Over the years, we have witnessed several changes in media consumption. The latest iteration is the over-the-top (OTT) media service via OTT platforms. In simple terms, an OTT video-streaming platform allows us to watch our favorite TV shows and movies without paying a cable operator. Here, we take a deeper look at it.
What is an OTT Video Streaming Platform?
OTT video-streaming platforms are typically compatible with all devices. For example, we can start watching our favorite shows by browsing or searching for them in the library of our smart TVs. Furthermore, we can log into the same account through our mobile devices and resume playing the content. Thus, our preferred movies and series are available to us on the internet, eliminating the need for a broadcaster.
OTT video-streaming platforms enable us to choose streaming quality and set up a favorite list within the application. Moreover, these streaming services entail options to share the content with other users. Most importantly, OTT video-streaming platforms keep us up-to-date with popular shows, ensuring that we are always aware of new releases. Here are five features we must look for while shortlisting OTT platforms:
1.DRM Technology
DRM Technlogy is a way to protect your video through encryption. It ensures all the rights of a specific media on that platform and can use the media in whatever way they deem fit.
The media transfer is made in packets when we access content on an OTT video streaming platform. Whenever we request an item from the server, it checks if you are authorized to view the file. It only provides the decryption when the authorization is successful. In other words, the entire process is encrypted.
2.Dynamic watermarking
Just like a product carries a sticker with its brand name, dynamic watermarking represents the owner of online content. It is a crucial aspect of any OTT video-streaming platform because it prevents unauthorized content distribution. Therefore, dynamic watermarking is a way of embedding media to verify content credibility.
If a hacker receives access to specific media, he might stream the content elsewhere, leading to a loss in revenue for the content owner. A digital watermark helps us identify any suspicious activity and block the culprit.
3.Online video player
Online video players must provide viewers with a sense of contentment; OTT video-streaming platforms must entail intuitive online video players to ensure viewer satisfaction. Various types of players are used in popular OTT platforms — HTML5 video players are the trending online video players today as they allow extensive customization and ensure a better content-viewing experience.
4.Video API
The overall structures of OTT video-streaming platforms are based on a video application program interface (API). Video APIs govern every aspect of the process, from managing assets to delivering them to viewers. Furthermore, they facilitate media processing and enable the incorporation of pre-programmed features into the content.
5.Video analytics
Getting your content to the right audience is key to success, and video analytics are the best way to know it. OTT video-streaming platforms analyze every bit and piece of information from the insights and analytics and mold their marketing campaign around it to take their content to the right audience.
Bottom Line
OTT video-streaming platforms have revolutionized the way of media consumption. Unlike TV broadcasts, OTT platforms allow viewers more control over what content they watch and when they would prefer to watch it. Moreover, it allows multidevice compatibility, an indispensable factor considering the plethora of gadgets available today.
