OTT is been on an unprecedented rise over the last few years. Today, there are tens of OTT entertainment providers like Netflix and Prime Video and with that even the devices have increased. Today, a person starts streaming on his laptop his favourite show, shifts to a mobile device while travelling and then starts streaming that same show on a 55inch display when he gets home. This ease of entertainment has been made possible by technology and it is a great opportunity for a media company, a content crater or an aspiring streaming service to extract the most out of OTT by choosing the right OTT Platform provider.
The world of OTT streaming is ever changing and the first step towards success in the OTT streaming business is to onboard a quality OTT platform provider. Now what is an OTT platform provider?
OTT Platform provider is nothing but a software provider that takes care of all your streaming needs by giving the creators a backend to upload and manage their content and offer high quality streaming experience to the audiences. Sounding simple? It actually isin’t. An OTT platform has to be flexible enough to cater to different types of users with different devices and internet speeds. It has to include various forms of monetization so as to generate revenue and offer quality analytics for effective marketing campaigns. The list does not end here and this blog will give you several tips to select the right OTT platform provider for your OTT business.
Consider defining your streaming goals and objectives before launching into the sea of possibilities. Take into account elements like your target market, content genre, and business style. The first step in selecting the ideal OTT platform provider is to understand your particular needs.
Once you are clear of your streaming goals, make sure your OTT platform adheres to the following points.
Pricing & Scalability
Budget has to be spent wisely so before selecting any OTT platform, consider the prices offered and their scalability possibilities. You begin small but always aim for greater things and the OTT platform that you are selecting must be scalable to handle increased bandwidth. The platform must be capable of delivering high quality videwing when the numbers rise.
User Experience
The user today can be using any device to stream content as talked before. The OTT platform must be flexible to accommodate multiple streaming platform requirements such as an iOS app, Roku App, Chromecast, Android TV and much more. More the platforms, more the audience you can cater to.
Multiple Monetization Support
There are many forms of monetization that are being followed in the market. From having monthly subscriptions (SVOD) to a one time subscription (TVOD), content monetization is becoming complex than ever. Hence, it is wise to select an OTT platform provider that can deploy multiple forms of monetization on the same platform and help generate better revenues.
Data Analytics
In the world of streaming, data is king. To comprehend viewer behavior, preferences, and interaction patterns, choose a company that provides thorough analytics. You will be able to make data-driven decisions to improve your content and marketing initiatives with the help of data insights.
Piracy & Data Protection
Content is the most valuable asset for a streaming platform. While selecting an OTT platform make sure that the provider deployed all the latest data protection methodologies such as the multi-DRM approach, dynamic watermarking, geo-block, anti-screen recording and so on. Only a safe streaming platform can become a great OTT platform.
Customization & Branding
Your streaming service should embody the identity and principles of your company. To ensure that your platform stands out from the competition, look for a provider who offers a wide range of customisation choices, from UI/UX design to branding components. The platform must be based on DIY approach where the admins can change aspects of the website and application to meet the brand guidelines.
Integrations and Third-Party Services
The OTT streaming platform must be able to integrate with 3rd party platforms such as Zapier, Shopify, Zoom etc to give more functionality to the OTT platform and can be used as and when required. For example, integrating Shopify with the OTT platform can help you setup an Amazon like website where you can sell merchandise.
The list of features can go on and on and if there is one software that can give it all, we would put our bets on Muvi One. An extensively developed OTT software solution developed by Muvi, it takes care of all your streaming needs. From hosting live streaming sessions to delivering multiple playlists to its audience, Muvi One can do it all. Muvi One’s SDKs allows developers to build their OTT streaming apps all from scratch all by themselves.
Muvi One offers a great no-code OTT platform that accommodates mobile and TV applications, offers multiple monetization models, Gives its users a great CMS to play with content and offers state of the art security to its content. All of this starts at US $399/ month for humble beginnings.
Get a free 14-day trial today and decide yourself.
