Want to learn more about OTT platforms and their apps ? You’ve come to the right place; this is the post for you! Let’s explore the meaning of the term OTT, the services these platforms offer , and some of the most relevant examples internationally.
Today, the way we connect to the internet, the way we use devices, and the services we utilize are changing ever more. Now, we want everything just a click away, anytime, anywhere, and we want it to be immediate and personalized. What we commonly call ” on-demand” consumption .
But let’s talk about OTT and what it stands for: Over The Top (OTT). These are apps that offer content without necessarily having to use a cable connection , simply using a compatible device connected to the internet. Audio streaming, messaging services, and online video platforms are some examples of what we’re referring to.
What do OTTs offer us?
These services, identified as “free to air,” don’t require any provider, which has allowed for lower initial costs by requiring less infrastructure. What advantages do these platforms offer? They allow us to watch a large amount of streaming audiovisual content associated with a subscription, usually monthly, although annual subscriptions are also available. This allows users to watch whatever they want, whenever they want, avoiding the need to have a separate set-top box for each OTT service.
Types of OTT platforms
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AVOD
Advertising Video On Demand : a pay-as-you-go OTT business model, with YouTube and Vimeo being two clear examples. Their monetization method? Through advertising. This is a good strategy, as many users later opt to register to remove the constant ads they receive.
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SVOD
Subscription Video on Demand :In this case, it can be monthly, quarterly, or annual, offering access to all the content you want, as long as it’s available. Currently, these have a reduced price , with the drawback that not all content is available .
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TVOD
Transactional Video On Demand : These are free-to-access OTT services. In this case, payment would be made for enjoying content such as series or movies. The most popular in this case are Netflix and Spotify. These platforms are presented as alternatives to SVOD , although many of them offer both services. Amazon Prime is a clear example.
Examples of OTT in video or television
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Netflix
Netflix is one of the most successful OTT platforms in the world . It started offering streaming video in 2007. In addition to broadcasting series and films, this giant has an original production, present throughout much of the world, with which it continues to triumph day after day, although in recent months it has presented somewhat worrying figures. It has 158 million customers worldwide thanks, in part, to its universal compatibility and high-quality playback .
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Amazon Prime Video
A service launched in 2017, owned by Amazon and, therefore, Jeff Bezos. This platform is available in over 200 different countries , offering a wide variety of series with its own content. It is also compatible with devices such as iPads, iPhones, and Android phones and tablets .
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Apple TV+
Launched in 2019, it offers content through its own app for a €4.99 subscription. It is available in over 100 different countries, offering content similar to competing OTT platforms, with the only caveat being that it has a smaller catalog, as it is awaiting the release of its own content.
Leaving aside OTT television, we come to music content. At this point, we’ll talk about YouTube. Although it may surprise some, it’s still another OTT platform, probably the most widely used worldwide . The €11.99 monthly subscription allows us to access music (and video) content without ads , offline, and can be viewed in the background on phones or tablets.
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Spotify
Yes, we’re possibly looking at the most popular streaming platform , where we find two types of customers: free users, with advertising in their spaces, and subscription users . The latter number around 100 million worldwide , according to 2019 studies.
With these brief overviews, we hope you’ve learned a little more about what an OTT platform is. If you have any questions and would like to learn more about these widely used services, we invite you to discover our , where you can expand and deepen your knowledge. We look forward to seeing you!