Did you know that nearly half of the homes in the United States have multiple subscriptions to over-the-top (OTT) streaming services?

According to a study by streaming media tracker Parks Associates found, these customers weren’t able to find all their interests in one OTT solution provider, which is why they’re subscribing to many. 

With the trends moving in favor of streaming services, it is wise for professional broadcasters to build platforms of their own with the help of OTT solution providers, like Dacast, Vimeo Live, and their competitors

Today, we’re going to explain what OTT services are, how OTT streaming works, and the different types of OTT streaming. 

Additionally, we will discuss the key features of the ten most popular OTT solution providers. We will compare these solutions based on security, organization, monetization, video APIs, technical support, and more.

Many of these streaming solutions add features and change pricing plans regularly. All of the information in this post is updated to reflect the information available as of December 2020.

Table of Contents:

• What Are OTT Providers?
• How Does OTT Streaming Work? 
• Live Streaming vs. VOD
• Key Features of OTT Solution Providers
• Top 10 OTT Solution Providers: A Comparison
• Final Thoughts

What Are OTT Providers?

OTT is short for “over-the-top,” and it refers to streaming content over the internet. It was initially named in reference to devices going “over the top” of the cable box to give users access to content. 

An OTT platform provider is an online solution that hosts live and on-demand content that is broadcasted over the internet. 

OTT streaming allows professional broadcasters to deliver their digital video content to their audiences via video players that can be embedded on different sites and applications.

An OTT solution provider should not be confused with a streaming service, like Netflix or Hulu. The OTT provider is what powers these sites.

How Does OTT Work?

OTT bypasses cable and broadcast platforms that traditionally act as a controller for video broadcasting by using the internet. 

As a professional, you have probably heard the term “OTT streaming” used in conversations that involve subscription-based video-on-demand services like Hulu, Amazon Prime, and Disney+.

OTT streaming requires a series of equipment and protocols to bring the video from your camera to your viewers’ devices.

The journey of the video looks like this: 

1. The camera captures RAW video files
2. RAW video files are sent to the attached encoder 
3. The encoder converts RAW video files into digital video files
4. Digital video files are sent to the OTT provider via RTMP 
5. OTT provider sends video to video players on viewers’ devices via HLS

This process may seem complicated, but all you really need is a camera, encoding hardware or software, and a computer with an OTT provider.

Live Streaming vs. VOD

There are two major two types of video content that use OTT technology: video on demand (VOD) and live streaming. Let’s take a quick look at these two types of content.

Live Streaming

The term live streaming is mostly used to describe a video feed that is coming from an event that is happening in real-time. Basketball games, church services, and even the local news are all popular examples of live streaming events. 

Video on Demand (VOD)

Video on demand (VOD) refers to a library of videos that is available for users to watch online through their televisions, computers, or phones at their convenience. It can be viewed at any time from anywhere with a simple internet connection.

Key Features of OTT Solution Providers

Research indicates that the video streaming market will be worth $184.2 billion by 2027. To get a foothold in that market, you need a powerful OTT solution platform with the following features:

1. Enhanced security
2. Powerful CMS for organizing content
3. Advanced monetization tools
4. Video APIs
5. Technical support
6. Pricing

With that list in mind, let’s expand on each feature in more detail.

Enhanced Security Features

The costs of cyber-crime could reach $6 trillion by the year 2021. That makes security features an absolute necessity for OTT streaming services that rely on video revenue.

Access to a secure online video platform can help mitigate these issues.

Content CMS

OTT streaming services quickly amass libraries with thousands of videos. This makes content organization essential.

Therefore, the best OTT solution providers include a powerful video CMS (content management system). These systems should allow you to tag, title, and manage huge libraries with minimal effort.

Advanced Video Monetization Tools

Global OTT revenue is expected to rise to $158.84 billion by 2024. Video monetization is driving the entire OTT solution provider industry. Having the proper tools to make money from your videos is essential. 

Well-Documented and Complete Video APIs

Most businesses are migrating to API-based workflows for online video. Simply put, having API access will help you automate and integrate critical functions on your OTT solution provider.

Reliable Technical Support

OTT businesses need a video hosting manager that is highly robust and constantly available technical support. 

When your business depends on fast, reliable online video hosting, you need to solve any problems right away. Not in two hours. Not in two days. Right away.

Pricing

We can’t accurately compare OTT solution providers without comparing live streaming pricing as well. Price is very important because you need to find a solution that offers the features you need while staying within your budget.

Top 10 OTT Solution Providers: A Comparison

Searching for the perfect OTT solution can be a bit intimidating, especially since there are so many important features involved. 

We’ve broken down ten of the top OTT providers to give you a good idea of what each solution is like, what they have to offer, and how much they cost.

1. Dacast

Dacast is a competitive offering in the crowded OTT provider marketplace. Our video platform offers a full-featured, self-service solution for both live streaming and VOD hosting.  

Last year Dacast acquired the vzaar platform, expanding its comprehensive OTT solution. Dacast and vzaar are now totally merged, making Dacast a truly unified platform.

Basic Functionality:

Dacast provides comprehensive live streaming and online video hosting services. Users can embed videos anywhere while maintaining 100% control of their own content. Among other features, Dacast offers features an integrated paywall, password protection, referrer restriction, and an analytics dashboard.

Dacast distinguishes itself by offering high-end features with an inclusive range of live streaming pricing plans. These include ad-free broadcasting, white-label service, and top tier content delivery. 24/7 phone support is also available for Event and Scale plans.

Additionally, the Dacast platform stands out from other OTT providers with its ease-of-use and accessibility. Even new broadcasters can start live streaming in just a few minutes.

Detailed Features:

• Secure, global content delivery, including industry-best video hosting
• Multi-bitrate streaming for OTT, VOD, and live video
• Cloud video transcoding with true adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR)
• Video security features, including password protection, tokenized access, encryption, referrer restrictions, and AES encryption
• 24/7 tech support including email and live chat plus phone support for event and scale plans
• SDK for player integration on iOS and Android platforms
• Unlimited viewers and live channels
• Real-time video streaming analytics
• SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD pay-per-view monetization options
• Integrated calls-to-action (CTAs) and email capture
• Live video streaming via a customizable HTML5 video player with white label options
• Player API access for 3rd party player integration
• Video API access on premium plans
• Real-time video streaming analytics
• M3U8 media links to stream to mobile and smart TV apps such as Roku, Apple TV, etc.
• VOD hosting
• Mobile device support
• Live stream recording
• China Video Hosting

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: None (but 240p is the recommended minimum)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p or 4K (depends on the user’s hardware and internet)
• Aspect ratio: No restrictions (but 16:9 is the default)
• Max file size: None
• Max video length: None
• Total file storage: 10-1000GB (depends on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4 (preferred), MOV, M4V, M2V, AVI, MPG, FLV, WMV, MKV, WEBM, OGV, MXF, ASF, VOB, MTS

Pricing:

Dacast offers broadcasters a variety of live streaming pricing plans:

• Starter Plan: $39/month (includes 100 GB of bandwidth & 50 GB of storage)
• Event Plan: $63/month (includes 6 TB of bandwidth upfront and 50 GB of storage)
• Scale Plan: $188/month (includes 24 TB of bandwidth per year and 1 TB of storage)
• Custom plan: Contact us for custom pricing plans

2. JWPlayer

First conceptualized in 2005 as part of a student project, JW Player began as a small piece of open-source code to play audio and video files. This code became the basic video player for YouTube, which used JW Player until Google acquired the platform. 

Basic Functionality:

JW Player is best known for its HTML5 JW video player for VOD content.  This player supports MPEG-DASH playback, CSS skinning, DRM, and other advanced features. The company also now offers JW Live, a full-service live streaming provider.

In terms of JW Live, the platform supports HLS adaptive live streaming, multi-bitrate transcoding, simulcast to FB Live, and real-time analytics. The service advertises itself as simple-to-use, with a four-step process for beginning a live stream. Overall, JW Live is designed for users with a large budget and/or a large business enterprise.

Detailed Features:

• Multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming
• Global content delivery, but China’s delivery is blocked by the Great Firewall
• Tech support, but only in the form email support through the $100/month plan level
• Video API access on all plans
• Security features are basic but functional (Only custom-priced Enterprise plans offer DRM)
• Monetization, but only via advertising
• Great video player
• Simple, easy-to-use platform
• Great advertising tools
• Live streaming limited to custom-priced plans, with a 6-hour duration
• No China delivery

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 360p (640 x 360)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3, 2.39:1
• Max file size: 25GB
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 25GB to 500GB (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, 3GP, FLV

Pricing:

JWPlayer pricing plans include:

• Starter – $10/month
• Enterprise – Please contact JW Player for custom pricing information.

3. Vimeo Live

In 2017, Vimeo acquired the Livestream platform. Originally founded in 2007 as “Mogulus,” Livestream represented one of the largest live streaming companies in the world. Since the acquisition, the two platforms have merged their services even though Livestream pricing plans are different. Today, the Vimeo platform powers some 10 million events per year and focuses on an integrated system of hardware, software, and cloud services.

Basic Functionality:

Vimeo offers both streaming and video hosting services. This basic functionality includes analytics, a video management platform, privacy controls, and more. To access basic live streaming functionality, users must purchase a Premium plan.

Vimeo provides tech support via email for video hosting plans. For live support, users must purchase a Premium or Vimeo OTT custom plan.

Vimeo sets itself apart by offering a range of proprietary hardware and software for live streaming. These offerings integrate smoothly with their platform, minimizing the fuss of implementing a live streaming program from the hardware on up. It also offers unlimited events and viewers, which can be a helpful feature.

Detailed Features:

• Live streaming with any bandwidth.
• Fully customized player
• Professional graphics without the need for an encoder.
• Live engagement tools
• Password protected streams

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Recommended dimension: 720p (1280 x 720)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 3GB
• Max video length: Information not available 
• Total file storage: Information not available
• Compatible video formats: MP4 (recommended)

Pricing:

OTT pricing plans include:

• Plus plan: $7/month
• Pro plan: $20/month
• Business plan: $50/month
• Premium plan: $75/month
• Enterprise plan: Custom pricing

4. Brightcove

Founded in 2004, Boston-based Brightcove is one of the oldest online video platforms in operation. Its product offerings focus on cloud encoding, live streaming, and VOD (video on demand) hosting. In 2019, Brightcove acquired streaming platform Ooyala, known for its cloud video technology. Since the acquisition, Brightcove has announced end-of-life plans for the Ooyala OVP.

Basic Functionality:

The Brightcove service differentiates itself with its complex analytics and video marketing tools. These tools are ideal for capturing leads and understanding the audience, for example.

Detailed Features:

• Multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming
• Global content delivery
• Tech support, but only at a basic level with slow ticket-based responses (unless you upgrade to a paid support plan)
• Video API access, but only on custom-priced plans
• Security features, but with high-end features only available on custom plans
• Monetization options, but only on custom-priced plans
• Powerful analytics
• Includes custom video portals
• CRM integration

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: Determined by user
• Maximum dimension: Determined by user 
• Aspect ratio: No restrictions (since Brightcove uses a responsive player)
• Max file size: No limits on files size
• Max video length: No published limits
• Total file storage: Varies by plan
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, WMV, MKV, 3GPP

Pricing:

All Brightcove pricing plans are custom-tailored and aimed at the high-end of the market. Please contact them directly for a quote.

5. Wowza

Wowza is a full-service video streaming platform. It delivers reliable, flexible, and scalable solutions for any industry. The company was founded in 2005 and started as a bootstrap startup with a goal to simplify media streaming.

Basic Functionality:

Wowza offers a number of different options including live video, low latency streaming, live-video apps and services, video on demand, and audio.

Wowza’s key features include cloud streaming services, streaming server software, live encoding appliance, and professional services.

Detailed Features:

• Any device can power high-quality live and VOD services
• Free GoCoder SDK
• Extended content protection with high-level security
• Integration of closed captioning

• High levels of security measures
• No monetization available

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 240p (320 x 240)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840 x 2160) 
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: Not available
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 250 GB (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, FLV, MP3, SMIL, AMLST, ID3, NGRP

Pricing:

Wowza pricing plans include:

• Wowza Streaming Cloud – $149/month
• Wowza Streaming Engine – $125/month

6. IBM Cloud Video

Formerly known as “Ustream,” IBM Cloud Video is a powerful OTT provider that offers both live streaming and VOD hosting. This platform is known as one of the most reliable platforms in professional broadcasting game.

IBM Cloud Video offers three tiers of OTT solutions, making it suitable for broadcasters with a decent range of needs and budgets.

Basic Functionality:

The primary purpose of IBM cloud video is live stream and VOD hosting.

Detailed Features:

• Reliable customer support
• The internal content delivery system
• Built for scalability 
• Monetization tools
• China video delivery
• Fully loaded with powerful features

Upload Guidelines and Specs:

• Minimum dimension: 480p (480 x 270)
• Maximum dimension:  4K (3840 x 2160)
• Aspect ratio: No published aspect ratio
• Max file size: 4 GB
• Max video length: No published limits
• Total file storage: 1TB – 5TB (depends on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MKV, MP4, MOV, FLV, AVI, WMV, MPEG2, H264, H263, MPEG4, VP6, VP8, THEORA, WMV, MP3, AAC-LC, NELLYMOSER, PCM, SPEEX, VORBIS, WMA

Pricing:

The pricing plans for the IBM Video Cloud include:

• Silver – $99/month
• Gold – $499/month
• Platinum – $999/month
• Custom – Please contact IBM Cloud video for custom plan pricing.

7. VPlayed

VPlayed is an OTT provider with solutions for enterprises, houses of worship, sports broadcasters, education, filmmakers, and more.

It offers both live streaming and on-demand video hosting. 

Broadcasters use VPlay to host videos designed for marketing, education, streaming services, and internal use.

Basic Functionality:

VPlayer is designed to serve broadcasters in several industries, but the main function of this platform is VOD and live stream video hosting.

Detailed Features:

• Marketing tools
• Useful video content management features
• Adaptive bitrate streaming
• Insightful analytics
• Secure paywall
• Advanced security (SLS encryption, password protection, DRM and more)
• Ad-based, pay-per-view and subscription monetization options

Pricing:

All plans are custom priced, so please contact VPlayed for pricing information. 

8. Muvi

Muvi is one of the most popular OTT solution providers and is known for its wide range of professional features. 

This platform is geared towards seasoned broadcasters in terms of features and ease of use. That being said, we do not recommend this platform for broadcasters who are new to the game.

Basic Functionality:

Muvi’s main purpose is hosting live and on-demand video content. It is best suited for experienced broadcasters.

Detailed Features:

• Transcoding tools
• HTML5 video player
• Monetization features
• Powerful content delivery
• Insightful analytics
• Advanced security options

Pricing:

Muvi has four pricing plans ranging from $399/month to $4900/month. You have the option to pay annually or twice a year.

9. Vidmind

Vidmind is a London based OTT solution that was designed to make the streaming process easy and straightforward. It is built for broadcasters of all levels of expertise.

In addition to hosting the online video content, Vidmind also hosts live television content which gives it a leg up on its competitors.

Basic Functionality:

Vidmind is built for broadcasters who don’t want to have to worry about the technical side of live streaming and video hosting.

Detailed Features:

• Ad-based, subscriptions and pay-per-view monetization tools
• Advanced paywall with multiple payment methods plus in-app purchase feature
• White-label video player for total customization
• Fully loaded video content management suite
• Designed to offer an extraordinary user experience.

Pricing:

Users must contact Vidmind directly for a custom quote on a solution that meets their needs.

10. Kaltura

Kaltura is an Israel-based OTT provider that is known for “TV-Grade” broadcasting tools. 

This OTT provider offers solutions for both VOD and live streaming. Due to its rich features and high price point, this platform is best suited for enterprises and larger organizations.

It is important to note that this platform does not include a content delivery network, which means you’ll have to invest in one at an additional cost.

Basic Functionality:

Kaltura’s main function is VOD and live stream hosting. Since it is highly customizable, this platform allows you to create the user experience that works best for your business or organization.

Although Kaltura is not only for schools, it offers solutions that work well for online learning

Detailed Features:

• Ad-based, subscription and pay-per-view monetization
• Advanced security features, including password protection, encryption and more
• Closed captioning tools
• Useful video content management tools (including bulk uploading)
• Cloud TV services
• Features for internal video broadcasting
• Special features for building educational platforms

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 180p (320 x 180)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920x 1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 2GB
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 10GB to Unlimited (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MOV, MP4

Pricing:

Kaltura’s pricing uses a credit-based pricing system. You purchase credits to spend on bandwidth and access to additional features. You can opt for an annual plan or pay-as-you-go pricing. 

The annual plans at Kaltura start at $5,400 and are billed on a month-to-month basis.

What OTT Platform Provider Best Suits your Business Needs?

Choosing a solution for your professional broadcasting needs requires quite a bit of thought and considerations. We hope that this comparison has helped you understand the OTT solution providers market. 

When it comes time to make your decision on an OTT provider, we suggest mapping out which features you need to reach your goals and comparing that list to the features provided by your top choices.

In addition to the list of features you need, there are three aspects that you should pay close attention to security, technical support, and price. You need to know that your OTT provider has got your back and fits in your budget.

If you’re interested in trying Dacast for yourself, we invite you to take advantage of our 30-day free trial. Test out all the features for yourself free of charge. No credit card required.

Sign up today to start your free trial.

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