Today we are going to explain what an OTT platform is, but first, we need to start from OTT streaming services and their operation.
What is OTT Platform?
An OTT platform is computer software that broadcast stations use to manage their online video content. The majority of serious OTT platforms include features for saving, organizing, and delivering material via the internet to viewers. Professional OTT platforms range in price from $10 per month to over $1000 per month. You’ll need a well-equipped OTT platform to produce a comparable streaming service like Netflix and the others mentioned.
How to choose an OTT platform?
There are several OTT platforms on the market, so you’ll have to do some research to discover the one that best meets your OTT streaming objectives.
An OTT platform offers different features such as content delivery, video monetization, video API, etc.
It’s critical to think about content delivery when determining how far you can reach your target audience. Because it affects what audience you can deliver content to in the highest quality, it’s crucial. You’ll want to go with an OTT platform that works with a stable, worldwide content delivery network (CDN).
It’s critical to assess your options carefully before moving forward. Whether your organization’s OTT platform provides live streaming, video on demand, or expert video hosting, it should influence your final selections significantly. If you want to live stream, you’ll need an OTT video host that supports it.
The ability to access the API is also a major requirement for many customers, which is why it’s number six on our list of criteria. Video APIs give developers programmatic access to video platform features. In many cases, broadcasters use video APIs in innovative ways. You should select an OTT platform that offers you with the necessary video API to customize your video content management system (CMS) to your preferences.
Another important element of broadcasters is monetization. The three most common forms of content monetization are advertising (AVOD), pay-per-view (TVOD), and subscriptions (SVOD). Pay-per-view events such as sports are ideal for a one-time payment, while subscriptions are ideal for continuous material. Ads are an excellent way to raise brand recognition in the long term.
Finally, the cost of live streaming must be considered. Your budget should not only take into account your financial resources but also the anticipated return on investment. OTT platforms with a range of pricing options exist, but you should seek for one that offers consistent pricing and low bandwidth costs rather than a pay-as-you-go scheme.
Best OTT platforms (2022)
Before we look at the finest OTT streaming services available to professional broadcasters, it’s important to note that various features are necessary for achieving various broadcasting goals. If you’re creating a live streaming software service to make money, monetization tools are required. However, for example, if you’re using your OTT platform to host and distribute internal content, monetization tools aren’t essential.
Dacast
Dacast is a streaming platform that combines VOD and live streaming services. It features a number of sophisticated OTT capabilities that are perfect for broadcast professionals. This OTT platform is secure and simple to use to distribute video content to anybody with an internet connection.
IBM Cloud Video
IBM Cloud Video is one of the best OTT platforms on this list. This product is produced by IBM, which is a well-known player in the field of technology. Video hosting for both live and on-demand content is available through IBM Cloud Video. The absence of monetization options was one previous drawback of IBM Cloud Video, which did not provide any revenue generation possibilities. They have now added these tools, making it an acceptable option for broadcasters who want to make money with their material.
JW Player
The JW Player is a versatile OTT platform that supports HTML5 video and technologies such as the MPEG-DASH protocol, multi-bitrate streaming, simulcast to Facebook Live, digital rights management (DRM), and many more things.
Vimeo Livestream
In late 2017, after several years as a streaming service, Livestream was bought by Vimeo. Today, both companies offer streaming services under the Vimeo brand. Vimeo has incorporated an OTT solution into its platforms.
Wowza
Another capable OTT platform that’s suitable for professional broadcasting is Wowza. Using third-party integrations, APIs, and other sophisticated capabilities, Wowza enables content creators to create highly personalized streaming processes. Despite its pros, this solution has several limitations. The major disadvantage of this platform is that it does not support video revenue, making it ideal for company use but ineligible for streaming as a service.
Kaltura
Kaltura is an open-source OTT platform designed especially for educational institutions. It’s ideal for hosting huge libraries of material and offering a complete branded video player. Kaltura is unique in that it is highly modifiable owing to a wide range of integrations. Kaltura provides cloud-based hosting and streaming services as the foundation for these customizations, as well. Kaltura’s open-source basis makes it highly extensible and customizable. Companies can create their own integration and add-ons to fulfill particular demands.
Vidyard
A reliable OTT platform, Vidyard offers specialized solutions for companies. The Vidyard platform is geared towards marketing and sales since its features are built to convert viewers into customers. Tools are included on the Vidyard platform to increase viewership reach and audience engagement in order of generating qualified leads.
Wistia
Wistia is a video hosting platform that has been in operation for over a decade, and it was founded by college students to help educational institutions and enterprises. Thanks to its great features Wistia easily makes to the best OTT platforms list.
SproutVideo
SproutVideo is an OTT service that allows live streaming and on-demand video hosting. This platform is focused on corporate broadcasting since it has some of the best marketing tools available.
Brightcove
Another popular OTT hosting service is Brightcove. Its cloud video hosting suite provides all of the tools that you need to be successful in online video hosting. Brightcove’s main focus is on corporate video hosting, but its bespoke packages may also include all of the equipment that broadcasters need to set up streaming as a service platform.
What is an OTT streaming service?
The name “OTT” is an acronym that stands for “over-the-top.” It refers to a form of media distribution that competes with traditional satellite or cable television. Most media will be delivered and consumed via the internet in the future.
The quantity of material being produced by OTT technology is increasing every passing day. Some industry leaders even suggest that we should eliminate the distinction between OTT and traditional TV entirely.
The app or website that viewers look to use to access their favorite shows and movies is referred to as an OTT streaming service. These services are available on a variety of devices connected to the internet such as PCs, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, gaming consoles and more.
It’s no secret that OTT streaming is more popular than ever, thanks to the fact that it puts more power in the hands of both spectators and producers. With OTT technology, television networks are no longer able to restrict or regulate creators or consumers.
Best OTT streaming services of 2022
These are the most popular OTT streaming services of 2022:
- Netflix
- Disney+
- Hulu
- ESPN+
- Prime Video
- HBO Max
- YouTube TV
- Starz
- Sling TV
- Peacock
Conclusion
Subscription-based OTT video services are already a daily habit for 60% of Americans. Given the size of this market, its speed of growth, and how essential it is to people’s lives, now is an excellent time to get involved. Choosing an OTT video platform to host, manage, and monetize your streaming service is one of the first steps in getting started.