What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a video content creator or media publisher? Chances are you’re already thinking of ways to reach a wider audience and skyrocket your revenue.
That’s where OTT media distribution steps into the picture.
The Rise of Over-the-Top Broadcast
OTT (over-the-top) streaming platforms have been rising to the forefront for the last few years. The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated the adoption of OTT service providers, such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, etc.
It isn’t surprising that nearly 25% of U.S. households will join the league of cord-cutters by 2022. If you’re looking to maximize your reach and attract new viewers, traditional cable and satellite TV won’t make the cut.
Considering that OTT TV and video revenue is projected to touch $48 billion by 2023, it’s high time you hop on the OTT bandwagon.
Image via Statista
Over-the-top broadcast lets you choose from a wide array of content distribution and monetization options.
But if you’re new to the OTT media distribution landscape, distributing media content via OTT platforms can seem overwhelming.
In this blog, we’ll delve deeper into OTT distribution platforms to help you make the right decision. Let’s get started.
OTT Media Distribution: A Closer Look
If you’re planning to launch your own OTT channel or platform, reaching your target audience is the biggest hurdle you’ll face. And this directly impacts your monetization as all three monetization models (AVOD, SVOD, TVOD) work on the concept of having more customers.
The crux of the issue is to get your content to reach and captivate your target audience.
Here are a few effective OTT media distribution platforms for modern content creators:
OTT Subscription Aggregators
OTT subscription aggregators are third-party platforms that provide viewers with a bundle of video subscription services at an affordable rate. These video subscriptions are often available as an add-on to the aggregator’s primary OTT content.
Popular examples of subscription aggregators include:
- Prime Video Channels
- The Roku Channel
- Apple TV App
The biggest benefit of subscription aggregators is that they save your audience the trouble of signing up for different services. Additionally, you get to piggyback on the vast reach and strong reputation of an existing platform.
However, you’ll have little to no control over how your content is showcased and to whom. Additionally, most subscription aggregators won’t provide you with detailed customer insights and information.
vMVPDs
vMVPDs or Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributors are over-the-top broadcast services that offer a mix of VOD content and linear programming from broadcast networks.
YouTube TV, Sling TV, and fuboTV are among the most popular vMVPDs available on the market.
As with subscription aggregators, distributing media content through vMVPDs helps grow and diversify your reach. But the lack of control and transparency can become a challenge.
FAST
FAST stands for free ad-supported streaming TV. Think of FAST services as linear TV-like channels that combine traditional TV with VOD programming. It’s like a free version of pay-TV with a wider variety of content.
Many OTT distribution platforms, including Roku and Amazon Prime Video, have launched their own FAST services.
O&O Apps
OTT media distribution through third-party platforms is useful for generating awareness and diversifying your audience.
But if you want to establish your brand as an OTT service provider, it’s essential to build an owned-and-operated (O&O) OTT streaming app.
Instead of hiring a developer, you can use a cloud-based SaaS solution, such as MAZ (now Zype Apps Creator), to build your OTT app. MAZ lets you choose from a wide array of pre-built app templates. All you need to do is customize them and get started.
We even provide top-notch video hosting services and help you launch your OTT app on different platforms and devices. What’s more, you can easily implement different monetization models, including SVOD, AVOD, and metered paywalls using MAZ.
Final Thoughts on OTT Media Distribution
The world of OTT media distribution is becoming increasingly competitive. If you want to take your content to the right audience, you need a robust OTT app that delivers an awesome user experience. Understand the viewing preferences of your audience to choose the right OTT distribution platforms.
Are you ready to kickstart the process of launching your OTT platform? Contact us to schedule a demo today.
MAZ is now Zype Apps Creator. Read more here about Zype's acquisition of MAZ and why it will change the game for video publishers.