Introduction
Today’s viewers like to watch content ‘on the go’. They no longer have the time to wait for buffering or saving the video offline before watching. This shift in audiences’ behaviors has disrupted the video industry trends and paved the way for online video streaming. Online video streaming allows audiences to watch the content in real-time from any location and any device. It offers high-quality viewing experiences that hook the viewers to your platform and turn them into paying customers, resulting in business growth. This article discusses online video streaming in-depth along with the guide to starting your own streaming platform using an online video streaming solution.
What is Online Video Streaming?
Online video streaming is simply the transmission of video and audio files in a continuous flow over the internet. It allows the media content to be consumed online without the need to download it. There is an ongoing stream of data that is played back in real-time. Movies, music videos, TV shows, podcasts, webcasts, etc., are some common examples of online video streaming.
How Online Video Streaming Works?
In online video streaming, the data files are prearranged and broken down into sequential packets of data. Each of these packets contains a small portion of the file. The online video streaming player receives the data flow and interprets the files as audio or video to play them instantaneously.
Different streaming methods use different transport protocols. TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) opens a dedicated connection to ensure the arrival of data packets in order before transmission, whereas UDP (User Datagram Protocol) transmits the data packets without any order or complete arrival. TCP is reliable and is thus, used for streaming protocols like HTTP live streaming and MPEG-DASH. UDP is faster and is effective in situations like video conferencing where synchronous interaction is required, and a few lost data packets are not a huge concern.
Industries That Use Online Video Streaming
Online video streaming solutions provide a powerful streaming infrastructure for content delivery and distribution. They allow creators or businesses to reach, engage, and connect with their target audience effectively and earn revenue from their content. Some of the industries that are benefitting from online video streaming are:
Fitness: Online video streaming services offer an interactive platform to conduct personal training, live or scheduled classes, group classes, and one-to-one consultation with the trainees. The coaches can directly upload their fitness video courses for the subscribers to watch, learn, and practice.
Religious: Religious organizations can spread their word to a large audience through online video streaming platforms. The followers can stream sermon audio, live and on demand streaming, and TV everywhere to connect with their guru or religious leader. This allows the organizations to reach the masses and create a positive impact with their teachings.
Elearning: Educational video streaming has made learning more interactive, innovative, and accessible. Services like lecture capture, flipped classroom, scheduled training has made it easy for both students and teachers to engage with each other. Students can understand the concepts better at their own pace, while teachers can monitor their individual progress through in-depth analytics on these platforms.
Film Makers: Digital video streaming platforms provide a power-packed suite to filmmakers to launch, manage, and stream their films. These platforms not only distribute their content to world-wide audiences but also help track audience behaviors, protect content against piracy, and amplify revenue opportunities. Many streaming services come with built-in marketing tools to optimize the content on search engines and social media.
Enterprises: Enterprise video platforms help businesses in many ways. Be it a team meeting or employee training, video streaming serves as the bridge that connects the various members of the organization together. It also facilitates internal communications to improve engagement and receive instant feedback on work done.
Sports: Video streaming has changed the way fans view their favorite game. Live mobile broadcasting, TV everywhere, and video on demand allow audiences to stream content as per their preferences. For sports organizations, features like real-time analytics, ad-compatibility, and video monetization help grow their reach and revenue.
Advantages of Using Online Video Streaming Platform
Online video streaming has penetrated a large segment of the audience. As per reports, the global video streaming market was valued at US$ 50.11 billion last year. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 21% from 2021 to 2028. This expansion is the result of the valuable benefits of streaming services. From saving time and cost to increasing audience engagements and revenue, here are the key advantages of online video streaming services that are contributing to the success of this industry.
- Creates Audience Engagement: As per a study, 82% of internet traffic is video. Videos are engaging and influential and help create a personal bond with the viewers. Live videos also help utilize FOMO (fear of missing out) in audiences that further increase the engagement.
- Brand Reachable: Video content humanizes a brand. It gives audiences a sneak peek at what goes behind the scenes and helps them know the brand, its values, and culture on a deeper level. Thus, building stronger brand-audience relationships.
- Cost Effective: Online video streaming services are comparatively cheaper than self-video hosting, as you do not need to invest in all the related technologies. They are already equipped with all the pre-developed software and features to help you directly stream your content without hiring a technical team to configure things.
- Saves Time: Online video streaming services are instant. Users can access the content immediately as it releases irrespective of their location and time. For creators, these services offer an easy-to-use platform where one can directly upload videos with much technical know-how. This saves time for both parties and helps make the overall process more efficient.
- Increased Revenue: Unlike traditional broadcasting services, online video streaming services have various revenue options apart from advertising. One can also use pay-per-view, subscription, catch-up TV, server-side ad insertion, and third-party ad integrations to monetize their video content.
How to get started to Build Your Own Online Video Streaming Platform?
Online video streaming platforms are on fire these days. Platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Tiktok have become the audiences’ go-to options for information and entertainment. According to Statista, 27.2% of people spend more than 10 hours per week on online video content. This significant growth in consumption has made online video streaming platforms one of the most profitable businesses today.
If you are thinking to break into the online video streaming industry, then you first need to prepare a business plan around the niche, content, and style of your platform. Once done with the content part, you need to work on the technical part of hosting and distribution. To do this in the easiest way possible, you can choose a video streaming service that is customizable to your business and lets you effortlessly upload and distribute the content. A video streaming platform with in-built marketing tools and a variety of monetization options will help you best serve your target audience and achieve all your business goals.
Features to Consider in Online Video Streaming Solution
Online video streaming solutions are a powerful tool to stream video content worldwide. But that’s not it. These services come with many other features that help you optimize your content’s reach and performance. Here are some of the key features to look for in an online video streaming platform to get the best results.
- Customization: It’s important for businesses to have full control over what goes into their platform. An online video streaming solution should be 100% customizable on all facets, from uploading to distribution to monetization to allow businesses to personalize their content and promote their brand.
- Lifetime Ownership: Though there are many free streaming solutions available in the market, they can take down your videos at any time if they think that the content does not comply with their terms and conditions. It can result in a huge loss of resources that you definitely don’t want. So look for a professional streaming solution that offers you complete ownership of your content and its use.
- On Premise/ On Cloud Hosting: On cloud solutions are hosted on third-party servers and accessed through web browsers, whereas on premise solutions require the company’s own IT infrastructure, servers, and storage onsite. Depending on the content type and business needs, an online video streaming service should provide users with both the option to host their content.
- Inbuilt Video CMS: Video CMS (content management system) allows businesses to host their video files in one central location that makes it easier to store, organize, and distribute the video content. Users can sort the files by information about file size, topic, or even the equipment used to shoot the video. It also facilitates content management by allowing multiple contributors to create, edit, and publish the content.
- Multiple Monetization Models: The end-goal of most streaming businesses is to earn revenue on their content. Online video streaming solutions offer multiple monetization options like AVOD (advertising video on demand), SVOD (subscription video on demand), TVOD (transactional video on demand), coupons and promotions, etc. that businesses can opt for as per their needs. Having multiple monetization models helps users to maximize their revenue potential.
- Video Marketing: Marketing is an integral part of any video streaming business. A streaming platform with integrated marketing features like social publishing, lead capture form, email marketing, and calls-to-action, helps users enhance conversions and grow revenue potential.
- All Device Player: Different viewers have different needs. An online video streaming service should have a versatile built with multi-screen support for devices ranging from smart TVs, laptops, tablets, mobile phones, and more. Features such as subtitles settings, mini-player, 4K, 360, and VR support helps enhance the viewers’ experiences.
- DRM & Security: With content theft and copyright infringement becoming more common, businesses need solid streaming solutions with DRM (data rights management) and strict security measures. AES encryption, password protection, geo-blocking, etc., are some of the ways to protect content from unauthorized consumption and distribution.
- Live to VOD: Live to VOD is useful in turning every live streaming into a video on demand content immediately after the live stream ends. Users can record, store, and re-stream the content at any time that helps improve the usability of the content and increase its ROI.
- In-depth Analytics: Analytics help creators evaluate the performance of their content. Live dashboard reports with custom metrics and user data such as engagement rate, viewers’ session, and complete profile analytical data, are useful in making decisions regarding the existing and upcoming videos on the platform.
Conclusion
Online video streaming is the present and future of many businesses. With advancements in technologies, the industry is observing a huge spike in its users. Online video streaming services allow businesses to broadcast their content to these users in a professional manner. They are designed to deliver customized viewers’ experiences and meet the diverse needs of consumers. Thus, presenting you as an innovative business with up-to-date solutions that stand out to the viewers.
