Essential Features of an OTT Streaming Service

The days of cable television are numbered. People are increasingly demanding access to their content at all times, from any location, and on any device. As OTT (over-the-top) content continues to dominate the media and entertainment sector, cord-cutting is on the rise. The issue of OTT streaming solutions will be discussed in this blog.

IP networks are increasingly being used to distribute media. Several industry professionals argue that the distinction between OTT and conventional TV should be abolished entirely. We are on the verge of a world where all television is delivered via over-the-top (OTT) services.

In 2018, global OTT subscriptions were estimated to reach 473 million, up 18% from 2017. Other numbers are as impressive. The live video streaming industry will reach $70.05 billion by 2021 and $83.4 billion the following year.

Features for in an OTT streaming solution:

Everyone understands that an OTT streaming service must have certain qualities. Affordable bandwidth charges, a robust Content Distribution Network, and monetization tool support are among them. All of these subjects have been discussed previously.

However, an OTT streaming solution requires more than that. This post will go over three important but little-known aspects that OTT video enterprises must-have. Support for live captions, ad insertion, and access to a video API are among the features.

1. Live caption:

For those who don't know, captions are written subtitles aired as part of a video broadcast to assist and hard of hearing in viewing a specific show. People who are learning a new language and those who want to consider a movie with the volume turned down frequently use captions.

In some cases, including captions in broadcasts may be a legal obligation. In addition to the law, around 5% of the world's population is deaf or hard of hearing. Closed captioning is required to reach these people, making it a wise commercial move.

Closed captioning is available on some internet video platforms. Others provide just rudimentary assistance or do not provide captions at all.

What is the best way to use live captions?

Closed captions must adhere to a set of uniform guidelines. This ensures that all types may see the material of users without glitches or proprietary difficulties. There are two widely used standards for broadcasting live video. CEA-608 (also known as Line 21) and CEA-708 are two different types of CEA (the latest standard for digital television).

As an example, consider the Webnexs internet video platform. Webnexs latest default video player supports CEA-608 or CEA-708 captioning. Please remember that broadcasters will have to build up their infrastructure to introduce closed captions into video streams.

2. Ad insertion:

The placement of adverts into your live streams is the second significant aspect we'd like to emphasize here for an OTT streaming solution. Advertising is becoming a dominant revenue model as online video becomes more popular.

Ad views for the live video had climbed 113 per cent year over year by the third quarter of 2015. In 2016, advertising revenue from digital video topped $9 billion. However, there is still a lot more room for growth. Analysts projected that mobile video ad income alone in the United States represented a $16 billion revenue opportunity in 2016.

How to place advertisements in a video stream:

Only indirectly inserted advertising is allowed on some video streaming platforms. On the other hand, OTT platforms require a faster and easier means to place ads and begin collecting revenue.

Webnexs can be used as an example once more. To insert advertising into a video, go to the video's "Publish Settings" and paste an ad URL. Pre-roll advertising from any VAST 2, VAST 3, VPAID, VMAP, or Double Click ad network or ad server is supported on our platform.

3. Video API:

Support for a video API is the third and last crucial element we'll mention here for an OTT streaming solution. "Application Programming Interface" is the abbreviation for "Application Programming Interface." An API is a shorthand language that allows you to quickly create new applications that interact with a video platform online.

This might be a crucial feature for OTT firms. It helps you to construct new online applications, mobile apps, video portals and faster and easier. Then you can instantly add your video material to these apps. Additionally, the entire procedure can be automated.

What is a video API, and how do I utilize it?

Using a video API is a simple process. Even yet, it's a procedure that non-software engineers and coders may find challenging. To submit commands and parse data from the video platform, you'll need to master a simple, human-readable syntax.

We can utilize Webnexs as an example once more. Webnexs offers a video content management API and a player API, allowing you to integrate video into your business, improve your mobile apps, or even create your video content management system. Our video APIs come with extensive documentation and code samples that are simple to use for professional broadcasters and businesses.

The exploding OTT video market:

Many of how the OTT business is exploding have already been discussed. Another statistic: global OTT subscriptions are estimated to reach 473 million in 2018, up 18% from 2017.

Whatever metric you use, the storey is the same. The number of OTT subscriptions is expanding, as are revenues, and the average watch time increases. It's an excellent opportunity to invest in OTT video. However, the correct tools are required to turn your investment into long-term success.

Conclusion:

To succeed in the OTT sector, you'll need a solid business strategy as well as the technology to back it up. This includes a reliable over-the-top (OTT) streaming solution. Is your streaming service equipped with the features required for success in this industry?

As we mentioned in the opening, we've already discussed a variety of OTT-related subjects. We've talked about how important it is to have a robust Content Distribution Network. We've also discussed analytics. We've also covered a variety of other issues. The three features we've mentioned here, on the other hand, are crucial and aren't generally discussed. An OTT streaming solution is acceptable for professional use if it has these three properties.

If you're searching for a platform that includes all of these features and more, Webnexs is an excellent place to start. We provide a 7 day free trial and a white-label video hosting and live streaming platform. You'll be able to try out all of the features before committing. We'd be delighted to assist you in getting started with live streaming right away!