OTT Application Development Services

Demystifying the Role of Content Discovery in OTT Platform Development In the ever-expanding landscape of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms, content discovery plays a pivotal role in shaping user experiences and driving engagement. With a vast array of content available at users' fingertips, effective content discovery mechanisms are essential for guiding viewers to relevant, high-quality content amidst the sea of options.OTT platformsemploy various techniques, including recommendation algorithms, personalized playlists, and curated content sections, to help users navigate their extensive libraries and discover content tailored to their preferences. This not only enhances user satisfaction but also fosters loyalty and retention, ultimately contributing to the platform's success. In this blog, we'll delve into the significance of content discovery inOTT platform development and the various strategies that can be utilized to provide an engaging streaming experience to the user.Why Content Discovery Matters in OTT Platform DevelopmentContent discovery is essential for OTT platforms and media streaming services to help users navigate vast content libraries, discover new content, enhance user engagement and satisfaction, build loyalty, gain a competitive edge, and capitalize on monetization opportunities. Effective content discovery mechanisms are crucial for delivering a personalized, enjoyable, and fulfilling entertainment experience to users.1. Vast Content Libraries:OTT platforms offer extensive libraries of movies, TV shows, documentaries, and other content. With such a vast array of options available, content discovery helps users navigate through this abundance of content to find titles that match their interests and preferences.2. Diverse User Preferences:Users have diverse tastes, preferences, and interests when it comes to entertainment. Content discovery tools such as personalized recommendations, genre filters, and search functionality enable users to find content that aligns with their individual preferences, ensuring a personalized and satisfying viewing experience.3. New Content Discovery: Content discovery is not only about finding familiar favorites but also about discovering new and exciting content. Effective content discovery mechanisms introduce users to new movies, TV shows, and other content they may not have been aware of, facilitating exploration and expanding their entertainment horizons.4. Enhanced User Engagement:By helping users find relevant and engaging content, content discovery tools enhance user engagement with the platform. Users are more likely to spend time exploring and consuming content when they can easily discover titles that resonate with them, leading to increased platform usage and retention.5. Improved User Satisfaction: Effective content discovery leads to higher levels of user satisfaction. When users can quickly and easily find content that matches their interests, they are more likely to have a positive experience with the platform and are more likely to return for future viewing sessions.6. Increased Platform Loyalty: Platforms that excel at content discovery build stronger relationships with their users and foster loyalty. Users are more likely to remain loyal to platforms that consistently deliver relevant and enjoyable content suggestions, leading to long-term engagement and retention.7. Competitive Advantage: In today's competitive streaming landscape, effective content discovery serves as a competitive differentiator. Platforms that offer superior content discovery experiences stand out from the competition and attract and retain users in a crowded market.8. Monetization Opportunities: Content discovery also presents monetization opportunities for platforms. By showcasing new releases, premium content, and recommended titles, platforms can drive user engagement and promote content purchases, rentals, or subscriptions, generating revenue for the platform.Strategies in Content Discovery To Ensure An Engaging Experience For UsersContent discovery in OTT (Over-the-Top) platforms plays a crucial role in helping users find relevant and engaging content amidst the vast array of available options. By incorporating these content discovery features into your OTT platform, you can enhance the user experience, increase engagement, and help users discover content that resonates with their interests and preferences. Here are some key aspects of content discovery in OTT platforms:1. Personalized Recommendations: Implement algorithms that analyze user viewing history, preferences, and behavior to deliver personalized recommendations. By suggesting content tailored to each user's interests, you can increase engagement and satisfaction.2. Genre and Category Filters: Allow users to filter content by genre, category, or theme to narrow down their options and find content that matches their interests. Provide intuitive navigation options to make it easy for users to explore different genres and categories.3. Trending and Popular Content: Showcase trending and popular content on the platform's home screen to highlight what's popular among other users. This can help users discover new and trending content that they might not have otherwise come across.4. Continue Watching:Display a "Continue Watching" section that allows users to easily pick up where they left off in a series or movie. This feature enhances the user experience by enabling seamless playback across multiple viewing sessions.5. Featured Content and Promotions: Prominently feature new releases, exclusive content, and promotions on the platform's home screen to attract user attention and drive engagement. Use banners, carousels, and personalized notifications to highlight featured content.6. Search Functionality: Implement robust search functionality that allows users to search for content by title, actor, director, or keyword. Provide predictive search suggestions and filters to help users quickly find what they're looking for.7. Content Curation and Editorial Recommendations: Curate collections of content based on themes, events, holidays, or special occasions. Offer editorial recommendations and staff picks to guide users to high-quality content curated by experts.8. User Reviews and Ratings:Incorporate user reviews and ratings to provide social proof and help users make informed decisions about what to watch. Allow users to rate and review content they've watched to contribute to the platform's community and help others discover hidden gems.9. Watchlists and Recommendations Queue: Enable users to create watchlists or add content to a recommendations queue for future viewing. This feature allows users to save content they're interested in and receive personalized recommendations based on their watchlist.10. Cross-Platform Syncing: Implement cross-platform syncing to ensure a consistent content discovery experience across different devices. Allow users to seamlessly switch between devices without losing their preferences, watch history, or recommendations.Future Trends & Innovations in Content Discovery for OTTFuture trends and innovations in content discovery in OTT (Over-the-Top) platform development are likely to be driven by advancements in technology, changing user behaviors, and evolving industry dynamics. Here are some potential future trends and innovations in content discovery forOTT platforms:1. AI-Powered Personalization:Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning algorithms will play an increasingly significant role in content discovery. These algorithms will analyze vast amounts of user data, including viewing history, preferences, behavior, and context, to deliver highly personalized content recommendations. AI-powered personalization will become more granular and adaptive, providing users with tailored suggestions based on their current mood, location, and even physiological state.2. Context-Aware Recommendations: Content discovery algorithms will become more context-aware, taking into account factors such as time of day, location, device type, and viewing environment. For example, OTT platforms may recommend different types of content for morning versus evening viewing, or suggest shorter-form content for mobile viewing and longer-form content for home viewing on a larger screen.3. Multimodal Interaction: OTT platforms will adopt multimodal interaction techniques, allowing users to discover content through a combination of voice, gestures, and touch. Voice-controlled assistants and smart speakers will enable users to search for and navigate content using natural language commands, while gesture recognition and touch interfaces will provide intuitive ways to interact with the platform's user interface.4. Augmented Reality (AR) Integration:As AR technology continues to mature, OTT platforms may incorporate AR elements into the content discovery experience. Users may use AR-enabled devices to overlay digital content and information onto their physical environment, such as viewing virtual movie posters or trailers when browsing for content in a physical space.5. Social Discovery Features: OTT platforms will integrate more social discovery features, allowing users to discover content based on recommendations from friends, family, and online communities. Social sharing, user-generated content reviews, and collaborative playlists will facilitate social engagement and content discovery among users.6. Dynamic Content Curation:OTT platformswill adopt dynamic content curation strategies, continuously updating and personalizing content collections based on real-time trends, user feedback, and contextual factors. Curated playlists, thematic collections, and algorithmically generated recommendations will offer users a curated content discovery experience tailored to their interests and preferences.7. Cross-Platform Integration: OTT platforms will enhance cross-platform integration, allowing users to seamlessly transition between different devices and platforms while maintaining a consistent content discovery experience. Users will be able to start watching content on one device and seamlessly continue on another device without interruption.8. Interactive Content Discovery Experiences: OTT platforms will experiment with interactive content discovery experiences, allowing users to actively engage with content through quizzes, polls, interactive trailers, and immersive previews. These interactive experiences will provide users with a more engaging and immersive way to discover and explore content.9. Accessibility and Inclusivity: OTT platforms will prioritize accessibility and inclusivity in content discovery, ensuring that users with diverse needs and preferences can easily navigate and discover content. This may include features such as audio descriptions, closed captions, sign language interpretation, and customizable user interfaces.10. Blockchain-Powered Recommendations:Some OTT platforms may explore blockchain technology to enhance content discovery and recommendation systems. Blockchain-based recommendation algorithms could provide transparency, security, and privacy in data-driven recommendation systems, allowing users to have more control over their data and preferences.Final ThoughtsAs streaming services continue to proliferate and competition intensifies, the ability to effectively surface content that resonates with users becomes increasingly vital. By leveraging sophisticated algorithms and user data, OTT platforms can deliver personalized recommendations that keep viewers engaged and coming back for more. Moreover, as technology advances and AI-driven recommendation systems evolve, the future of content discovery holds even greater promise, offering users an ever-improving experience tailored to their tastes and preferences. Ultimately, content discovery not only drives user satisfaction and platform success but also shapes the way we consume and interact with digital media in the modern age. If your business is looking for an OTT solution of its own or tech solutions in general, we'd love to be your partner in the journey.You can contact us here, and our experts will get back to you in 24 hours.

Area Of Work: OTT

Arpita Pal

29 Mar 2024

Educational OTT Platforms : Imparting Learning Beyond Classrooms Education and learning are no longer limited to traditional classrooms, instead, it has come to people themselves. With advancements in electronic and digital infrastructure, people can directly access informational and educational content through devices such as smartphones, tablets, TV etc without having to resort to traveling longer distances for receiving education. The true pioneer in making education digitally accessible beyond theoretical information has been the introduction ofOTT streaming platforms. It allows its users to access vital information through vast content libraries and study from them in conditions preferable to them, such as net connectivity, device compatibility, speed, payment options etc.This has encouraged an expansive adoption of educational OTT platforms even by top-tier institutions, as big institutions are readily investing large sums to develop their own platform for streaming exclusive academic content. The popularity of platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, Skillshare etc has solidified such learning platforms' significance as during the pandemic, their demand grew manifolds and people used them to compensate for the sudden unavailability of physical sources of learning. Many similar platforms have witnessed an increase in their users by up to 200%. This article explores what features make educational OTT platforms effective in their role as educational providers and how they benefit the masses in decreasing the literacy gap.Must-Have Features for OTT Streaming App for Education1) Offline Mode: When learners are subscribed to a specific course or a program on an OTT platform, to finish the entire course they need to complete multiple sets of videos and interactive tests/quizzes/assignments which is not possible to go through in one single stretch. Moreover, issues like internet connectivity, time availability, memory retention issues etc can stop the learner's progress in completing the course. Offline mode availability can greatly resolve these issues by allowing the learner to download the video once and letting them access the video freely as per their convenience. Such an option is great for those students who have work commitments and can spend only a limited time on their program on a per-day basis. It also is easier for teachers as they can provide guidance and information as and when required by the students, instead of having to stay available at all times which is not feasible in a realistic sense.2) API Accessibility: Application Program Interface or APIs are used in the platform for controlling and monitoring content, analyzing user data and supporting embedded players. API accessibility can vastly improve the technical performance of the platform, provide more customizations and features and improve compatibility with other devices. This makes APIs integral to the performance of the educational OTT platforms as it will allow companies and developers to integrate more features that help in delivering educational information in a more engaging and technically feasible way. As OTT platforms are big on convenience, with the help of API accessibility users are able to access their subscribed program or course from their choice of device. API provides the video with functionalities that can adjust itself to the specifications of the device for an engaging user experience.3) Live Streaming:For imparting an optimum level of education, direct interaction plays a crucial role in developing a deeper understanding between the teacher and the student. Providing information and getting feedback in return instantly facilitates better learning and improves the trustworthiness of teaching authorities. Livestreaming in OTT platforms can increase credibility for educational providers as they can directly communicate and teach their students over video interaction. In return, students can provide their direct feedback and ask any queries that may arise during the teaching process without affecting the convenience of either. The Edtech industry hugely relies on this feature to deliver education to their students as both can instantly communicate, resolve doubts and collaborate, which is beneficial particularly in cases of difficult subjects.4) Monetization Through Subscription Models (AVOD, TVOD, SVOD): The success of the ed-tech industry has cemented the position of educational videos as a credible source of learning for students. Monetizing educational videos can ensure long-term revenues for educational providers and allow learners the freedom of choice in selecting the intensity of course, budget and requirements. Students can opt from payment models for OTT platform options such as:A.SVOD (subscription video on demand): This subscription-based model allows unlimited access to content for a payment made on a monthly basis to the student. This is a great model for those types of learners who have limited time to consume educational content and wish to do it at their own pace. It allows the learners the flexibility to opt out of the subscription when they have met their requirements or at their convenience.B. TVOD (transactional video on demand): In the transactional video on demand type of model, learners consume educational content on a pay-per-view basis. Generally, OTT has two types of TVOD models, which include electronic-sell-through (EST) where payment is done once for permanent access and download-to-rent (DTR) where a comparatively lesser amount is paid to gain access to a video for a limited time. After paying for a specific course, students would have access to the full content or for a limited time which they can choose to go through according to their convenience.C. AVOD (advertising-based video on demand): In this payment model, learners don't have to pay for the content, instead they have to watch unskippable advertisements to compensate for the free content. This feature makes the platform highly beneficial for those who are constrained by budgetary issues. One of the most commonly found examples of educational AVOD model is YouTube.5) Content & Platform Security & Privacy: For students to access educational content, they would require authorization through a user-login system which would verify their authenticity and if they have paid for the services availed by them. Security features like password protection, encryption protocols, secure and private hosting etc should be enforced to provide both educational content providers and learners with a secure user experience and protect them against online threats within the platform. Also, measures like data rights management (DRM) help OTT platforms avoid getting their content duplicated.How OTT Can Expand The Dimension Of Learning1) Encourages Engagement & Interaction:Learning is a process that is incomplete without engagement and interaction between the teacher and learner. Educational OTT platforms enable interactivity among learners and education providers with features that allow students to participate in quizzes, assignments, raise questions in online discussion boards and ask queries during live classes by clicking on the “raise hands” feature. The teacher is notified by the platform when a student clicks on this feature which helps them to instantly clarify their queries. The platform also facilitates collecting feedback from students that can significantly help to assess the effectiveness of education being imparted by a specific teacher or an educational video. This feedback would assist educational content providers in decision-making regarding improving and selecting material and teachers for their videos.2) Better ROI: Content creation for educational videos requires a notable amount of financing and resources from idea initiation to its final upload. By utilizing the digital aspect of the educational OTT platform, it can be used to reach wider audiences that help to earn revenue for extended periods of time. As compared to traditional forms of teaching, where only a few number of students are able to realize the benefit of classroom teaching, virtual classrooms maximize the benefits of education delivered by subject experts. A large number of students are able to join live sessions from distant areas who are willing to spend a considerable amount of fees for quality education, thus improving the ROI for such OTT platforms.3) Convenience For On-Demand Learning:A major share of learners that use educational OTT platforms belong to the category that are looking to upskill their abilities and may already be engaged in work commitments. Such platforms allow them to study at their own pace within the comfort of their own choice of place. This feature's convenience attracts a diverse group of people as they get to enjoy the freedom of choosing how they want to learn, what degree of education they want to study, from whom they to study and where they want to learn from educational OTT platforms.4) Content Repurposing: Education in the form of digital content allows the ability to alter and use it for repurposing to create content for varied topics. As academic content can be in the form of informational videos, live-streamed content, discussions, etc., OTT providers can use existing videos to create relevant content for fresh topics. This aids content developers to save resources, time and finances and have new material ready without external efforts.5) Affordability:One of the great barriers to accessing quality education is its expensive nature. People dealing with budget constraints or belonging to the lower income group often face a complete stop in completing their education as expensive fees become a prominent issue. One of the prime advantages of educational OTT platforms is that with the help of varying payment models available, students can choose a payment model that suits their financial position. When compared to purchasing entire modules of books for studying, payment models for educational OTT platforms prove to be more economically feasible.6) Remote Learning & Accessibility: The pandemic in 2020 made the entire society formulate new solutions to counter the sudden stoppage of education delivery in schools and colleges. This is where the ed-tech industry stepped in to fill in the gaps. It made everyone realize the importance of remote learning as it made it accessible to students who were not in a position to travel far to schools and colleges. Educational OTT platforms provide learners with vast and diverse content libraries in a centralized platform where they can choose from many options at their convenience.Also Read: How Recommendation Engines Expand Viewer Horizons on OTTFinal ThoughtsAs educational OTT platforms pave their way to increase their role in providing academic services, the introduction of new-age technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning etc will enhance its capabilities to provide immersive learning and in-depth knowledge to its learners. An effective platform is crucial to support vast content libraries, support interactive features and provide powerful processing capabilities to constantly filter out inappropriate data and safeguard it against online threats. Oodles Technologies can support you in developing your own OTT platform solution for your dynamic and unique business requirements. We offer innovation-driven tech-based solutions that can help you elevate your business performance and achieve operational excellence.Contact us today.

Area Of Work: OTT

Arpita Pal

23 Nov 2023

A Guide to App Development in Video Conferencing and Live Streaming Before the pandemic, real-time communication tools assisted professional communication as a complementary aid to interact with numerous internal and external counterparts. However during the pandemic, the possibility of physically meeting each other, even with team members became an arduous task. To maintain a similar level of productivity and communication, organizations came to heavily rely on real-time communications from conducting companies' basic routine tasks to conducting crucial meetings with external stakeholders. This opened up a plethora of opportunities in unified communication and collaborations (UCC).UCC represents a collection of technologies that have asynchronous and real-time communication capabilities. They play an integral role in speeding up the response time, higher accessibility and facilitating seamless teamwork within the organization. In real-time communication, data is shared between the sender and receiver instantly without having to store it in the process. Some examples of real-time communication are voice and video calling, live streaming, video conferencing, etc. In this article, we are exploring the potential of live streaming and video conferencing and what technologies assist them in achieving real-time capabilities for their users.Live Streaming ApplicationsLive streaming apps allow users to stream and broadcast videos in real-time while they are being recorded at the same time. Most popular live streaming services include Facebook Live, Twitch, Periscope and more. Live streaming removes the need for downloading and storage space where users can watch the video instantly and in an uninterrupted manner. The video loads bit by bit through internet data as the video is being played to the user.Tech Stacks Utilized in Live Streaming1) Streaming Protocols:They are a set of guidelines that describe how data is communicated over the internet. The HTTPS Live Streaming (HLS)(used for delivering media from CDNs to user-facing players), Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)(used for transporting videos from encoder to video platforms), WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication)(used for peer-to-peer communication in real-time), MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP)(allows users to stream video quality according to their net speed)are some of the live streaming protocols that guide data transmission for live video streaming.2) Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): To provide high-quality streaming for users that live far away from the source servers, series of servers are positioned geographically that allows them to achieve this purpose. Their close positioning enables them to send a faster response.3) Video Players: These are the softwares that users interact with to play the live-streaming video. Adobe Flash player used to be the most popular software for this purpose. However, as it became obsolete with time, HTML5 video player stepped up to the role due to its high compatibility with multiple platforms.4) Codecs: They digitize and compress raw video footage for simplified transmission and send it from one streaming point to another. They are utilized by ‘encoders', which can be either software encoders or hardware encoders.Ensure these Essential Factors During Live Streaming App DevelopmentThrough Live streaming, viewers don't have to wait for the video to be uploaded to a platform and downloaded for watching the video. Live streaming app development assists in structuring the platform in a way that provides instant access and interactivity with a video that is being broadcast in real-time. To create a platform that provides easy accessibility and fast loading for video streaming, developers should keep the following factors in mind:Determine your Audience and their Requirements:Deciding your niche for whom you will be building your live stream app is necessary as they will be the deciding factor in what kind of infrastructure, features and technologies will be required to build the app. With the help of proper feedback, early changes should be made to make the app viable for its desired audience before the release.Execute Monetization Strategies: The revenue structure for the app will help you choose which payment model to opt for providing live stream services to its users. There are mainly 3 types i.e., free, freemium (free app but some features would require payment) and paid model of payment.Choose Appropriate Tech Stack:Once the desired audience has been selected, the technological infrastructure required will be dependent on the scale of demand. Technologies determining capacities of security, storage, CDNs, features and more will have to be chosen with careful consideration that will be able to support any unprecedented requirement that may arise during live streaming.Design an Interactive UI/UX: How a user interacts with the app is directly connected to how easy it is to use and navigate the interface for watching a live stream video. The interface should be appealing to look at while providing easy accessibility so that it keeps their them invested and does not put them off due to complicated navigation.Build and Execute Testing on MVP: Minimum Viable Product or MVP is a lightweight version of the actual product that consists of crucial features. It is beneficial for receiving feedback regarding its usage or any improvement that should be made. With repeated testing, the application can become free of any bugs present and can be polished into a valuable product.Release, Maintain and Enhance: Once the live streaming app development process is finished, it can be released on various platforms such as Google Playstore, Apple's App Store, etc. Also, with the help of analytical insights, the performance of the livestream app can be monitored and through video streaming optimization, necessary changes can be made to improve its features.Video Conferencing ApplicationsInvideo conferencing, two or more users can interact with each other virtually in real-time in a manner that resembles a face-to-face meeting using internet and video services. It is beneficial in removing the hassle of travel and helps to save money, effort and time in case two or multiple parties want to have a meeting from distant locations. As an essential tool in removing the barrier of remoteness, chat, screen and file sharing are a few of the many features it provides along with video interaction. Popular video conferencing platforms are Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, etc.Also Read: How Recommendation Engines Expand Viewer Horizons on OTTResources for Video Conferencing Application Development1. Finding the Right Team:Finding the right people is the key to a streamlined video conferencing app development. The teams should consist of members from software development, design, QA managers, etc. so that each aspect of the video conferencing app has coherence and works together efficiently as a whole.2. Choose the Right Tech Stack:The video conferencing app should be supported by a potent tech stack capable of offering it the capabilities and features that can handle its overall functionality and operation. It utilizes technologies such as Kotlin, Javascript, React Native, Angular and more.3. Developing and Integrating APIs:Video API integration is essential for video conferencing applications for it to be able to provide third-party services. They help in distributing the load to other services so that you don't have to maintain or host the service yourself. They can be used for features such as chatting, storage, file and screen sharing, etc. Some of the popular video conferencing APIs are Eyeson, CometChat, Vidyo, Vonage and many more.4. Opting for the Right Infrastructure:To provide a seamless experience to its users, video conferencing apps should be able to handle heavy traffic, smooth loading in low internet connectivity etc., which is why the correct infrastructure is necessary to support such apps. The right infrastructure would include a collection of technologies namely content delivery networks (CDNs), databases, servers and more. These technologies would ensure a faster response rate and a smooth experience for their users.5. Continuous Improvement through Testing:Beta-testing is highly important for developers to understand the actual experience of users through direct feedback before its actual release. It would help in smoothening any rough patches and improve any areas that require enhancements. Through continuous testing, the application can provide a great experience to its users by providing an error-free and efficient performance of the video conferencing app.6. Support and Maintenance:After deployment, the app needs to be maintained by providing updates, addition of new features, removal of any bugs, security add-ons, etc. to make sure that the app stays relevant for the user and stay ahead of the competion.Essential Features to Have in Video Conferencing ApplicationsRegistration and Signup Facilities:To construct a committed user base, it is necessary to have the option where users can create an account, access the history of their past virtual meetings and set preferences. Many popular video conferencing apps also have the option where users can join through web browsers without having to create an account which offers an addition in accessibility.High-Resolution Audio and Video Quality:Quality streaming of voice and video calls is integral to a seamless experience for users. Also, both options of only voice calls and video and voice calls should exist so that users can use those features as per their convenience.Chat and Messaging: Features like chatting and messaging serve as a useful tool along with calling as it allows users to mention things during a meeting call without interrupting the user who is speaking.File and Screen Sharing: For better interaction and accessibility, users are able to share their own screens with their fellow meeting members which is especially useful in presentations to external stakeholders. File sharing allows sharing files such as images, videos, etc. that serve as a visual aid to ongoing presentations.Push Notifications:They are an important feature as they remove the hassle of checking the software repeatedly to know about any updates regarding incoming or missed calls or messages.Scheduling and Recording: These features allow schedule calls in advance with multiple or individual stakeholders to avoid any possibility of missing them. The recording feature ensures the recording of the entire call for future reference and keeping account of crucial information derived in meetings.ConclusionReal-time communication tools like live-streaming and video conferencing have huge potential use cases as the options for both software development and mobile application development are available to develop them for their respective platforms. With organizations adopting a hybrid work culture and with a change in how people consume their media, there are ample opportunities to witness the growth of these real-time communication tools. Assistance from robust infrastructure, technologies and design greatly help in making mobile application development in live streaming and video conferencing easy to navigate and accessible for their users, resulting in their huge popularity. Mobile application development offers a level of personalization, user response and accessibility to both users and developers. If you're looking for solutions in mobile application development or video solutions to build your own company's app, we would love to help.Drop us a query, and we'll get back to you in 24 hours.

Area Of Work: OTT

Arpita Pal

08 Sep 2023

Thinking of Launching an OTT Platform ? Key Insights to Consider As an entrepreneur looking to bring your content directly to your audience, launching your ownOTT platform is a strategic move that can significantly elevate your business. Not only does it offer enhanced customer engagement, but it also provides complete ownership over your content, allowing you to unlock new revenue tailored to your unique needs, which can be hard to come by in the case of traditional platforms.With your own OTT platform, you get the opportunity to deliver content globally, exactly how you envision it, using personalized content delivery options to enhance the viewer experience.However, building an OTT platform solution is a different ball game altogether. The platform would require a robust technical architecture that supports diverse features while remaining scalable to meet the growing demands of your business as it evolves. To create such a solution, it's crucial to understand the technological framework and the development process involved.Moreover, partnering with anOTT development company can be instrumental in helping you navigate the complex developmental challenges faced during this process. In this article, we will cover all these essentials for OTT platform development to provide you with key insights needed to build a scalable-high performing platform that aligns with your business goals.Some crucial points to consider before starting your OTT platform project:1. How does the platform align with my business objectives?2. What is my long-term vision for the OTT platform?3. What kind of content will I offer to my viewers? Original, license existing content, or both?4. How will I differentiate my platform from my competitors?5. What key features will be provided on the platform?6. What is my budget for developing and launching the platform?These are some of the important considerations that you will have to keep in mind before initiating your OTT project, to help maximize the value of your efforts and build a high-performing solution for your brand. Deciding on these metrics will allow you to effectively prepare for the challenges that may arise before, during, or after the development process.Understanding the Key Steps in Developing Your Own OTT Platform:1. Deciding on a niche and strategy for your platformIn case you're unsure about where you should start, conducting detailed market research can be the right step to understand your current position, what to expect and which direction to take in developing your platform. It will provide you with valuable insights into your targeted audience, and competitors. These factors will help determine your niche and shape your platform's strategy.Choosing a niche is directly tied to the audience that you want to serve. By thoroughly understanding your audience you will be able to decide which features your platform should offer, how it should look, its accessibility, and more. For example, if you're developing an OTT solution for fitness enthusiasts, incorporating features such as workout trackers, in-app purchases, and filters according to durations, intensity etc can effectively help users reach their fitness goals.Overall, the platform wouldn't just be a one-time effort but a system that needs to continuously evolve with technological advancements, audience growth and changing business requirements. The more in-depth and specialized your strategy is, the greater the value your users will find in your platform, leading to higher chances of success.2.Opting for the Right Content Strategy & Licensing:Content strategy for your OTT platform involves everything ranging from planning, curating, and delivering content that your audience will find worth watching and can resonate with. To get content on your platform, you can ask for it directly from production houses, content distributors or partner with other companies to create or produce your own material.In case you decide to create and showcase your own content, then you won't be required to get into licensing and completing legal formalities. But if you have chosen to get it from external parties, then it is essential to have the necessary legal rights for showing it without any complications. You may either get exclusive or non exclusive licenses depending on how long you want it on your platform, region and revenue sharing. Moreover, it is important to keep digital rights management (DRM) in consideration for a seamless process.Also Read: Video Streaming Protocols : All You Need To Know3. Choosing the right business model for your OTT solution:Setting up your monetization strategy will greatly depend on the kind of content you wish to serve to your audience and the market you want the platform to operate. Primarily, there are three main types of payment models you can choose from- Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD), Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD) and Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD) .However, if you don't feel comfortable with the ‘one-size-fits-all' approach, you can also opt for a hybrid model by combining more than one of these models:1) Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD): In this type of model, users are offered different pricing-based subscription options where they can opt for the type they feel comfortable paying for. Generally, the most commonly provided subscriptions range from basic, standard, and premium, with fewer to more features depending on the price for a particular duration.Similarly, the pricing may also dictate the accessibility to the content. For example, the basic option may provide only domestic content but the premium option may offer both local and global content and in multiple language options. Eg. Netflix, Disney Hotstar+, Amazon Prime, etc.2) Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD): With this model, users can enjoy the experience of watching a TV with revenue being generated from the advertisements displayed before, during and after the content is played. Popular platforms like YouTube and Tubi follow this model and provide their users free access to content in exchange for watching ads.3) Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD) or Pay-Per-View: For the TVOD model, users have the option to pay for specific content where they can either rent or buy it depending on their preference. It's a preferred model by companies like Google Play, Amazon Prime etc, for offering exclusive content like new movie releases, live events, special programming, or content that is not available on subscription services.4. Select the features for your platform:(O) User Profiling:As you aim to serve multiple users on your platform, user profiling can help provide a more personalized experience by catering to their demographics, preferences and past viewing habits.(O) Payment Integration:For users to access your OTT service and its features, payment integration is a non-negotiable aspect that must be implemented within the platform. The feature will allow users to make payment through multiple methods including credit/debit cards, digital wallets and currencies as per their preference.(O) Offline Viewing:To allow users to watch content without an internet connection, offline viewing can be added as a feature within the platform, enabling them to enjoy their preferred content whenever they want.(O) Push Notifications:With the help of push notifications, users can be notified of new releases, subscription renewals and platform updates that can significantly elevate user retention and engagement for your OTT solution.(O) Live Streaming Support:The live streaming feature can attract large audiences to the platform by offering exclusive real-time broadcasts of events, sports and webinars, where users can even interact through comments and reactions.(O) Accurate Search Bar:A precise and accurate search bar is integral for content discovery within the platform, where users can search their desired content by typing in keywords, titles and categories. A robust search bar can serve as an effective tool in minimizing user frustration and improving satisfaction for your service.(O) Social Media Sharing :By adding a social media sharing feature, you can organically promote your platform and increase its visibilty when users share your content on social media among family, friends and others.5. Opt for a robust technical framework that can evolve with your requirementsThe technological framework is the backbone of your OTT platform. It involves selecting the right tools, infrastructure, and technology stack to support your platform's features efficiently.a) Scalability:Your platform should be built on a scalable framework that can handle increasing numbers of users and higher content demands. By choosing cloud infrastructure or expandable servers, you ensure your platform performs smoothly without slowdowns or crashes, even as your user base grows and usage peaks.b) Content Delivery Network (CDN):A CDN is a network of distributed servers that deliver content to users based on their geographic location. It reduces loading times and ensures high-quality video streaming, providing a fast and seamless viewing experience for users across the globe.c) Security and DRM (Digital Rights Management): Security measures like encryption and DRM protect your platform and its content from unauthorized access and piracy. These tools ensure only authorized users can access and view content, safeguarding your platform from theft and ensuring that your investment remains protected.d) Multi-Device Support: Your platform's framework should allow access across various devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, web browsers, and gaming consoles. Multi-device compatibility improves user engagement by enabling users to watch content on their preferred devices whenever and wherever they choose.e) Video Encoding and Compression:This process involves converting and compressing video files into formats optimized for efficient streaming without compromising quality. Proper encoding and compression minimize buffering issues, ensure smooth streaming even with slower internet speeds, and reduce data consumption, particularly important for mobile users.f) API Integration:APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) enable your platform to interact seamlessly with third-party services such as payment gateways, user analytics tools, or external content providers. This integration adds rich functionality and enhances the overall user experience by allowing smooth interoperability with other services.g) User Analytics: Analytical tools track user behavior, including viewing habits and subscription trends. These insights provide valuable data to help you understand which content is performing well, where users drop off, and how to improve platform features. Data-driven decisions are key to optimizing your platform for success.By integrating these features and ensuring your platform's technological framework is strong, you'll create an OTT solution that not only meets user expectations but also scales to support future growth.6. Opt for User-Friendly Interface that Aligns with your Brand:To ensure that the audience is able to differentiate and appeal to the platform amongst its competitors, it's crucial to opt for a user-friendly interface that aligns with your brand. This means creating a platform that's intuitive and easy to navigate, allowing users to find and enjoy content seamlessly.At the same time, the design should reflect your brand's identity through consistent use of colors, fonts, logos, and overall style. By combining usability with brand alignment, you enhance the user experience while reinforcing brand recognition and loyalty.By incorporating all these steps in your OTT platform development process, you can build a scalable and robust solution that will grow alongside your business.However, creating a secure and reliable technical infrastructure is a time and resource-intensive task that requires extensive experience and careful planning to achieve the exact platform you envision. Partnering with a reliable technical expert can alleviate the burden of developing such a solution, allowing you to focus your time and efforts where they are most needed.How Oodles Can Help You Deliver a High-Performing, ROI-Driven OTT Platform:At Oodles, we provide comprehensive OTT platform development services, ensuring your business delivers a seamless, high-quality streaming experience. When you choose to work with us, you'll benefit from:End-to-End OTT Solutions:We offer full-cycle OTT development, from platform design and content management systems to monetization strategies and user experience optimization, ensuring that your streaming service is built for success.Custom-Built Platforms: We design and develop OTT platforms tailored to your specific needs, enabling you to deliver unique content experiences that align with your brand and audience.Multi-Device and Cross-Platform Compatibility:Whether it's smart TVs, mobile devices, or web platforms, we ensure your OTT service works flawlessly across all devices, delivering a consistent and engaging experience for users.High-Quality Streaming and Performance: Our team focuses on creating robust architectures that ensure high-quality video streaming with minimal buffering, optimized performance, and scalability to handle growing audiences.Whether you're a startup or an established enterprise, Oodles can help you achieve your goals and stay ahead in the competitive market. Partner with ustoday to start your digital transformation journey and turn your visionary idea into an industry-leading success.

Area Of Work: Video Streaming , OTT Industry: E-learning , News more Technology: Transcoding , Encoding , more

Arpita Pal

18 Oct 2024

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