OTT TV, short for over-the-top television, is a way to watch television over the Internet and on a streaming device, instead of through a traditional cable provider or satellite connection. This means you don’t need a subscription to a traditional TV package to access certain channels or programs. Instead, you can subscribe to a so-called OTT service such as Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, Disney+ or Amazon Prime Video, which gives you access to a range of movies, series and other video content, as video on-demand, live and linear.
How does OTT TV work?
OTT TV works through an Internet connection. This means you need a stable Internet connection to watch television through an OTT app. Once you are connected to the Internet, you can subscribe to an OTT service and access the video content offered on it through that service, mostly as video on-demand content. This content can be viewed on a variety of devices, such as a connected TV, a streaming stick, a game console or a cell phone.
What OTT services are available?
There are numerous OTT services available, each with their own unique offerings of video content. Some of the major OTT video platforms offered worldwide include:
- Netflix: one of the oldest and most well-known OTT services, with a large selection of video on-demand movies, series and original content.
- Hulu: an OTT service with a focus on television programming, including many popular shows from major U.S. broadcasters.
- Amazon Prime Video: part of Amazon Prime, with a large selection of movies, series and exclusive content.
- Disney+: Disney’s OTT service, with a large selection of Disney content, including the Star Wars and Marvel franchises.
- YouTube TV: a live TV service from YouTube, giving you access to a range of live TV channels.
There are also plenty of lesser-known, new platforms available, especially from smaller video content publishers. One of the main reasons for this is that the ongoing development of technology today makes it very easy to start your own video platform or OTT streaming service and tap into new audiences on it. A big advantage: a lot of good content can be viewed on this, something for every viewer.
Advantages of OTT TV
OTT TV offers numerous advantages over traditional television subscriptions, especially if you own an OTT device such as a smartphone or connected TV. Here are some of the key benefits:
- Flexibility: OTT services allow you to watch whenever you want, rather than at a set time. This means you don’t have to miss an episode because you’re not home at that time, and you can also easily watch back to programs you previously missed.
- Wide range of content: OTT services often offer a much wider range of video content than traditional television subscriptions. You can expect different types of content on all available OTT streaming services. This means a lot of content is available worldwide, you have a choice of movies, series and other video content, and you can easily discover new things.
- Lower costs: OTT services are often much cheaper than traditional television subscriptions. They usually offer subscription video services, which are flexible by nature. This means you get more value for your money, and you don’t have to pay for unnecessary channels you don’t watch anyway.
- Ease of use: OTT services are widely available and easy to use, and you can watch them on a range of devices, from mobile phones and other mobile devices to connected devices, such as a connected TV. This means you can watch television whenever and wherever you want, without relying on a traditional television subscription.
How OTT TV is affecting the future of television
The growth of OTT TV is having a major impact on the television industry. The number of households using OTT is growing dramatically. A growing number of people are choosing to use OTT services instead of traditional television subscriptions. This means that traditional television providers are facing more and more competition from OTT services.
In addition, the growth of OTT TV has also led to a change in the way video content is created and distributed. Many OTT services are now producing their own original content, such as Netflix with popular series like Stranger Things and The Crown. This means there is less reliance on traditional television channels to produce video content.
OTT TV has also changed the way video content is distributed. Instead of content only being available at specific times, like live TV, you can now watch content of your choice whenever you want. This gives viewers more control over the content they watch.
Your own OTT TV at Tradecast
For content creators and content owners worldwide, Tradecast makes it very easy to launch your own OTT TV video platform. With Tradecast you receive your own Content Management System, from which you can upload, manage, broadcast, analyze your video content and launch new revenue models with. Starting your own OTT TV video platform is easy with Tradecast and perfect for targeting your customer base with quality pieces of content on a wide range of internet-connected devices.
Conclusion
OTT TV is a popular way to watch television over the Internet, rather than through a traditional cable or satellite connection. It offers flexibility, wide choice, lower cost and greater convenience over traditional television. There are numerous OTT services available, each with their own unique offerings and content duration.
The growth of OTT TV is having a major impact on the television industry. Traditional television providers are facing increasing competition from OTT services and there is a change in the way video content is created and distributed. OTT TV gives viewers more control over the videos they want to watch.
With the increasing popularity of OTT TV, it is clear that the future of television viewing will be greatly influenced by this technology. It gives viewers the freedom to choose where, when and how they want to watch television, and also offers a greater choice of content than ever before.
