What To Look When Choosing A Video On Demand Platform For Your Video Content

Video on Demand has, in every respect, changed the audience experience in recent years. This is evident from the Wall Street Journal’s report that Netflix immensely grew from 34 million in 40 countries to 130 million paid memberships spreading across 190 countries. This is the reason why Apple now plans to go along with original content and Disney planned and focuses on direct to consumer services.

In the global market VOD market is anticipated to develop from $82.77 billion in 2022 to $257.59 billion by 2029. So, here we are presenting a small guide for choosing a VOD platform for streaming your video content. 

VOD Platform: Definition and Uses

Video-on-demand streaming is a technology used to deliver video content, mostly in the form of movies and series directly to customers for instant viewing. It is a media distribution system where the viewer can see videos without having to use a playback device. They do not even need to follow that typical fixed broadcast timetable. 

Unlike the earlier, over-the-air programming and media distribution, now the Internet and IPTV technologies are much more popular. VOD services offer an expansive program library and have shifted the mode of media consumption on PCs, mobiles and tablets apart from televisions. The viewers get to watch the content they like at their leisure.

VOD Benefits: What Does VOD Streaming Provide?  

Next, we will look at why VOD services are valuable and why is it dominating the media streaming business? 

Comfortably reaches a maximum chunk of audience

OD platforms can cater to the audiences from various countries and regions conveniently.  Immense reachability helps to build a strong brand awareness for businesses with clearly expressed videos. 

 Well-structured and easy to access content library

They have a broad range of content which is not just easy to access for the audience, but is valuable for the brand too. There is targeted content, unlimited events & recordings that can be classified under different sections and audience base for business aims. There is no confusion due to a well-arranged video gallery for all categories. 

Multiple device support

VOD is compatible with all types of devices, unlike the traditional cable which is presentable only on the TV screen. Irrespective of the location and time of the viewer, they are able to watch and enjoy the videos. The VOD services are accessible on Smart TVs, tablets, mobile phones, laptops, and PCs etc.

Quality of Content

Users have the option to binge-watch the content at any time with best broadband speeds. There are no disturbances and buffering problems to counter. Like in live streaming, where visuals can be unclear, VOD platforms let you record and edit A/V live sessions for streaming later.

More reach with less expense 

VOD platforms prove to be budget-friendly for the advertisers and virtual event organizers.

They can tap new and vast audiences easily at a lower cost. People come online for a definite time and it may be difficult for those paying for the events to pay for different slots. With VODs on the platform cost gets smaller as the audience can watch the sessions as and when they get time.

Multi Screen Broadcast 

Viewers get a seamless watching experience without interruptions on multiple screens at the same time.

Evaluate with reporting and metrics 

VODs give you proper reports and analytics to target the right audience. There is always more to learn about the group of spectators, their captivations and ways to reach them in the form of reminders, emails and ads. 

Better audience experience 

Audience looks for convenience and ease, which only VOD platforms can provide. Many feature sets in these platforms help to augment the watching experience of the audience.

How VOD Streaming Platforms Help a Business Generate Substantial Revenue? 

There are various models available for VOD platforms, so let’s talk about the most popularly adopted VOD Models that help in revenue generation for businesses. 

SVOD Monetisation

In SVOD or Subscription Video-on-Demand, users are charged on regular intervals (monthly or annually) for permission to access the content library. SVOD models survive with the subscription fee and have the largest user base of all the available models. Data suggests that 65.5% of the US population is on the SVOD model. Consistent subscriptions can maximize revenue from your customers. Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max are a few examples of SVOD models.

Since there is a sharp rise in high-quality productions driven by VOD platforms, a large number of the population has moved to SVOD. 

AVOD Monetisation

In AVOD or Advertising-Based Video on Demand monetisation, revenue is generated through ad display in the videos in the form of display banners, videos etc. Viewers do not pay anything to watch the content in this model. E.g. DailyMotion and YouTube earn from their ad revenues. There has been a great growth in AVOD based audiences in recent times. This can be understood from the market projection which is expected to increase from USD 1.1 billion in 2021 to USD 2.4 billion in 2026. This is an important monetisation technique, also called the Freemium model.

TVOD Monetisation 

Transactional Video on Demand or TVOD requires users to pay upfront for a particular content and the experience is ad-free. This is also called the pay-per-view method. E.g. iTunes and a bit of Prime Video content like sports events. 

Many movies are released with the TVOD payment option. Indian consumers are quite willing to pay for the content they want to watch, so this model can be used when you have a specific type of videos to cater. India is a big market with a multiplier effect in favor of AVOD model of monetisation.

Key Considerations for settling down upon the best VOD Platform  

So, here is what you need to bear in mind when you are in the process of settling down a VOD platform for your business. 

Safety and Security Provisions 

Piracy is a big threat to content creators, causing them huge damages in terms of reputation and money. Look for a content delivery platform that saves you from these kinds of losses and illegal downloading. Make sure that the provider is using a high-end DRM against hackers and unauthorized users, restricting the illegal copies. DRM does the job of safeguarding rights of your content and protects your revenue.

Great Income Opportunities

Look at what kind of monetisation options are available to you for offering your content on the platform. A good VOD service platform is one that is designed to favor the requirements of filmmakers, distributors, production houses and other content creators. Creators must be able to publish their content without any costs and be able to earn more in consonance with their business goals. It will be good if your provider has diverse revenue models and lets you set competitive pricing. 

In-Depth Data and Reports  

Creators can perform & evaluate their content with in-depth insights of the data, to make better decisions. A good VOD provider can give you more details on the video to understand the demographics, learn about your audience and keep track of the revenue. Lifetime value of your subscriber, engagement rate, average watch time, geo-graphical performance, earnings on each video are a few such reports that lets you get a deep dive into your video and its performance. 

Robust CMS

Your CMS should give you ample options to create, edit and organize content, curate the content library, manage videos and perform admin responsibilities. Also see that the videos can be published without much hassle. Make sure to have an exclusive & branded studio that has a user-friendly dashboard. 

Seamless Streaming Experience

The VOD provider should be able to offer a superior and super-fast streaming solution. The viewers must get an enhanced streaming experience on every type of device, whether it is a mobile, TV, laptop, tablet and should be playable on all popular browsers and smart devices. You should be able to scale up in the future as your business grows. Look for features like, adaptive bitrate streaming, high-quality streams, and private screening abilities, making watch lists and tracking watch histories. 

Conclusion 

To summarize, it is imperative to find a streaming platform provider who can cater to the different needs of a content creator. From securing the content, providing high quality streams to offering chances for maximum monetisation, you must choose a white-label VOD platform with which you can enjoy a lifetime partnership. Above all the VOD streaming platform should align to your business requirements.

This is a perfect time for creators to garner profits, so make use of this stellar opportunity and level up the playing field with a right video delivery partner. 

Many companies are capitalizing on this trend by developing their own own video-on-demand (VOD) systems.