Top OTT Trends to Keep an Eye On
Ranga Rajah
I am interested in knowing the top OTT trends that fans need to keep an eye on.
Curiosity led me to conduct online research on trends that yielded a plethora of information, most of which revolved around these
Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD)
Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD)
Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD)
The focus on income-generating strategies such as subscription fees and advertising for OTT platforms is the reason these topics are trending.
Each of these trends varies in how it generates income.
While OTT platforms target income generation, the audience is also looking for pocket-friendly entertainment options.
SVOD, TVOD, and AVOD options cater to the diverse needs of global viewers.
Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) is a convenient and popular service where consumers can watch content by subscribing and gaining unlimited access to a wide range of videos that are distributed via the internet.
Some prominent examples of SVOD players include:
The biggest one on the SVOD platform is Netflix. Amazon Prime, Hotstar, and Hulu are significant players in the subscription video-on-demand market.
What makes these platforms attractive is their content library, which offers a wide range of TV shows, original content, movies, and series like documentaries and reality shows created to cater to their viewers.
Pros of SVOD:
A library full of content for viewers to pick from.
Besides the TV shows, it also includes original content created by these platforms.
All you need is an internet connection, and you can access your favorite show or program and watch it during your lunch break at work. The ability to watch these programs on multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, enhances the viewing experience and is a huge pro.
SVOD is the best option for viewers who prefer uninterrupted viewing without advertisements disrupting their watch time.
Cons of SVOD:
One of the significant drawbacks of SVOD is its costliness and the lack of control over shows that may get canceled, leading to disappointment.
Shows on these platforms survive based on viewership. A decrease in viewership will lead to movies and shows getting canceled.
If you do not have a steady supply of internet for streaming, it can hamper your viewing process.
Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD)
Remember the days when we used to pay per view-on cable?
TVOD is similar to that.
It gives you the control to watch what and when.
The rental duration that suits my schedule, followed by access to new releases, are advantages it offers for a viewer like me.
The flexibility feature is attractive.
Pros of TVOD:
Freedom from recurring subscriptions tops the list of pros.
Free bonus content like extra footage of deleted scenes and the director’s commentary is an attractive feature worth considering.
These platforms allow users to download and watch it offline as well. It depends on what platform you are on, though.
Cons of TVOD:
The first biggest con is that if I pay for content and fail to watch it within the viewing window, that means money down the drain.
If you consume a lot of content, paying for each program or movie gets expensive.
Uninterrupted viewing is not available on this platform because TVOD includes ads too.
Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD)
If you like watching content for free, this is the best platform for you.
But there is a catch. Advertisers support this platform. Be prepared to get interrupted by advertisements.
YouTube is the best example that comes to mind.
Pros of AVOD:
The pro is that most content stays on AVOD platforms because their services depend on advertisers and promoters.
Content from these platforms is also accessible on smartphones, televisions, computer screens, and portable devices like tablets and laptops.
Cons on AVOD:
Cons include content watching getting interrupted by ads.
Followed by audio and video quality and not having access to premium content available exclusively on other platforms.
Conclusion:
Although it took me a while to get used to streaming services and OTT platforms, it has now become a second habit to keep an eye on what shows are getting axed, premieres for new ones, and other news.
But the most important news I look for is ways and means to save money while getting to watch all my favorite shows.
Speaking for myself, I do not mind seeing advertisements while watching my programs. You may call it nostalgia, and rightly so, because, as a television and cable fan, these ads make me feel at home.
Image Credit: Glenn Carstens-Peters – Unsplash