What You Need to Know About OTT App Development?

The future of entertainment is in the streaming industry. Over the year we have seen some of the biggest player in the market starting their own OTT platform. This has given a raise to OTT app development market. Millions of people are now joining the cord cutting movement and subscribe to any OTT platform. It is not just for the big corporation or anyone can invest in OTT platform app development. You can hire mobile app developer in India to get cost effective OTT application development solutions. We have had a look at how MAADI has developed apps and are very impressed by the reviews we have read online.

What is OTT?

OTT or Over the Top is a media serving platform that provides audio-video services to the user over the internet. These platforms provide movies, tv series, documentaries, music and more.

Popular OTT Platform

Netflix

Netflix is one of the biggest OTT platforms in the world. It has more than 223 million paid subscriber all over the world. They produce movies and TV shows regularly.

Amazon Prime

Amazon prime has over 200 million subscriber all over the world. They also produce movies and tv series in English and other region language.

Disney Plus

The popular Disney channel has its own OTT platform named Disney plus. They have over 60 million paid subscribers.

Hulu

Hulu is a popular streaming platform that is partly owned by Disney. They have 43 million paid subscribers.

Why Build an OTT App for Your Business?

By 2024, OTT market will bring more than USD 200 billion in revenue. This is the perfect time and opportunity to start your own OTT app. Also, millions of people around the world uses different type of OTT apps every day. They spend considerable amount of time on it and that is the best place for you to be. If you own a business and want a brand visibility, if you just want to have better revenue stream, OTT apps are best option for you.

Must have features for OTT App Development

• Easy Sign Up

Make it as easy as possible for user to sign up on your OTT app. Be sure to clear this in your app development process. When users find it easy to access, they will subscribe to your OTT.

• Tailor Made Recommendation

Most OTT platform offer these services to their user. Based on the user’s viewing history and region, they are offered an AI generated recommendation of movies and TV shows.

• Watchlist

This feature will allow user to bookmark a movie or TV series to watch later. This way we can send a push notification every time user engagement is low and ask them to watch their favorite movie or show.

• Push Notification

Push notification or pop-up messages provide new information to the user. They get notification when users subscription is ending, new content is available and more.

• Search Box

We cannot fit everything on the front screen of the OTT app. Users always try to find new content or look for the old one. Search option provides them with suitable options.

• Compatibility with Different Devices 

All other OTT platform offer these services to their user. They can watch the content on the phone, tablet, laptop/PC or smart TV.

• Multiple Subscription Option

In order to get more subscribers, companies use this strategy to make their pricing cheaper. Users can choose from single device, multiple device, HD or Ultra HD options. To get more subscription, companies also offer one-month free or one episode(pilot) free options.

• Easy Payment

Making it easier for the user to pay for the subscription is also a useful feature. You can offer them multiple payment gateway option.

Step by step Guide for OTT Platform App Development

• Niche Selection and Market Research

First step of app development process is to find the perfect niche for your OTT platform. This is an important stage as it will decide the whole theme and content strategy for your OTT app. Do market research on your competitors. There are few questions you need to answer in order to find the perfect niche for your OTT platform.

1. Who is your audience?
2. Does your app solve any problem or fill a gap in OTT market?
3. What kind of response and result are your expecting from your app?
4. What is your business strategy and goal for this?
5. Who are your competitors and how are they leveraging the market?

• Select Features, Technology and Type

Now select the type of your OTT platform. There are only four types available in the market, TV, Mobile, Web and Desktop app. You can select any of them based on your market research and target audience. 

After that, choose the type of technology you want for app development. Here is the list for the type of technology you need for it.

1. Frontend programming
2. Backend programing 
3. Cloud integration
4. Database
5. Streaming technology

For detail analysis and information, you can ask your Mobile Application development company for more details.

For features, you can select all the features we have mentioned in this article.

• Find OTT App development Team for MVP

Once you have all the necessary information to begin with, hire dedicated software development team that is specialized in OTT platform. After that, start with creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). This product has minimum features but it contains essential functionality that could cater towards your targeted audience. This will allow you to create a prototype for soft launch. 

• Monetization Options

One of the key factors of any OTT platform is their subscription model. 

1. AVOD

Ad based video on demand model allows you to provide the content for free but ads. You can earn revenue from ads watched by your viewers. For example, YouTube follow this model.

2. TVOD

Transactional Video on Demand follows pay per view model. Users can pay to watch certain videos and don’t have to pay for the whole package. Most sports channels and boxing channels follows this model.

3. SVOD

Subscription Video on Demand allow users to pay the subscription fees for certain amount of time. After that, they can watch any type of content from the catalogue.  

Conclusion

We have seen the rising demand of content on demand over the years. People can’t get enough of OTT apps. This is the perfect opportunity for anyone to start an OTT platform. One of the best things about it is that anyone can start it, with an idea, market research and with the help of a mobile application development company. 

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