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Emily

Tech Blogger — Happy to Share Ideas

Everything You Know About The OTT Video Streaming Platform

4 min readApr 13, 2021

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The acronym OTT stands for Over-the-top. This means streaming across different devices whenever we want is possible because of “over-the-top,” a convenient little term that explains the new delivery method of film and TV content over the internet without the need for traditional broadcast, cable, or satellites pay-TV services.

It’s important that OTT not be confused with video — because they are 2 different levels of content.

Video

Is content can be streamed across an array of devices like smart TVs, mobile devices, computers, and OTT devices as well.

OTT

Is content that is made available by an OTT provider, like Sling, Bing Network, and so on. No matter the provider, this content can also be streamed on the vast array of today’s devices. Which ones? We’re so glad you asked!

How OTT Video Content is Delivered?

The accessibility of OTT content is one of the many reasons it’s so popular. To stream OTT, customers only require an internet connection and a compatible hardware device.

  • Mobile OTT Devices: Smartphones and tablets are able to download OTT apps to stream on the go.
  • Personal Computers: Consumers can access OTT content from desktop-based apps or web browsers.
  • Smart TVs: The most common examples include Apple TV’s, SmartTV’s, PlayStation, Chromecast, Xbox, FireStick and MORE. While you can typically stream OTT content on mobile and desktop devices, they aren’t considered true OTT devices.

Why is OTT Platform Better Than Cable??

1. Stream Anywhere

OTT means streaming anytime, anywhere there’s a wireless, wired or wifi ( i.e., Internet) signal. That means on the subway if you’re lucky enough to have it.

2. Ads Free Content

OTT opened up the possibility for ad-free content (or really targeted campaigns), ad hoc subscription services, and more monetization strategies.

3. Stream anywhere

With the freedom of going “on the air” whenever viewers aren’t regimented to what’s broadcasting at the moment. They can literally customize their viewing experience to whatever they want to watch from the titles available.

4. Consumer Freedom

Consumers are getting to be in the driver’s seat. More than ever, content is going straight toward what the consumers want to watch — and the turnaround time is getting faster and faster.

What’s the Outlook for the OTT Streaming Industry?

If there’s one thing that American culture is synonymous with, it’s the culture of cool. In post-war America, it was bubblegum, Coca-Cola, denim jeans, and TV dinners in front of the Andy Griffith show. Families would pull out the dinner trays and prep at the microwave before sitting down and spending quality time in front of The Tube. We’re going to go ahead and call it: Watching the latest must-see TV show is the real American pastime. It was the weekly ritual, and it was a cultural cornerstone by every means of the word.

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But cool isn’t always about pastimes — cool is also about what’s next. And the world no longer consumes TV as a family, once a week, primarily on the television. Now we’re all streaming our content across our favorite handheld devices as much as we’re watching it on our computers and televisions. And the best part is that we’ve got the added bonus of watching our content whenever we want. It’s cool, and it’s shaping (if not leading) our need-it-now mindset and culture from the inside out.

That’s not to say everything is going smoothly — obviously, the cable companies are getting the short end of the stick when it comes to the new opportunities,

as are the big broad networks like ABC, CBS, and the like. However, instead of becoming extinct, the demand for content is merely pushing these companies to consider different ways to market and deliver.

Cable providers are still in the mix since many are providing internet services, and the main channel networks aren’t giving up their broadcast streams, they’re just ALSO going after the OTT audience with digital streaming through apps, platforms, and more.

Why does that work? Because SO many people need content and it’s not changing anytime soon.

According to Cisco, online video will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic — 15 times higher than it was in 2017 — by 2022.

Those are big numbers and it’s a big transition, with many more implications than just cutting ties with the cable service that holds HBO goodies in its clutches.

Now the industry is filled with a lot of OTT video platform providers with individual functionalities and features. Business owners should prefer the best one in the industry to build a world-class streaming platform like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.

Published at: https://www.endavomedia.com/what-is-ott/

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Written by Emily

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Tech Blogger — Happy to Share Ideas