OTT media streaming platforms are one of the hottest trends in entertainment today. Due to their rising demand, OTT apps present a goldmine opportunity for businesses.

Thus, with the advent of OTT platforms like Netflix, Apple TV, YouTube, Disney+, etc., comes an exponential increase in demand for media content that is both personalized and on-demand. Consumers’ preferences have changed through the continuous evolution of technology. In that scenario, OTT software and apps have gained massive popularity in the Media and Entertainment sector.

Cash in on this trend and build your own online media streaming app. OTT app development brings infinite opportunities to businesses and opens up new avenues for revenue generation. With some innovative features for app development and consumer-oriented business strategies, you can grab your market share in no time.

What is OTT App Development?

OTT app development involves creating a mobile or web-based OTT application. It involves specialized skills such as designing, coding, testing, project management, etc.

OTT or Over-the-Top applications refer to media streaming platforms that deliver content over the internet, unlike the traditional cable, satellite, and broadcast services. OTT content is playable on user internet-enabled devices like smartphones, smart TVs, and computers.

The development of OTT applications has become a lucrative option today. Promising growth in the domain of OTT is providing companies with new revenue streams.

Now, let’s see how you can benefit from investing in developing an OTT app.

Global Reach

Businesses can reach a vast audience base with OTT since this is accessible from any device connected to the internet from any place. This helps them target a diversified audience base and increase their earnings.

Excellent Growth Prospects

The over-the-top market keeps growing inseparably with the gigantic expansion of the internet and people switching from traditional media platforms. Ease of access, lower cost, and on-demand service make OTT app development more preferable to people. Hence, there is an immense growth opportunity in this market.

Low Entry Barrier

The entry barriers to the OTT market are low. It certainly helps to bypass traditional satellite and cable TV distributors; content is provided directly to customers through the Internet.

Essential Features for the Development of OTT Apps

User experience is a significant foundation upon which a successful Over-the-Top mobile or web-based app is based. According to the latest mobile app usage statistics, more than 21% of millennials use an app daily over 50 times. Therefore, you must concentrate on user-friendly features while building it. The following are the features you must include when developing an OTT web/mobile app with the help of an app development agency.

• Multilingual Content

It is of prime importance that you add video content in languages other than English to reach a greater demographic and expand your business beyond the geographical borders of your core user base.

From this one move alone, Netflix was able to attract over a million users and increase 150 million+ video streaming hours.

• Watchlist

Watchlist functionality is the following essential component of any OTT video streaming application. This is where users add things that they wish to watch later.

One way to get them to visit this part of the application would be to use a notification mechanism, reminding them to watch the series.

• Search

Any OTT streaming platform should have an explore or search button. This option should be prominent for all age groups. The search drop-down menu should include as many genre options as possible.

• User’s Profile

There’s no question that you are going to need this one feature: User Profiles. Your app will feature, amongst other things, user control over their side of the application, the content they’re interested in watching, their preferred payment option, and suggestions based on their viewing history.

Also, if you plan to take the Netflix route and add more users to the application, have multiple screens in the app, with each user being provided with his or her set of OTT platform features.

• Social Features

Ask an OTT app development company to explain the relevance of social features, and they will tell you that they form the pivot of the whole OTT experience. Social features make the application shareable and hence contribute to attaining a set target, such as daily active users.

You should also allow your users to share their view activity on social media. A social media login provision should also make onboarding easy.

Conclusion

An effective OTT application has to provide the following features: a user-friendly interface, quality streaming, multi-platform support, user profiling individually, and strong security features. Keeping in view such essential features and examining cost factors, you will be able to develop a high-end OTT app with the help of an OTT app development agency for competing in the marketplace. You will have to keep yourself updated with new trends in the future; hence, keep your app updated at all times for relevance.