocking, etc.

5. In-video Q&As and Instant Polls

6. Conditional videos for Learning & Development

7. 0% transaction fee on user payments & donations

8. Live chat and comments

9. Full HD and 4K videos

10. Chromecast & AirPlay support

11. In-player file attachments

12. Detailed Insights

13. Lifetime referral earning

14. White-label platform development

15. Branded video player with company colors and watermark

16. Subscriptions start at roughly $30 per month

17. Great third-party support including 1000+ integrations with Zapier

18. Gift cards, coupons, and personalized marketing (including emails & push notifications)

19. Upselling and reselling of subscriptions

20. Paywalls & trial videos

21. Semantic video search for quick & easy video discovery

22. Proprietary video technology keeps your overall cost to the bare minimum

23. Two-factor authentication. Unlike other service providers that provide 2FA, Teyuto provides this feature on all plans

Cons​

1. No free tier (although the pricing is highly competitive and there’s an ongoing free trial)

Uscreen​

Uscreen is a video monetization platform for content creators. Uscreen provides you with the tools to build and monetize your own OTT service, which includes hosting & distributing videos online through an HTML5 video player (and/or apps).

There are many epic features in Uscreen, including mind-blowing aesthetics and a plethora of marketing, sales, and cognitive technologies that function on all devices.

In order to fit their brand, you can customize your website and apps, giving your audience a totally unique experience. With Uscreen, you can also fully control your clients' data because their database safely stores all billing and other consumer information, which can be extracted later.

Pros​

1. No upfront investment required

2. Paywalls and trial videos

3. Cross-platform support including smartphones and TV apps

4. Rigorous Security including SSL encryption, PA-DSS PCI compliant, 99.99% uptime, geo-blocking, etc.

5. Live chat and comments

6. Full HD videos

7. Chromecast & AirPlay support

8. Gift cards and coupons

9. Detailed Insights

10. Lifetime referral earning

11. White-label platform development

12. Great third-party support including 1000+ integrations with Zapier

13. Good design templates based on different use cases

14. Upselling and reselling of subscriptions

Cons​

1. Uscreen’s video player is not customizable

2. The barrier to entry in terms of price is high with basic plan starting at $79 per month

3. 4K video delivery not available

4. Unlike Teyuto, Uscreen is a revenue share OTT builder. Transactional videos involve a 5% commission. Uscreen also charges $0.5 per month per active subscriber.

5. You cannot brand the video player

6. In-video quizzes are not supported; conditional videos are not available

7. The apps are only available with a Uscreen plus plan, starting at $799 per month

8. Uscreen's video technology is not proprietary. It's licensed. This ultimately increases your cost of ownership.

Dacast​

Dacast has all the features that brands and content creators expect from top-quality OTT platforms. Their high-quality live-streaming video is excellent for marketing, communications, and sports coverage. One advantage of using their service is that all customers have access to live streaming, while other sites only let premium users use this function.

Dacast converts your video footage using transcoding software into a streamable format. Their cloud transcoding solutions utilize a variety of encoding settings to quickly and easily complete this procedure.

With a variety of monetization tools, clients may also monetize their VOD platform. With TVOD, SVOD, and AVOD formats, they can monetize using a secure SSL barrier. To earn money from advertising, they can place ads on their content. Additionally, Dacast includes a tool that allows content producers to provide discount codes or bundles of services at bundled prices.

Pros​

1. Plans starting at $39 per month

2. Full HD broadcasting

3. Unlimited concurrent viewers

4. Player customization

5. Secure delivery

6. Geo-blocking

7. Digital rights management

8. Video chapter markers

Cons​

1. Essential features such as DRM and bulk upload only available in scale plan (starting at $188 per month)

2. 4K delivery not available

3. Not-so-great customer support

4. Subscriptions are billed annually. No monthly billing cycles

Wowza​

Wowza is an OTT platform that delivers video-on-demand and live-streaming solutions. Wowza fosters innovation in every sector and delivers video deployments by acting as the partner that helps companies scale.

Wowza Video is the best option for companies that wish to use videos to improve their products and services since it combines all the essential streaming technologies your company needs into a single platform.

Wowza Streaming Engine is ideal for self-managed infrastructures and offline deployment due to its powerful and fully customizable capabilities.

Pros​

1. Reliable and efficient streaming engine

2. Ultra-low latency

3. UHD broadcasting

4. Robust CDN

5. In-depth Analytics

6. Plans starting at $25 per month

Cons​

1. Not many customizations are available

2. Pricing is somewhat hard to understand

3. Configuration and management of servers can be difficult

4. Subscriptions are billed annually. No monthly billing cycles

Brightcove​

By enabling its customers to design and deliver flawless video experiences across mobile, online, smart, and connected TVs, Brightcove helps them increase engagement, connections, and revenue quickly and affordably.

Along with customizable content management and significant market expertise, Brightcove provides them the option of various monetization models to increase their revenue.

Whether it's virtual town halls, weekly all-hands meetings, new hire onboarding, internal product or sales training, or other events, Brightcove's clients can track engagement while fostering strong ties between people and teams, which will ultimately help them retain talented employees, attract more of them, and promote their business.

Pros​

1. Easy to use

2. Good CMS

3. Branding

4. Audience analytics

5. Social sharing

6. Third-party integrations

7. Access control & permissions

Cons​

1. Service outages

2. You have to search videos by the exact tag they have

3. A simple report can take several minutes to generate

4. Pricing is opaque

Kaltura​

Several brands and people use Kaltura's live and on-demand video SaaS solutions Its Kaltura Cloud TV Platform combines pay-TV's scalability and dependability with OTT's features, flexibility, transparency, business models, device reach, and personalization. It enables businesses to provide viewers with a fully personalized live and on-demand TV experience across all platforms.

Kaltura can assist with cloud transformation efforts whether you are a pay-TV service provider or a media organization launching a direct-to-consumer service.

Kaltura is the one video cloud to power all your video needs, whether for team collaboration and knowledge sharing, online training and self-paced learning, internal and executive communication, marketing, or sales enablement.

Pros​

1. A host of specialized use cases including video messaging and meetings

2. Easy to use

3. Video embeddings

4. Branded microsite and landing page

5. Live reactions and group chat

6. Quizzes and polls

7. Detailed insights

8. Real-time notifications

Cons​

1. Videos can be slow to load

2. Not-so-great customer support

Muvi​

Muvi is an all-inclusive OTT Platform that lets you launch multi-screen Video Streaming Services like Netflix and Prime instantly! The platform comes with a complete set of features (including CMS, CDN, DRM, etc.) necessary to run your own video on demand or live streaming service.

Muvi takes care of everything from infrastructure deployment & management at scale so there's no need for expensive hardware investments upfront, which means lower total cost ownership!

Pros​

1. Fully-featured white-label app

2. Unlimited content

3. AI-based recommendation engine

4. Powerful CMS

5. Dedicated server with auto-scaling

6. No revenue share

7. Quick support

Cons​

1. Pricing starts at $399 per month plus $299 per month per app (for standard tier; $499 per app per month for professional and enterprise); additional infrastructure fees applicable if you do not use Muvi One CDN

2. DRM charges are $0.01 per view. AI recommendation is also charged per API request on top of a monthly charge.

3. Although platform customization is good, it can be tricky (no drag and drop.) Also, limited ability to modify templates.

Vimeo​

Vimeo is a popular online video platform that allows users to upload, share, and view videos. It was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in New York City. As a SaaS OTT provider, Vimeo is focused on providing high-quality, professionally-made content.

It has become a popular destination for artists, filmmakers, and other creative professionals to showcase their work. Vimeo offers a range of tools and features for both users and creators, including the ability to upload and share videos in high definition, as well as tools for customizing and branding videos.

In addition to its main platform, Vimeo also offers Vimeo OTT, a service that allows creators to distribute their videos directly to viewers through subscription and rental options.

Pros​

1. 4K & HDR Support & Dolby Vision

2. Branding in player & video

3. Q&A and instant polls

4. Great security with two-factor authentication

5. In-depth analytics

6. In-player calls to action

7. Video monetization

Cons​

1. Customer support is not good

2. Technical issues related to video search, buffering, playback, and video CMS

Final words​

Choosing the best solution provider to develop your streaming channel has become challenging as more and more companies enter the OTT sector. One of the right ways to do it is by using free trials provided by OTT platform providers to ensure the platform you use has all the features and tools you might need to build your OTT streaming.

If you have any queries, feel free to reach out to us, book a demo, or give a shot at our 14-day free trial.

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Did you know that the first movie ever streamed over the internet was way back in 1993. It was “Wax or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees”, which became a cult classic right after hitting cinemas. At that time, people did not know what are OTT platforms, but the movie was also streamed online. The only catch was that the tech constraints limited the broadcast to 2 frames per second (as opposed to the 24 frames per second that a normal broadcast would offer).

How videos have grown over the internet is a case study that everyone – from content creators and filmmakers to marketers and businesspeople – explores these days. But what’s more interesting is where this industry is headed towards.

To give you a perspective, Netflix, the world’s largest OTT platform, generated revenues worth $29.69 billion in 2021. This is more than the GDP of 112 countries recognized by the World Bank. The Disney franchise – with Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+ under its fold – now has more than 235.7 million subscribers. If it was a country, it would be the s largest. YouTube has 2.6 billion active users. Period.

According to Statista, there are 3.37 billion video viewers across the globe today. Another study indicates that the average person watches about 100 minutes of videos online every day. This leads us to a fact and a question. The fact is that people need quality video content, and are ready to pay a premium for it. The question is, “Can you deliver?”

If your answer is yes, then you can not only leave your mark on this burgeoning video universe but also actively shape it with your unique OTT platform. Let’s begin with the basics.

OTT stands for “over-the-top”. It is a method of delivery where content is streamed directly to viewers over the internet, without any involvement from third-party intermediaries like cable or satellite providers. In other words, it is a way to bypass traditional distribution channels.

In general, OTT refers to video services. However, OTT can be any media service that delivers you content over the top. For instance, WhatsApp is a popular OTT messaging service, Skype is an OTT calling service, and Worldwide FM is a popular OTT radio service. The scope of this blog is majorly limited to OTT video services.

The best thing about OTT is that anyone with an active internet connection can be a part of it – there are no strings attached (literally). All you need is a digital device and voila! You can start watching or streaming your favorite shows, movies, sports, etc.

As a content creator, you must have a good OTT service provider that meets your end-to-end streaming needs.

How does OTT work?​

Though OTT content delivery seems to be fairly simple at first look, it is quite complicated with a web of moving parts operating in harmony. Its elements include decoders, encoders, integrated receivers/decoders (IRDs), transcoders, internet infrastructure, CDNs, and so forth.

Here’s a quick overview of how it works:

1. Content providers create and store digital files.
2. These files are then compressed and encoded into a format that can be streamed over the internet (like the H.264 video format).
3. The content is uploaded on servers, which could be the provider’s own or a third-party’s.
4. A CDN (Content Delivery Network) is used to distribute content across the globe. CDNs minimize latency (or loading time) while preserving the quality of content irrespective of the device used by the end-user. The end-user devices include smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops, smart TVs, gaming consoles, etc.
5. When a user wants to watch something, they send a request to the server via their OTT application, which is then routed through the CDN to their device.
6. The CDN shares the video compatible with the requesting device. The video is then decoded on the user’s device and displayed accordingly.

How do OTT platforms earn money?​

There are four primary ways in which OTT platforms make money:

1. Advertising

This is the most common way for OTT platforms to generate revenue. Advertisements are played either before, during, or after the content. The host platform then shares a percentage of this revenue with the content creators.

1. Subscription

In this model, users need to pay a monthly/yearly fee to access premium content on the platform. Netflix and Amazon Prime Video use this method exclusively while YouTube uses both advertising and subscription-based models side by side.

1. Transactional Videos

Some platforms also enable people to rent or buy video content for a limited period or a lifetime. Edtech platforms like Coursera and Udemy use this model to sell their courses.

1. Sponsorship

In this case, a brand pays the OTT platform to have its product/service featured in the content or as part of the user interface. For example, a sports equipment company can sponsor an entire cricket tournament that’s being streamed live on an OTT platform.

What are the benefits of building your own OTT platform?​

Here are some key advantages of building your own OTT platform:

1. Increased Reach and Engagement

With an OTT platform, you can reach out to a global audience with just a few clicks. This increased reach also leads to higher engagement as people can watch your content anytime, anywhere according to their convenience.

1. Greater Monetization Opportunities

An OTT platform gives you more ways to monetize your content as compared to traditional distribution channels like television or cinema halls. You can use any (or all) monetization options available to you to generate revenues from your platform.

1. Improved User Experience

OTT platforms offer a personalized user experience with features like recommendations, playlists, and so forth. This encourages people to spend more time on your platform, thereby leading to higher engagement and ROI.

1. Increased Control

With an OTT platform, you have complete control over your content. You can decide when to release it, how to price it, and who all can access it.

1. Flexibility

An OTT platform gives you the flexibility to experiment with different content formats and genres. You can even live stream events as they happen without any restrictions.

How much does it cost to launch an OTT platform?​

The cost of launching an OTT platform depends on a number of factors like the type of platform (live streaming or on-demand), features required, scalability needed, etc. Generally speaking, the cost ranges anywhere between $5000-$1 million+. However, if you want a ballpark estimate for your specific requirements, get in touch with us and we’d be happy to help! With Teyuto's OTT channel builder, you can create your own OTT platform for as little as €29 per month. The best part is that unlike a typical revenue share OTT channel builder, Teyuto charges 0% commission for your memberships and donations. Your hard earned money is yours to keep!

How to create OTT platform with an OTT platform provider?​

Now that you know everything about OTT platforms, it’s time to learn how you can create one of your own. Here’s a quick overview of the process:

1. Define Your Objective

The first step is to define your objective or the reason behind launching your OTT platform. What kind of content do you want to offer? Who is your target audience? What are your monetization goals? Once you have answers to these questions, you’ll be in a better position to move forward.

1. Choose Your Tech Stack

The next step is to choose the right technology stack for your platform. This includes selecting the right video CMS, streaming protocol, content delivery network (CDN), media server, analytics tools, etc. Depending on your budget and specific requirements, with Teyuto, you can either go for the off-the-shelf solution or develop a custom OTT platform from scratch. Register for a free trial now.

1. Design Your Platform

Once you have the technical aspects sorted out, it’s time to focus on the design of your platform. This includes everything from the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) to branding and marketing collaterals like logos, website design, social media posts, etc. Make sure that your platform is able to offer a seamless user experience across all devices and platforms. Use Teyuto's drag-and-drop channel builder that empowers you to create a stunning platform with granular control of the look and feel of your platform, including how you want your video player to look.

1. Launch Your Platform

After taking care of all the nitty-gritty, it’s finally time to launch your much-awaited OTT platform! Make sure to promote it well so that people are aware of its existence and what it has to offer. You can use various digital marketing channels like social media marketing (SMM), search engine optimization (SEO), email marketing, etc., for this purpose.

1. Measure Performance with Reports and Analytics

The last step is to track and measure the performance of your platform with the help of reports and analytics tools. Teyuto gives you valuable insights into areas like user engagement, content consumption patterns, time spent, cart abandonment, and other parameters that help you make an informed decision. Based on these findings, you can further improve your platform to better suit the needs and preferences of your target audience.

Examples of OTT services​

It’s always a good idea to draw inspiration from existing platforms before coming up with your own. This way, you can know their strengths and weaknesses, and how to develop your unique OTT idea such that it breaks through the clutter. It’s also important to know which niche you want to cater to. So, here are different examples of OTT services to help you with it.

1. Live Streaming Platforms

Live streaming platforms let users watch live content in real-time. It could be anything – a concert, sports event, breaking news bulletin, church service, live streamed games, etc. Popular examples include StreamYard, Twitch, and Restream.

There are two major categories of live streaming, i.e. one-to-many live streaming and many-to-many live streaming.

1. One-to-many live streaming

As the name implies, one-to-many live streaming platforms empower users to broadcast their video feed in real time. This video feed may either involve a pre-recorded video that is streamed at a specific moment or can be recorded and streamed live. Some of the major OTT platform example for live streaming platforms are as follows:

• Twitch

Twitch is one of the most popular one-to-many live streaming platforms. It has carved a niche in video game live streaming, esports competitions, creative content, music broadcast, and real-life streaming.

• StreamYard

StreamYard is a leading in-browser streaming platform. It not only minimizes broadcasters’ requirements to get going with streaming but also ensures that they can multistream across many platforms including YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and more. The platform can further integrate incoming video streams from multiple users and combine them into a single live feed – a form of many-to-many live streaming.

1. Many-to-many live streaming

While one-to-many live streaming streams a video from a single source to multiple end-users, many-to-many live streaming involves multiple concurrent live streams. Teleconferencing is a prime example of many-to-many interactions. Many-to-many live streaming platforms aren’t generally considered an OTT platform but OTT video conferencing solutions. Some of their examples include

• Zoom

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Zoom is a leading video conferencing software application. It has extensive use cases and comes loaded with features such as whiteboards, screen sharing, comments, immersive view, screen recording, third-party app integrations, and admin controls to name a few.

• Google Meet

Google Meet is a freemium video conferencing solution developed by Google. It is popular for instant meetings and webinars, and also because it’s fairly easy to join via a video link (rather than downloaded software using Zoom). The calls can further go on for 24 hours and provide extensive functionalities including Q&A, live polls, background blur, whiteboards, screen sharing, and more.

1. Video-On-Demand (VOD) Platforms

As the name suggests, VOD platforms offer pre-recorded content that can be watched anytime, anywhere. These platforms give users the power to control what they want to watch and when they want to watch it. YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video are some of the most popular on-demand platforms out there.

This category is divided into four subcategories.

1. Subscription Video On Demand

The streaming service charges its customers a monthly or annual subscription fee to extend curated video content. This could be any video content including movies, web series, live sports, or anything else. Here are a couple of examples of SVOD platforms.

• Netflix

Netflix is the largest OTT platform with over 220 million paid subscribers. The platform not only has exclusive rights to popular movies and TV shows such as Money Heist and Fauda but it also features several critically acclaimed original masterpieces such as Beasts of No Nation, Icarus, and more.

• DAZN

Unlike linear sports TV channels, DAZN is a global OTT sports entertainment platform whose niche is in boxing and related content. The service is available across over 200 countries and also enables business enterprises (such as bars, restaurants, offices, etc.) to stream its content via its service DAZN for Business.

1. Advertising-based Video On Demand

Advertising-based video-on-demand services (aka AVOD platforms) empower people to view content with pre-roll, post-roll, and mid-roll advertisements. These platforms are like traditional TV channels with ads in between. However, unlike linear TVs, they give complete control to a user in terms of what they wish to watch. Some of the major examples of AVOD platforms are as follows.

• YouTube

YouTube doesn’t need a mention. The chances are even if you have your own OTT platform, you’d still be making an account on YouTube. It’s because of the sheer number of monthly active users that the platform has. It is known for its user-generated content that can be easily monetized and is now also dabbling into SVOD format with YouTube Premium.

1. Transactional Video On Demand

In this type of OTT platform, videos and video series can be bought or rented for a limited period or for a lifetime. The TVOD format builds on the concept of renting or buying CDs and DVDs and works well with movies, musical concerts, creative content, and even educational videos. Some of its examples include the following.

• Coursera

Using Coursera, anyone can access world-class universities and online certification courses and degrees from anywhere. The platform is known for the diversity of its self-paced training material and top-quality educational content that helps people excel in their respective fields.

• LiveOne

With a focus on music and live entertainment, LiveOne is known for live streaming of music concerts and festivals. Previously known as LiveXLive, the platform gained widespread adoption during the COVID-19 outbreak as people craved entertainment during lockdowns. On top of the music, LiveOne also extends sports and other entertainment content to its users.

1. Social Media Platforms

Social media platforms have also forayed into the world of online videos in a big way with features like Facebook Watch and Instagram Video (previously IGTV). These services let users upload long-form videos and even live stream events as they happen.

1. Hybrid Platforms

Hybrid OTT platforms are a mix of live streaming and on-demand content providers. They let users watch both recorded and live content according to their convenience. Sling TV is one such platform that offers both linear (live) channels and on-demand shows/movies side by side.

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Conclusion​

The times are changing. More people are joining the internet with every day that passes. Perhaps, it is giving you the perfect opportunity to create something big, something that has the potential to change the way people consume content. An OTT platform is your best bet to make it big.

Now that you know what are OTT platforms and how to create one, what’s stopping you from taking the plunge?

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