OTT Playout is a scheduling software to produce 24/7 Linear television channels from VOD and Video Archives.
OTT (over-the-top) platforms are streaming services that deliver video content directly to viewers via the internet and earn direct revenues rather than through traditional cable or satellite providers. They bypass the need for a cable subscription and instead rely on internet connectivity to deliver streaming video content to various devices. These include smartphones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.
OTT Playout and FAST Channel Monetization: A Guide for Content Owners and Broadcasters
OTT platforms offer content owners and broadcasters an excellent opportunity to reach a large and growing audience of cord-cutters who prefer streaming over cable or satellite TV. According to a report by eMarketer, the number of cord-cutters in the US will reach 55.1 million in 2022, up from 46.6 million in 2021. This means that more than one-fifth of US households will have cut the cord by 2022.
However, OTT platforms also pose some challenges for content owners and broadcasters, such as how to choose the content to display, how to deliver that content, and how to monetize that content. In this article, we will explore some of the solutions and strategies that can help content owners and broadcasters overcome these challenges and optimize their OTT playout and monetization.
What is OTT Playout?
OTT playout is the process of delivering video content from the source to the OTT platform, where it can be streamed by the viewers. OTT playout involves several steps, such as encoding, transcoding, packaging, encryption, delivery, and playback.
Encoding is the process of converting raw video files into a format that can be streamed over the internet. Transcoding is the process of converting encoded video files into different formats, resolutions, and bitrates to suit different devices and bandwidths. Packaging is the process of dividing video files into segments or chunks that can be easily delivered and played. Encryption is the process of adding security layers to video files to prevent unauthorized access or piracy. Delivery is the process of transferring video files from the source to the OTT platform via a content delivery network (CDN). Playback is the process of displaying video files on the viewer’s device via a media player.
OTT playout can be done in two ways: live or on-demand. Live OTT playout involves delivering video content in real-time as it is being produced or broadcasted. On-demand OTT playout involves delivering video content that has been pre-recorded or archived and can be accessed by the viewers at any time.
What are OTT FAST Channels?
FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) channels are a type of OTT channels that offer free access to video content supported by advertising revenue. FAST channels are similar to traditional linear TV channels, but they are delivered over the internet rather than through cable or satellite providershttps://corp.dotstudiopro.com/blog/ott-platforms-guide-fast-channels-monetization-automation/.
FAST channels are rapidly gaining in popularity among viewers and advertisers alike. According to a report by Conviva, FAST channels saw a 200% increase in viewing hours in 2020 compared to 2019. Moreover, according to a report by TVREV, overall OTT ad spending will surpass cable and broadcast advertising in 2025. By 2027, OTT ad spend will make up 68% of the total ad spendhttps://corp.dotstudiopro.com/blog/ott-platforms-guide-fast-channels-monetization-automation/.
FAST channels offer several benefits for content owners and broadcasters, such as:
- They can reach a large and diverse audience of cord-cutters who are looking for free and quality content.
- They can leverage existing video content libraries or create new original content for their FAST channels.
- They can generate revenue from advertising without charging subscription fees or paywalls.
- They can control their own branding, programming, scheduling, and monetization strategies.
- They can distribute their FAST channels across multiple OTT platforms and devices.
How to Monetize OTT Streaming TV Channels?
Monetizing FAST channels involves generating revenue from advertising that is displayed within or alongside the video content. There are different types of advertising formats that can be used for FAST channels, such as:
- Pre-roll ads: These are ads that play before the video content starts.
- Mid-roll ads: These are ads that play during breaks or pauses in the video content.
- Post-roll ads: These are ads that play after the video content ends.
- Overlay ads: These are ads that appear on top of the video content without interrupting it.
- Banner ads: These are ads that appear on the sides or bottom of the video player.
- Companion ads: These are ads that appear on another device or screen that is synced with the video player.
To monetize FAST channels effectively, content owners and broadcasters need to consider several factors, such as:
- The quality and quantity of their video content: The more engaging and relevant their video content is, the more likely it is to attract and retain viewers and advertisers.
- The target audience and demographics of their FAST channels: The more specific and niche their target audience is, the more likely it is to appeal to advertisers who want to reach that audience.
- The ad inventory and fill rate of their FAST channels: The more ad slots and impressions they have available on their FAST channels, the more revenue they can generate from advertising. However, they also need to ensure that they have enough demand and supply of ads to fill those slots and avoid wasting inventory or showing irrelevant ads.
- The ad pricing and revenue share of their FAST channels: The more competitive and transparent their ad pricing and revenue share models are, the more attractive they are to advertisers and OTT platforms. They need to balance their own revenue goals with the market rates and the platform fees.
How to Optimize OTT Playout and FAST Channel Monetization?
To optimize OTT playout and FAST channel monetization, content owners and broadcasters need to use reliable and efficient solutions and strategies that can help them with the following aspects:
- Content creation and curation: They need to produce or acquire high-quality and relevant video content that can appeal to their target audience and advertisers. They also need to curate and schedule their video content in a way that can optimize their viewer engagement and retention.
- Content delivery and distribution: They need to deliver and distribute their video content in a fast and secure manner that can ensure high-quality performance and availability. They also need to expand their reach and exposure by distributing their FAST channels across multiple OTT platforms and devices.
- Content monetization and analytics: They need to monetize their video content by displaying relevant and effective ads that can generate maximum revenue. They also need to measure and analyze their viewer behavior, ad performance, and revenue data to optimize their monetization strategies.
One of the solutions that can help content owners and broadcasters with these aspects is View TV Play, an OTT Cloud Playout service as a subsidized FAST Channel Playout service for content owners and broadcastershttps://viewtvgroup.com/view-tv-play/. View TV Play is a mentored FAST Cloud Playout service covering curation, delivery, distribution, and monetization across global platforms and owned and operated appshttps://viewtvgroup.com/view-tv-play/.
View TV Play offers several benefits for content owners and broadcasters, such as:
- It allows them to launch their own FAST channels in a fast and easy way, without requiring any upfront investment or technical expertise.
- It provides them with a comprehensive platform that includes features such as encoding, transcoding, packaging, encryption, delivery, playback, scheduling, branding, advertising, analytics, and more.
- It enables them to distribute their FAST channels across multiple OTT platforms, including their sister platform Kapang, which has a revenue model that removes a revenue share deduction.
- It helps them to monetize their FAST channels by using their own ad provider with 100% back-fill from Kapang, ensuring maximum ad fill rate and revenue.
- It supports them with a team of experts who can assist them with content creation, curation, monetization, and optimization.
Conclusion on OTT Playout
OTT playout and FAST channel monetization are two of the most important aspects for content owners and broadcasters who want to succeed in the streaming TV industry. By using reliable and efficient solutions and strategies, such as View TV Play, they can overcome the challenges and leverage the opportunities that OTT platforms offer.
OTT Playout is the future of linear!