Humans have an innate desire to consume content, and without a doubt, video is the most popular and engaging format of content. As a result, any business that focuses on providing video content is bound to succeed, as long as the business is properly executed.
Traditionally, video was consumed through television and was provided by cable distributors and broadcasting operators; however, for a brief period of time, IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) was also successful. However, technological advancements have created a new realm with a far superior ecosystem for content consumption. Video streaming via the internet has become the new norm.
This brings us to the topic of the OTT video streaming industry. But, before we get into the details of OTT platforms, let’s take a quick look at the main topic of this blog—online software that can help you build an OTT video streaming app:-
How do OTT video streaming services work
The section that follows will provide a streamlined definition of a few basic technical concepts involved in OTT video streaming. A basic understanding of how OTT works will assist you in selecting the best solution for your company.
The abbreviation OTT stands for “Over-The-Top.” The concept of over-the-top (OTT) replaces traditional cable infrastructure with the idea of delivering media content over the internet. OTT services are more efficient, personalised, and cost-effective. To comprehend how OTT video streaming platforms work, you must first comprehend three concepts: CMS and other backend services, OTT client, and Content Delivery.
1. Content Delivery
Content delivery encompasses all of the processes and infrastructure that allow media files to be ingested and streamed to users. Media ingestion, video encoding-transcoding-packaging, and delivery via a preferred Content Delivery Network are the three main checkpoints for Content Delivery. First, high-quality media files are ingested into the ingest server from partners, organisations, media producers, individual artists, and so on.
These files are then encoded, transcoded, and packaged to create compressed optimised quality files for efficient internet streaming. Transcoding is what generates adaptive bitrate streaming, which allows the user to stream the video in the quality that is best suited to his or her internet connection.
Finally, the user receives the content via a Content Delivery Network. Having the right CDN at your disposal is critical because it determines the speed and latency of content delivery. Every OTT platform will have a limited number of streaming servers, but a good CDN will know how to make the most of these resources.
2. Content Management
The Content Management System comes next. The CMS will function as a database for all of your content’s metadata (in terms of service, many CMS services can provide a complete solution for OTT video streaming, including content delivery, content management, and front-end development.) Other backend services include Customer Relationship Management (which tracks and maps user behaviour, history, and details), Recommendations Server (which generates content recommendations for the user), and Search Server (facilitates the content search for the user.)
3. OTT client
Finally, there is the OTT client, which is nothing more than a web interface for streaming. This is the section where we have the video player, third-party application integrations, payment processes, and other technology involved in streaming rendering.
OTT platforms to build your video streaming application
1. VPlayed
VPlayed is an over-the-top (OTT) platform for developing applications that provide online video streaming services. Contus, a leading provider of digital engineering services, created VPlayed. VPlayed is a very dependable platform, with over 300 developers working on platform maintenance and enhancement all the time. VPlayed is distinguished by its ability to provide both cloud and on-premise services. Vplayed is a company that specialises in providing OTT applications to the broadcasting, media, and sports industries.
VPlayed is not only a feature-rich platform, but it also offers extensive customization options; you can even personalise the video player to match your brand. VPlayed can assist you in developing both video and audio streaming features. Offline viewing, multiple payment gateways, video thumbnail preview, advanced content search, watch history, watchlist, smart recommendations, and other industry-standard OTT features are available through VPlayed. Finally, the platform offers a variety of monetization options, including server-side ad insertion and third-party ad integration.
Vplayed also performs admirably in terms of live streaming. It can convert live streaming videos to VOD, schedule live streaming and implement live countdown, stream to multiple destinations at the same time, webcast to mobile devices, conduct live viewer chat, polls, and Q&A, edit ongoing live video, and share clips on social platforms, and stream with minimal latency.
Geo-blocking, AES integration, multiple DRM platform integration, parental control, dynamic watermarking, and advanced SSL certification all contribute to the platform’s high level of security. VPlayed’s video player is HLS and Dash compatible. It ensures the fastest playback by supporting multiple codecs, closed captions, Mini player, 360-view, and VR.
In terms of the CMS, it is very responsive, supporting bulk upload, multiple media formats, and multiple languages. Additionally, the CMS is capable of creating and managing dynamic playlists, user management, database management, content library management, and media import/export management.
2. Buildfire
Buildfire is a no-code platform that allows you to create and deploy websites and apps without writing a single line of code. Buildfire’s features are not OTT-specific, but they are extremely useful when developing an application in general. In terms of your video streaming requirements, the platform offers a large marketplace from which you can choose plugins to help you build OTT video streaming features. If you intend to create an application that is a hybrid of an OTT and an eCommerce application, Buildfire will be far more useful than other OTT-specific platforms.
One of the most intriguing aspects of this no-code app development platform is its real-time interactive emulator, which shows how your app would appear on the user interface. Buildfire provides various development packs that are tailored to specific business domains.
The “Content Creators App” pack will be beneficial in the development of an OTT video streaming service. Content management, push notifications, scheduling content release, content search, video player, integration with YouTube and Vimeo, drip content, content monetization, and other features and components are included. The only disadvantage of this platform is its high price. Even the most basic plan costs $159 per month.
3. Uscreen
Uscreen is a no-code online platform that allows you to create your own OTT video streaming service similar to Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu. Uscreen, a market leader in its field, already has a large user base with applications in video genres such as Yoga & Lifestyle, e-learning, Health & Fitness, Arts & Crafts, Faith & Spirituality, Kids, and Entertainment. Uscreen is responsible for hosting, content delivery, content management, and front-end development.
The Uscreen OTT platform offers a highly customizable customization option that will benefit your branding. Many of Uscreen’s features are considered gold in the OTT industry. Secure PPV live streaming, global monetization, marketing and analytics tools, a dedicated video CMS with a central admin panel, a unique video player, templated themes, data security, and a large community base are among the features. Finally, Uscreen works with industry-leading OTT technology and services such as AppleTV, AndroidTV, Roku, and FireTV.
4. Zype
Zype is an OTT platform that offers an all-inclusive app development solution for OTT video streaming services. Zype includes all major OTT features such as Video Content Management, video app integrations, video encoding, user management, and Content Delivery with optimised cache hit ratios.
Zype has a highly efficient content management system as well as a robust media ingestion system. The adaptable encoder and packager provide streaming benefits such as multi-rendition, multi-output encoding, and 24-hour linear content. Zype also supports a variety of monetization channels and methods, as well as payment processes.
5. Adalo
Adalo is a less expensive alternative to Buildfire, offering free plans as well as plans as low as $50/month. This no-code app development platform may not be as feature-rich as Buildfire, but it still offers adequate core functionality. As with BuildFire, you’ll have to search the Adalo marketplace for plugins to help you build OTT video streaming features.
Adalo has a small but useful collection of templates, as well as a functional and UI kit, to assist you in developing your app. The Adalo marketplace includes a YouTube component, video player, and Stripe payment to assist you in developing your OTT service. Keep in mind that Adalo is a very minimalist framework, and thus the OTT app you create with it will be as well. Adalo’s strength is cost-efficiency, not scalability or design flexibility.
6. Muvi
Muvi, like Maz, is a no-code OTT app platform with an exclusive marketplace for templates and extensions. If scalability is important to you, this marketplace makes Muvi a better option. You can use your own domain with Muvi. The platform is compatible with the iOS App, Android App, LG TV App, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung TV, Apple TV, Roku App, social media, Zapier, WordPress, Chromecast, and many other platforms.
The platform offers core OTT services such as video CMS, effective CDN, Digital Rights Management, Template customization, User Management, AI-based content recommendation, multiple payment gateways, multiple monetization options, HTML5-based video player, powerful video encoding and transcoding, DVR-enabled live streaming, cloud hosting, Geo-Blocking, live chat, subtitling, content library, and offline viewing.
Muvi also has a few unique stand-out features that end users will appreciate. Muvi provides a loyalty programme through which your service can reward its most loyal customers. Muvi also assists you in creating a dedicated library for all of the cast and crew associated with the content. Muvi has a feature that allows you to create biometric authentication for users in your application. Finally, Muvi allows you to create a service in your application that allows users to upload and manage their own content, as well as send any video content as a gift.
7. Maz
Maz is a typical media-focused OTT platform with a lot of features that excels at building apps that provide OTT video streaming services. It works with Apple, Android, Amazon Fire, and Roku. Maz allows you to monetize your content in a variety of ways, including advertising, sponsorship, subscription, metering, and IAP. Maz gives you the option of hosting with Maz or using your own hosting solution. Maz offers a dedicated video CMS, linear live streaming 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and adaptive bitrate streaming.
Maz also offers beautiful design layouts that are device-agnostic. Maz’s development philosophy is centred on rapid web publishing. Maz’s unique approach to monetizing content sets it apart from the competition. It goes beyond the traditional AVOD, TVOD, and SVOD models by incorporating flexible metered paywalls and powerful ad integrations (like Google Ad Manager and SpotX.)