OTT streaming services or over-the-top streaming services refer to video content streamed over the internet rather than the cable or satellites. These services are accessed via apps or websites and work on all sorts of devices like computers to tablets.
Currently, the biggest OTT sites are Netflix, Prime Video, Disney, Hulu, and HBO Max. The OTT market was worth $121.61 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach more than $1 trillion by 2027.
The OTT Streaming Industry at a Glance
The OTT industry has been evolving very rapidly over the last 10 years and is set to further change. Internet speeds have been rising for years and now that 5G is poised to roll out in the 3rd decade of the 2000s, video streaming will become even more popular. The low cost and high penetration of mobile internet make OTT apps a preferred means of entertainment.
The advances in AR, VR, and 4K will likely spread into the OTT streaming services segment. Since 5G will make streaming a lot faster, the technical requirements of these technologies will be more accessible.
The 5 Best OTT Streaming Services of 2021
It is obvious from the above information that the OTT giants may get bigger. It is worth seeing how these players are performing to understand the scope available to new entrants.
1. Netflix
It is one of the biggest on-demand video streaming platforms with the largest catalogue of titles. It’s also famous for its original programming and the concept of binge-watching which it encourages. Netflix made nearly $25 billion in 2020 with 203.66 million subscribers according to the released data.
2. Disney+
Disney+ has grown exponentially over the last 2 years. It has over 103 million subscribers. The roster includes programs, movies, and TV shows from their studios, Marvel, National Geographic, etc. They are also tying up with local TV channels in all their geographies.
3. Hulu
This streaming app is owned by Walt Disney and Comcast. For a long time, it struggled to grow until its original show, The Handmaid’s Tale became a huge hit. Currently, it has over 39 million subscribers. It also has some plans for advertised video on demand.
4. Prime Video
Amazon’s Prime has set itself apart from the other OTT apps in this list, by bundling in services like Prime Reading, quick deliveries, etc. Subscribers flock to it due to the number of services it offers in one place. There are over 200 million subscribers.
5. HBO Max
The Time Warner-owned OTT site has over 40 million subscribers in the US. It’s renowned for its high-quality programming with many Emmy awards. It earned over $5.8 billion of subscription revenue.
How to Choose an OTT Platform to Start OTT Streaming Services?
There are many industries beyond entertainment that can benefit from launching an OTT streaming website like fitness, finance, etc. It can be a hassle however to build one from scratch. OTT platform providers solve this problem, but picking the right one requires consideration of the following factors:
Cost- The white-label OTT service should be economical as it will require some funds for maintenance. It doesn’t work out to be a good deal if the cost doesn’t match the features that it provides. After all, you wouldn’t want to have to spend large amounts of money getting more apps to put in additional features.
Features- OTT streaming is becoming a highly competitive space and the best OTT platforms must offer the necessities. These include- security encryption, content delivery network, design customization, monetization options, etc.
Benefits- Technical support, customer issue resolution, regular updates, discounts, etc. are some benefits that are needed.
Comparing the Best 3 OTT Platform
So which among the many OTT solutions in the market should you pick? We have analyzed the top 3 to give you an idea of what you can get from them.
- CONTUS VPlayed
One of the white-label OTT platform development apps with the most customization options, VPlayed is scalable, intuitive to use, and comes with excellent customer support. Some of its best features are:
- Built-in analytics and marketing tools
- Secure DRM platform with watermarks, SSL encryption
- Player safeguards
- Monetization and customizable design options
- Centralized CMS
- IBM Watson Media
IBM Watson Media is an OTT solution suitable for live streams and entertainment platforms. It is a scalable SaaS that can be used to reach large audiences. Some of the features include:
- Multi-CDN infrastructure
- Live transcoding
- Analytics and user tracking
- Auto archiving
- Wowza
A popular white-label OTT streaming platform, Wowza can deliver videos live for various events and is also scalable for recorded viewing. Its features include:
- Rapid and secure encoding
- Low latency streaming protocols
- A streaming engine that works with Amazon Web Services
Choose one that offers the greatest control in your hands so that you can tailor your app to satisfy your subscriber base. A scalable and well-supported solution can save the hassle of coordinating large teams and help you use your resources towards creating great content.
Author Bio:Interested in digging deep into video/audio streaming media tools and Love to blog, discuss and share views on the latest technologies tips, and tricks. He’s also passionate about photography loves to capture the pure essence of life