Best 5 Video Hosting Solutions for OTT Service Providers
Live video streaming platforms provided by the OTT industry in today’s world are experiencing a boom and becoming the most dominant form of entertainment. It has become a daily habit watching subscription based OTT video services.
Over-The-Top or OTT delivers the content via an internet connection; OTT bypasses the traditional cable, broadcast and satellite television platforms. Only the largest OTT platform providers can afford to build their own servers to distribute the host the online content. OTT platform providers who cannot afford their own server network host the content with external partners. These are capable of hosting, managing and delivering Video — On-Demand (VOD) or live streaming the content. OTT covers a wide range of web based content like Video, Audio, Messaging and VOIP. Famous examples are Facebook messenger and WhatsApp for messaging, Amazon Prime and Netflix are used as OTT Streaming platforms and audio streaming services like Apple music and Spotify.
What Is Required For OTT Service Providers from Video Hosting Solution Provider?
Let us discuss what an OTT service provider looks for in hosting videos or content.
API Access: An API (Application Programming Interface) is important as APIs facilitate the programmatic interaction with the video platform. API is a power user tool that saves development time, effort and money for the OTT Service providers. Broadcasters can easily integrate the workflows, customize and build web and mobile apps.
Bandwidth: Choosing a right platform that provides plenty of bandwidth with affordable prices is very important as the volume you stream differs and it might become expensive sometimes for OTT Businesses.
Privacy & Security: Privacy and Security of the hosting solution should be clear to avoid piracy. A secured online video platform should offer flexible tools for restricting access to content.
Monetization: Most of the OTT businesses are monetizing through subscription or a pay-per-view model. Some of them chose Ads. These benefits differ from one solution provider to another.
Cost: As it is a highly competitive market, the video streaming solutions come in different prices. Price should be a key point to look in.
Best 5 Video Hosting Solutions
Understanding the baseline of Key OTT needs, let us look at top video hosting solutions:
1. IBM Cloud Video
IBM has acquired UStream and branding it as IBM Cloud Video. It offers end to end video streaming services for OTT service providers with video hosting solution, live streaming, automated Speech to text and analytics on cloud.
Services offered:
· Live and Video-On –Demand Streaming
· API for custom priced — Media and Enterprise plans
· Flexible third party API’s
· Multi Language and Multi DRM Support
· Bandwidth as viewer hours rather than GB depending on the plan opted for.
· No in built monetization tools
Pricing:
Plans range from $ 99 per month to $999 per month along with free trial. For large businesses custom plans are available.
2. Vimeo Live
Vimeo acquired Livestream in 2017 and launched its own live streaming service. The biggest advantage of this service is it provides unlimited bandwidth on all plans.
Services Offered:
· Offers the developer API’s on Enterprise Plans
· Ads and Monetization functionality is supported only on Enterprise Plans
· Using Live Chat users can comment during the live streaming of video.
· Privacy and security tools are available. Videos can be played privately using password protection
Pricing
Premium plan is charged at $75 per month. Depending on the requirement the quotes are customized for Enterprises.
3. Phando
Phando offers end to end video management for both VOD and Live streaming addressing video streaming needs for businesses. It comes with plethora of functionalities and capabilities.
Services Offered:
· Seamless video content on all devices
· Real time analytics and Geo Blocking
· Cloud hosting and CDN
· Custom Ads to monetize videos more efficiently
· HTML5 and Mobile video player
· Video transcoding enables broadcasters to deliver quality videos without buffering
· Robust video management — Can search media, Organize content, create playlist and many more
· Offers a complete OTT solution for broadcasters and content publishers
Pricing:
Plan starts from $49 per month and offers free trials. Depending on the annual billing, discounts are offered for users.
4. JW Player Live
JW Player is one more video hosting solution for OTT businesses for VOD and Live streaming. It has partnered with Ovation TV to expand its video distribution presence across TV, Mobile and Desktop.
Services Offered
· Powerful and flexible technology to deliver video and audience.
· Integrated caption management.
· Developer API’s are provided.
· Cloud hosted content management with high security
· Monetize with Ads.
· HTML 5 video player
· Privacy and security
Pricing
Pricing starts at $10 per month to custom pricing for Enterprises as per the need. Free trial is available for Developers.
5. Muvi
This video hosting solution enables content producers and owners to operate their OTT multi-screen. Content owners can launch their own branded streaming instantly. This hosting solution is available for all events and businesses
Services offered
· Configurable monetization models
· Robust API’s and Analytics
· Third party integration with marketing and payment tools.
· 24*7 support.
· Cloud hosted content management.
· Mobile support and social sharing.
Pricing
Starts at $399 per month as a standard package and $3,900 for Enterprises. Infrastructure fee is added after plans’ storage once the bandwidth limit is reached.
Conclusion:
If you are new to the world of video hosting solutions, the streaming market might be confusing to choose the right one for your OTT business. Every hosting solution has their own USP’s and functionalities to grab the attention of businesses. Data security, reliability, features that meet your requirements and cost should be considered as important factors while deciding on a hosting solution.