Entertainment can go hand in hand with education and value proposition to the real-life scenarios
We were introduced to the concept of NFaStudios as something that can fill the void between entertainment and education. According to Angelo, the founder of NFAStudios, a lot of entertainment is just about passing some time, there is nothing like a learning curve in them. He had something unique in his mind. He was looking for a solution not just enough to serve the purpose, but also to propose a value in the regular life of his viewers.
Angelo found the Netflix business model, quite competent to serve what he has been aiming for. His focus was on creating and as we quote, “an on-demand commercial-free viewing rather than live, ad-supported programming.”
The rapid change in the internet and on-demand video scenarios has propelled a need to disseminate content full of entertainment and knowledge. The traditional video channels and platforms find it difficult to accommodate the required genre of content. In particular, many big platforms have their own guidelines and policies, which refrain from contents of a certain kind and with some unique propositions.
For example, people see politics as taboo and political leaders as just some vague speakers. It is because common people do not understand politics and its importance in society. The NEWS channels present political speeches with spices and many adulterations. The common audience hardly gets the gist of what those speeches mean to them. There could be many reasons why the common audience must gain raw access to these educational speeches.
Political videos are just the highlight of what more Angelo wanted to display to his audience. He understood the advantages and power of good video content that can educate and entertain at the same time. The result was strong opinions formulating the path to do what other popular platforms are afraid of doing.
The Content Objective
It was well important to have an idea of the kind of kind content Angelo wanted to have on the platform. Knowing this was important as it helped us preparing the first draft of the prototype. Considering the business plan, we could conclude that Angelo wanted to launch a video-on-demand service that would-
Let creators do what others are afraid to do.
Give small and talented creators a platform.
Give a platform to the influential content in its raw form without any adulteration.
Extend the array to include ‘Originals’ in the latter part of the business development.
Stream educational content rather than streaming unorganized live content or sports event.
Let viewers experience the spiritual and motivational speeches from real influencers.
The challenge
The business part and content curation were quite challenging for the client. However, for us, the only preliminary challenge was to fit our turnkey solution “Netflix Clone” into his business model. Luckily, the client wanted a similar platform like Netflix with the subscription model of revenue generation.
We had developed the Netflix clone -“StreamView” in response to various past queries for a Netflix-like VOD solution. No doubt, people wanted so, as Netflix is the first globally recognized VOD service with more than 103.95 million subscribers worldwide. We found our Netflix clone script best suited for the requirements. However, we were also required to do some modifications-
A fit Originals-The client wanted the ability to scale up the solution to fit “Originals” and many other types of content in the latter parts of the business development. In short, he wanted a solution fit enough to scale up the content and subscribers to count as the business grows.
Global Standards– The expected challenge was tailoring our existing script to let content creators have a platform for displaying video content and making it available for seamless, secure, anywhere-in-the-world access by the NfaStudios subscribers and content partners.
Registration Flow-The base script supported both subscription and pay-per-view model. Hence, the script did not come with the “Registration Flow’ of access to the videos. The client just wanted the subscription model and intended to allow access only after subscribing to the plans, just like Netflix.
Subscription Plans-Though the StreamView script already had the option to support multiple subscription plans, the challenge was to limit them to two plans with the client’s preferred plans. It just required some easy modifications in the existing codes.
Auto Renewal-Next challenge was to implement a Netflix like free trial and Auto-renewal logic. The aim was to let users subscribe to the free trial with a selected plan, and then auto-renew the next month’s subscription with the same plan. Like Netflix, we were also supposed to let the subscribers cancel the subscriptions anytime.
Categories on Homepage-The StreamView script, by default, supported the display of categories on the homepage. However, the displayed categories were not in harmony with the categories listed on the menu, they also had some additional categories. We had to synchronize the menu categories with the ones shown on the homepage, that too in identical order after listing the default categories above them.
Requirements: Automatically fulfilled by the default Script
In addition to the modifications and tailoring required to the existing Netflix clone script, the client also served us with many other requirements. Luckily, our existing script had most of them already. Here are a few of the fulfilled requirements for reference-
The implementation
Requirement-
The central part of the initial multimedia strategy involved streaming video-on-demand. Coupled with Streamhash’s Netflix clone, the first strategy to scale up the platform and let subscribers across the planet access them was automatically fulfilled by the default script.
As the IT team initiated to gather business requirements, the project broadened beyond the initial impressions where we aimed to cover the entire spectrum of a VOD business with a more sophisticated user experience. The client’s intention to scale up the content in later parts and redesigning the interface to match the brand’s identity was our first priority-
Technology Utilized-
Bootstrap as Frontend Framework.
Nginx Server For Streaming Video
API Documentation.
DigitalOcean Server for Hosting.
Google Cloud Messaging.
YouTube Player.
Angular JS for Frontend UI.
REDIS Server and Queue Concept for Compressing and Converting Video Resolution.
PayPal Payment Gateway Integrated.
BitBucket for Version Control.
Facebook API Integrated.
JW Player.
Laravel 5.2 as Backend
MYSQL to Save Data.
SMTP to Emails.
Google API.
Process and Approach
Design
Angelo needed a powerful design and development for a streamlined user experience. Our aim with designing principles focused on –
Building and managing a huge database of subscriber profiles and video content.
Ensuring seamless interaction between subscribers, high-quality videos, and corresponding membership plans
Ensuring safer online transactions with a secure payment gateway.
Streamlining the website flow according to the Registration flow model.
Keeping the fundamentals in our sense, we advanced with the initial designing phase. The style and design preference focused on keeping the brand identity proficient, refined and trustworthy. Hence, with mutual consent, we settled on the color pallet, which was a mix of black, light blue, and white. Blue is the color of the sky. It is frequently associated with depth and stability. The color also displays the NFAStudio’s unique proposition and creative content base. Thus, after numerous trials, we finalized the pallet and implemented a clean and balanced UI matching the brand identity and contemporary design requirements.
Prototype
We started with HTML as the base code and came up with a blueprint of the website. This helped us to clear the doubts, as we came across some further requirements after discussing the prototype. Finally, we ended up with our final website design after understanding the precise needs.
Development
It is important to comprehend the ever-changing needs of a VOD platform. Hence, we assigned the project to a dedicated 8-member team-
One Project Manager
One Technical Architect
One quality Analyst
Two website developers
One website designer
One Android developer
One iOS developer
Each member was precisely briefed about the project. We focussed on stressing the fact that the client needs a flexible and scalable platform for onboarding users from across the USA and other parts of the world in the latter parts. Moreover, we also customized the registration flow to work only according to the subscription-based model (no access to the website without a subscription). Without any scope for compromise in the user experience and scalability, the development team finally came up with the actual script.
Testing
Post-development phase, the eight-membered team started testing the whole project, while they were managing the workflow through the Trello board. After each phase of the Manual, Functional, and automated testing, the project manager and Technical architect would check for the quality and enhancement possibilities. Taking the feedbacks, the development team would again work on the rectifications and transfer the task to the testing team.
After some repeated cycles on the grounds like Stream quality, integration and user experience trials, etc. we came up with the beta phase of the project.
The Beta Phase
We piloted a marketing cum live testing campaign through Native Advertising. The campaign targeted around 4500 users. The live user analytics and feedback helped us to test our project in a crucial real-life environment, different from what we tested on our systems.
We also organized a tech talk where we explained and tested the project with 40 men and women from our workspace. Based on the feedback and analytics, we further fine-tuned the functionalities and optimized the user experience.
Mobile Apps
Based on the development done on the web version of the platform, we came up with the mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices. We synchronized both the mobile apps to the web version in terms of–
Content synchronization
User Synchronization
Special care: While developing this multi-device VOD platform, we took special care to make sure that the following requirements are rigorously fulfilled:
A user can gain access corresponding to the subscribed plan.
The total number of simultaneous logins is limited as per the subscription plans.
This is similar to Netflix’s maximum number of allowed simultaneous logins.
It means that if a user subscribes to a plan that offers only one login at a time, he or she cannot log in on the laptop if already logged on to the mobile app.
Outcome
As of today, the stable versions of the website and both the mobile apps are live. They are performing well and attracting many users. The service is currently offering the base subscription for $9.99/MONTH with a cancel anytime facility.
The Live Android and iOS Apps in Official App stores
The subscribers can access the content from anywhere: Mobile, tablet, or desktop.
The business is steadily growing its roots. With certain unique propositions like the only subscription-based video streaming platform to offer access to historical lectures by The Honourable Minister Louis Farrakhan. It is also offering some Premium Original Content related to politics. The most recent breakthrough shows such as 40 Miles, How to eat to live, and Food Nation are responsible for attracting an array of new users to the platform.
As of now, the NFA Studios has acquired more than 4000 subscribers in about three months. It offers both monthly and yearly plans, with an additional free trial period. The trial subscribers can choose to-
Continue with the selected plan after the free trial.
Change the plan while renewing the subscription.
Cancel the subscription any time, without any commitment.
As of Feb 2021, NFA Studios now has over 20k paying subscribers which roughly translates into a revenue of around $400k – $500k.
The client speaks and as we quote
When asked the Founder of NFAStudios on his experience with StreamView and StreamHash, here is what he says:
Question 1: What made you start NFAStudios?
We started NFAStudios because we felt it was a void in what we call “Edu-tainment”, or being educated and entertained at the same time. A lot of entertainment is just that, entertainment. People are being entertained but walking away with nothing that enhances them as a person. We want to entertain but also teach and help people learn, enhance themselves, their lives, those around them, and walk away better people.
Question 2: What makes NFAStudios stand out from the crowd?
NFA Studios stands out because we are doing what others are afraid of or unable to do. And that provides entertainment that not only entertains but raises the quality of life of the viewer.
Question 3: Who are NFAStudios customers?
NFA customers are people of all ages, races, and religious backgrounds, who want a different alternative from the entertainment currently provided by mass media.
Question 4: How did you find StreamHash?
We found StreamHash by googling “Netflix style website themes”. It took us several weeks of searching to find the best match for us but the best ended up being StreamHash
Question 5: What challenges were you experiencing prior to purchasing our product or service?
We experienced many challenges prior to purchasing StreamHash. Other developers we contacting said they could do the job but in reality, when we hired them, they fell short of what they promised. Or if they could develop the site we wanted there styling and design were not up to par. We experienced this with several different software development companies.
Question 6: How were the initial conversations with the StreamHash Sales team? Can you specify how easy it was to gather requirements and kick off the project?
StreamHash has an exceptional sales team! We got on the phone with them and within a day or so we were up and rolling. There sales team is very friendly and easy to work with and answered all our questions which made it very easy for us to move forward.
Question 7: How was your experience with StreamHash during the development process?
For the past few months since the soft-launch of our site, we have been working closely with the StreamHash tech team on the development of our site. The StreamHash team makes the development process very enjoyable. They are great at communication, usually responded immediately to any questions or concerns. And when matters are pressing they do not hesitate to get on a Skype call to solve the issue. Working with the StreamHash tech team on the development of our site has been AMAZING, to say the least! This is just the beginning of a great partnership; we hope to continue to work with StreamHash on this project and future projects.
A limited number of people during the mid-stages of the year 2017 have shifted their attention to video streaming services for Netflix. They have certainly discarded the DVD subscription which is not in trend anymore.
Want your concocted movie or short film to be a part of Netflix movie releases? Netflix offers you a hand to do so. Movies like “War Machine” which have exclusively been released on Netflix by Plan B have acquired a lot of fame and insurmountable revenue during the past few months. Why not give your venture a shot?
The current generation has labeled Netflix as the top-notch platform for the streaming of movies, documentaries as well as TV-series. They call it the “Golden Goose” of this batch of people. A notion has been created that if your movie is not on Netflix then your endeavor is unsuccessful.
There are some crucial specks which will help you to get your movie released on Netflix:
CREATE YOUR QUEUE
There are a couple of approaches to add video streaming services to your line, which now works more like an indication of motion pictures you need to watch and less like a conveyance framework.
To begin with, in the event that you hold your mouse cursor over a motion picture poster you will notice that a little window will fly up. You can either tap on the “+ Instant Queue” button to quickly spare the motion picture for later use, or you can tap on the motion picture title to be taken to the film’s fundamental data page where you can take in more about the flick and maybe add it to your line.
GET BACK YOUR HOMEPAGE
Many people favored the previous home page to the new “Exhibition View”. It used to be simpler to add movies to your archive and when you tapped on a movie poster, you went directly to the film’s data page as opposed to the media player for moment playback. On the off chance that you truly need the old design, “The old homepage” link will come to your aid.
PROVIDE RATINGS FOR ABUNDANT MOVIES
One of the fundamental cons about Netflix Instant is its assumed “absence of segregation.”
“There aren’t sufficient great films gushing on Netflix” is the consistent complain that is going on for some time now about the administration.
It has been discovered that with the help of rating heaps of films truly enables Netflix or other video streaming sites to decide the nature of movies or TV-shows it prescribes. It is also crucial to state that it has a ton of valued movies, only if you are able to extend your points of view a bit.
Tap on the “Suggestions for you” page on the prime label and afterward “Rate Shows and Movies” on the toolbar underneath and go to work. It is additionally useful to sort in your most loved titles into the hunt bar, go to their pages, and rate them with a 5-star with the goal that Netflix recognizes what you like.
The organization has put a great deal of exertion and cash into its suggestion calculation, and with the end goal for Netflix to work to its maximum capacity; it needs all of your contributions as could be expected.
EVERYTHING DEPENDS ON THE DATABASE
You might very well realize that Netflix does not require a tumult procedure in order to work upon a request made by a movie maker. Rather, upon emailing Netflix personnel, your content can be popped up on Netflix. A well-concocted email is what your utmost priority must be.
You must understand and acknowledge the fact that uploading your flick over Netflix would require you to step on the Netflix database itself which is actually a tough asks. You might as well have a very scanty access to its database.
The database of Netflix can be described as an archive of numerous movie and TV-shows that can be taken into account for a Netflix release. Now there must be several questions formulated in your mind which includes the query of how would get an access to the database? In the immediate next speck we are going to dig into this.
WOULD YOU GET ACCESS TO THE DATABASE?
Such a proposition is impractical and impassable. Netflix would never give access to its database since the encryption is stronger than ever. Streamview is one such software which concocts a solid platform with the vision of movie compression and encryption.
However, if you have top level contacts in the Netflix neighborhood it might still be a detrimental venture but some middle agents or third parties might formulate encroachment.
Getting one of these wholesalers on board, be that as it may, presents its own challenges and, to some degree amusingly, video streaming services itself is executing your shot of getting on Netflix, with DVD deals through the floor, merchants are hesitant to go up against autonomous motion pictures in this market since the profits from Netflix are so low.
Currently, this is the only disheartening news off the path. There is a non-mainstream independent organization with the name of “Distribber” that can help get your indie project streaming over Netflix and the greater part of the other real video streaming services.
Even if “Distribber” charges an expense of up to $1,600, you still get to keep all rights to your movie and in addition 100% of the income it goes ahead to make.
INITIATE A TROOP
Let us make an assumption that you have already paved a path for yourself to get into the Netflix network. The immediate next step advises you to create a relationship based on the trust between the admin and the one uploading it.
Your movies will only be certified if the content is impeccable and has the capability to engage an abundant audience to it. How you will be able to prove this is your concern. You have to show that your movie would allure a huge number of audiences and with that confidence; Netflix will stream your venture on their channel.
An archive also known as “queue demand” is introduced where individuals should ask or request Netflix to upload their content.
It will befit you to do a major showcasing push and ask everybody you know to do this. Such an initiative exclusively will not only enhance your odds of getting your independent film streaming on Netflix, however, it’ll additionally expand the sum you’ll get for it if while they make you an offer.
WAY THE MONEY WORKS
Unlike most video streaming services, Netflix does not incorporate a pay-per-view model since it is not dependent on the revenue generated by endorsements. In place of that, it makes you eligible for a one –time fee in order to generate a license which will give you the access to stream your flick to abundant audience.
Do you have an estimate of what amount will this be? Such a conclusion is impossible to draw since it depends colossally on the request; however, it’s typically less than what you had expected it to be. Forecast a four-figure arrangement, and acclaim the stars on the off chance that you get five figures.
UPGRADE YOUR PROSPECTS
As the sequence claim has all the earmarks of being the greatest factor for the accomplishment in Netflix’s ambiguous choice process, there is some proof to propose different contemplations are made.
A foolproof IMDB posting, an extraordinary score on Rotten Tomatoes, and gigantic press release may help get your autonomous film on Netflix, and ought to be on your schedule in any case.
LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE
An intelligent way to deal with film circulation is to expel any and each boundary in the passage between your movie and a potential watcher as could be allowed, and you require a justifiable reason not. Break the shackles for your viewers as well as start exploring other video streaming services.
GET A RESPONSE
Your content once pitched to Netflix, will require some weeks to get a feedback or to go live. Your benefactor will directly be responsible and will bargain with Netflix once your video content is approved.
Once approved, your marketing team will blend with numerous whole-sellers and retailers to endorse your movie. Your administrator must have all the necessary artwork and streaming files for distribution reasons.
You might not get a lot of positive feedback once your flick is uploaded on Netflix. But, there is nothing to worry about it since there is a probability that Netflix might have chosen a similar motion picture recently.
In case you are looking for a Netflix clone and you are sure that this will suffice your needs then you can certainly look out for a white-label solution branded as “Streamview” allowing you to create a website with features similar to Netflix.
“Streamview” comes up with a delicate Netflix clone developing script that encourages you to commence your own video-on-demand platform. This video-on-demand content of our own is very versatile and can be redone to suit your necessities which will involve adjusting the front-end UI, including highlights in any portable applications such as mobile apps.
The video on request programming that you get from “Streamview” will be a clone with all the standard highlights of Netflix, yet this enterprise will work with you through any progressions you require in monetizing, outlining, customizing, arrangement, facilitating and upgrading issues.
It is crucial to state that Netflix movie releases depend on factors which are certainly not a forte for slow thinkers. Your content needs to be out-of-the-box and impeccable which would drive ample traffic to your venture. Remember your movie will be rated depending on the actors you have appointed, the cinematography, the direction and the marketing strategies Incorporated.
The media industry today is continually tossing up new variants of over-the-top (OTT) entertainment for technology-savvy netizens. And while we already know that the sector has morphed into a colossal force powering millions of bits of content to all four corners of the globe, it’s worthwhile to dig deeper into the relevance of OTT and how you can start a business in this space. To begin with, let’s look at what OTT really is.
The Fundamentals of OTT Video:
OTT is a broadcasting method that transmits video content over an internet line. The term denotes the delivery of content above and beyond the purview of traditional broadcasting formats such as satellite, cinema, and cable. OTT has undergone an interesting evolution since its inception. Started as a means for users to stream content on-demand, it now exhibits the capability to transmit live content to users, akin to a live telecast on television. It’s likely that you’re more familiar with video streaming services like Netflix, as this model is far more evolved than its live broadcasting counterpart. Having said that, live streaming is gaining traction in several markets across the globe as a means to transmit real-time information to users. OTT is an ideal solution for users who decide to forego a monthly cable subscription or those who prefer to consume entertainment nuggets on the go. With emerging turnkey frameworks available in the market, setting up an OTT video streaming service is affordable, viable and sustainable. StreamView is an option worth considering.
Steps to Create Your Own Video Streaming Service:
If you’re already engaged in traditional media and plan to expand your repertoire to include OTT, you may have a whole lot on your plate. Adding OTT to your media portfolio can be a challenge if you don’t have the relevant technology. Plus, acquiring media rights entails a different licensing process to conventional content formats. Here are some steps you can follow to start a video streaming service:
Step 1. Acquire Content Licenses:
Here’s the good news: licenses for OTT content follow a very similar path to that of traditional content. Naturally, your first step should be to get your content licenses in place. These include advertising agreements, revenue-sharing ratios with content owners and other relevant approvals and licensing clauses. It’s a good idea to consult a lawyer to get an insight into the legal implications for licensing.
Step 2. Create a Monetisation Model:
When it comes to monetizing OTT content, there are three recommended routes you could take. You could use each route independently or in conjunction with one or more others. Have a look to gauge which one you think suits your video streaming service the best:
Subscription Video on Demand:
Like the name suggests, Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD) pivots on a subscription model, requiring users to pay a fixed monthly fee for access to an unlimited library of content. Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Hulu follow this model. SVOD is ideal for users because there is no lock-in period or long-term commitment. At the same time, it serves OTT video streaming services well by garnering more users via word of mouth.
Ad-Supported Video on Demand:
By onboarding advertisers, you have the option of keeping your core video streaming service free. However, think twice before you go down this road because Ad-Supported Video on Demand (AVOD) is a rudimentary model for specialized content. If your content is coveted and your portfolio boasts features far superior to your competitors’, consider a subscription model. Where there’s value, there are bound to be customers, even for a price.
Transactional Video on Demand:
Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD) works on a piecemeal basis, requiring a user to pay only for specific content items consumed. You’re likely to reach a wider audience through TVOD, because users may not feel encumbered by a monthly subscription. The problem is, you may undercut yourself using this model. If your content quality is formidable, users may not mind paying a subscription for it.
Step 3. Pick a Technology:
Okay, so you’ve carved out your monetization model and content licenses and now it’s time to pick out a technology. There are several ways you could do this. If you’re feeling especially adventurous and have the appetite, you could build a framework from the ground up. But this takes time, money and resources and it’s probably wiser to opt for a turnkey streaming technology from a reputed brand. StreamView has become a prominent framework in the technology stack of numerous OTT companies across the world. Given its lightweight interface, customization features, and handy admin console, it’s little surprise.
Step 4. Organize Your Ancillary Tools:
Once you have your technology in place, there are several tools you should organize to make sure that your setup is seamless. Here’s a look at some of them.
Video API:
An API is critical in powering an OTT video streaming service and serves as a key that unlocks the elementary components of a content service. StreamView comes with an inbuilt, full-fledged API that serves to provide access to an array of features.
Software Development Kit:
A Software Development Kit (SDK) is an organic off root of an API. Made up of software tools and coding scripts, it works as an enabler to propel long-drawn API routines. StreamView offers select bespoke SDK tools for a variety of streaming capabilities. Make sure you ask to have your SDK integrated when you set up your video streaming service.
Fluidity and Compatibility Tools:
Your users will likely access your content from a range of different devices. While StreamView comes equipped with tools to augment fluidity, it’s a good idea to seek out an HTML5 video player to make sure that your content is digestible on a variety of screen sizes.
Setting up your own version of Netflix doesn’t have to be a cumbersome, long-wound process. With the right technology partner and superior content, you’ve got yourself covered.
Video streaming applications have become permanent fixtures in a rapidly growing number of devices across the world. What started off as an add-on service to DVD and digital download packages has now flourished into a multimillion dollar industry and a favourite pastime amongst millennials, courtesy lightning-fast internet connections and a burgeoning number of mobile devices world over.
The success of video streaming services all boils down to differentiation and first-mover advantage. Presenting to you, the top video streaming sites of 2017.
Netflix
You’re probably no stranger to Netflix. Netflix is one of the best video streaming sites, emblazoned on the face of the video streaming industry. With a generously stocked library that is continually pumped with new content, its offerings are novel. Plus, Netflix has always stayed ahead of the game by introducing original programmes such as House of Cards and Luke Cage.
Offerings
So, what is the hype around Netflix?
Well, other than the massive selection of titles that it features, Netflix allows varying degrees of concurrent streaming through differentiated packages. Its $7.99/month plan, for instance covers one Standard-Definition (SD) stream. Move to High-Definition (HD), and the pricing changes. For simultaneous usage on two different devices on the same account, Netflix offers a package of $9.99 for new members. Talk about 4 concurrent streams from the same account, and the price moves up a notch to $11.99. Whichever way you look at it, Netflix offers value for money! Netflix now also allows offline viewing, and offers more fluidity across devices than any other service provider in the market. So, if you have a flight to catch, or a car journey with sketchy signal, download content beforehand and enjoy it on the go!
Through Netflix’s localised content strategy, it has also clinched partnerships in new world markets to deliver regional content. In India, for example, it has inked deals with telecom operators such as Airtel, Vodafone and Videocon to deliver content Over the Top (OTT).
Of course, as newer technologies take root across the world, video streaming is becoming more fluid than ever before. Streamhash, a turnkey technology that underpins many successful video streaming startups today, provides a seamless device-agnostic user experience that can be customised to embrace a suite of devices.
Monetisation
Netflix has pioneered a revenue model that has inspired many businesses to follow suit. Here are some reasons it stands out:
Subscription Fee: Netflix’s move to bring in a subscription fee was considered risky, because it had never been attempted before. Yet, the standard price offering clicked, and many Video on Demand (VOD) services have adopted the same model.
DVD Rentals: Surprised? Don’t be. Few people even know that Netflix offers DVD rentals as a service. Most of us associate Netflix with pure video streaming. DVD rentals contribute a measly percentage to the overall Netflix revenue, though the service was popular when it was launched. However, with technology evolution and internet ubiquity, Netflix’s video streaming service has become a massive engine of growth.
Marketing Strategy
Netflix’s approach to marketing has been heavily focused on consumer insights:
Personalised Dashboard: What you see on your Netflix home screen is probably very different from what your neighbour sees. Netflix’s brilliant algorithms customise recommendations by curating movies and shows that you’re likely to enjoy based on your past preferences. It is an excellent way to micro-target customers and build user engagement.
Brand Identity: Netflix has spread like wildfire thanks to social media. Its digital presence and subtle campaigns have worked magic for the brand, especially its youthful tagline, #NetflixAndChill. It hasn’t spent much on Above the Line media, like traditional advertising.
Listen to Users: We already know about Netflix’s sophisticated data mining approach. But the company uses data trends to assess user behaviour and tweak its offerings. A market insight uncovered by Netflix revealed that users enjoyed binge-watching shows at one go, and that the experience proved more enjoyable this way. Thus, Netflix started releasing all the episodes of a given season at once, to boost user contentment.
Amazon Video
Amazon Video is always attempting to one-up Netflix through pricing or promotion. On the pricing front, its $10.99/month includes a suite of benefits, like Prime’s free shipping, Amazon Photos and the Kindle Lending Library.
Offerings
Amazon Video offers an annual package at $99. Its streaming service contains about 40,000 titles, but very few of those qualify for Prime Streaming. The ones that don’t, need to be bought, regardless of Prime membership. Like Netflix, Amazon Video also offers provides offline downloads. The only real challenge with the service is that it isn’t as device-agnostic as Netflix, and doesn’t work on Google’s Chromecast. The service also offers concurrent viewing from two streams.
Monetisation
Annual Subscription Fee: Ditto, Netflix. This plan offers users the option to pay upfront for a full year, with a built-in pricing benefit.
Standalone Monthly Subscription: Here, a user may can subscribe to Prime whenever, wherever. There’s no long-term obligation.
Marketing Strategy
Streaming Partner Program: Where Amazon Video really stands apart, is with its Streaming Partners Program. With this OTT streaming subscription programme, Amazon has collaborated with twenty broadcast companies, such as Showtime, Starz and CBS. The service allows you to add specific networks to your account at a discounted price.
Bundling: Amazon’s competencies are diverse, and the company has leveraged its array of skill sets in its promotional bundles. By packaging its Kindle line, streaming and express shipping service together, it has created a value proposition that no other pure VOD player can match!
Hulu
Hulu is still coming into its own. What used to be a free, ad-speckled viewing experience has taken on a Netflix-like twist. And it all lies in its monetisation plan.
Offerings
Unlike its more popular counterparts, Hulu manages to procure content aired on television within days of it being televised. Netflix and Amazon, on the other hand, take months to broadcast the same content. Its partnership with big studios is its ticket to quick content.
Monetisation
Monthly Subscription Fee: Hulu is priced at $7.99/month. Interestingly, Hulu is ahead of Netflix and Amazon in procuring television content.
Advertising Spots: Hulu still takes on advertisers, despite its monthly fee model. This means that viewers still see ads. The company also offers a $11.99 variant, that comes with an ad-free experience.
Marketing Strategy
Advertising Spots: Hulu is one of the only VOD players to continue with advertising spots in a world where netizens tend to skip advertisements. Still, Hulu is looking to capitalise on these spots to draw advertisers and enhance the ad viewing experience of users.
Original Content: Netflix and Amazon have already cornered this opportunity, and now it’s Hulu’s turn. By introducing superior content onto its platform, it will create a differentiator for itself.
HBO Now
HBO is the first media company to branch out onto the internet. Although it started its online expedition with HBO Go, the media house found that it didn’t work as well, because users needed a pay TV login to access it.
Offerings
As the name suggests, HBO Now streams content owned by HBO. There aren’t any stream limitations so multiple streams can be opened on devices with the same username.
Monetisation
HBO Now sells for $14.99/month. Because HBO owns the content, shows and movies debut online within minutes of being broadcasted on television. HBO Now can be accessed from any device, through Amazon, Google Play and the App Store.
Marketing Strategy
Well-Timed Programming: HBO’s launches have been well thought-out. For instance, it timed its tremendously popular show, Game of Thrones, with the launch of HBO Now.
Tailored Content: There isn’t a significant difference in cost between HBO as a cable addition and HBO Now. However, by offering customers a unique, made-to-order viewing experience, HBO is combining its traditional and online properties to envelope a customer in the brand’s prowess.
CBS All Access
Meet another television entrant on the online bandwagon!
Offerings
Like HBO, CBS has also developed an exclusive digital platform. And while you may find it odd that a platform could possibly broadcast shows from a single channel, CBS has cracked the code. By offering its stellar line up of shows the day after their telecast, CBS has viewers tuned in to stay up to date with missed shows and new content.
It isn’t difficult to start an online streaming platform anymore. Many media companies purchase ready technologies like Streamhash to complement their traditional offerings. And with the plethora of handy customisation options and fantastic features that such technologies provide, you save a whole lot of time and money.
Monetisation
Monthly Subscription Fee:CBS All Access is available for $5.99/month.
Advertising Spots: CBS follows a differential advertising approach. It broadcasts ads for primetime, day-time and late night content, but television classics are run uninterrupted.
Marketing Strategy
Television Advertising: CBS’s first phase of marketing involved advertising on its own television network, followed by spots on select outside networks. Thoughts like Watch live. Watch later and Binge away were pushed to consumers.
Digital Advertising: After traditional media, CBS resorted to a focused advertising approach through digital devices. The advertising featured specific shows or behaviours that would appeal to customers.
Influencer Approach: CBS launched an influencer-based approach, aimed at generating referrals through fan websites and word of mouth. It also hinted at rewarding these fans with a referral bonus or a free trial of All-Access.
The top 5 video streaming sites in the world are ideal models to follow on your own entrepreneurial path. Curate content for a unique geography as an acid test, and then expand your platform to cover more content. Take a leaf out of each of these company’s marketing books to forge your own journey!
Entertainment today takes a variety of forms, with many of them residing on the internet. Whether it is insta-recipe snippets, music videos or laugh-a-minute shows, the online video landscape has quickly become a veritable Eden for entertainment seekers. And that means only one thing: there’s more money on the internet than ever before.
Today, we lift the lid on one of the most effective ways to leverage internet traffic; one that has caught the fancy of many savvy entrepreneurs. Say hello to video streaming, a technology that allows users to broadcast content, captured on a camera, through a device connected to the internet. The viewer receives this content, on another device, either in real-time or later. Streaming is a fun, engaging experience being adopted by an array of brands, to grow a personal relationship with each consumer. Live streaming, in particular, is catching on quickly. Look at Facebook Live, Instagram Live, Twitter’s Periscope for inspiration, if you’re wondering how it works.
There are endless possibilities in every sector, when it comes to setting up a video streaming business model. If you have a background in finance, video streaming could help you open a window between you and your customers with live chats, real-time financial advice and quicker turn-around times. If you have a passion for cooking, you could turn your kitchen into a makeshift studio, streaming stylised recipes through improvised techniques. And you do not even need a hefty bank balance to get started. Turn to a turnkey technology called Streamhash, a platform that lets you maintain your own streaming site, thereby lending you a singular online identity. Streamhash allows you to set up the technology within 2 days, and your launch costs will be 100 times less than if you were to develop and launch a technology from scratch.
If you have an exceptional idea and have been wanting to tread the entrepreneurial path, there has never been a better time than now to monetise your brand. Here are some ways to make money from home. Get ready to be inspired.
Advertisements:
You’re probably already well-acquainted with the advertisements that slide in and out while you’re watching a video on YouTube. And while these ads may seem unwelcome to a viewer, they sweep in the most money for broadcasters. The fee is usually determined by the length of the video, and advertisers will pay you per click. Here’s where volumes play a big role. If you have a sizeable following, you can easily rake in about $1,000 monthly, from ads alone. This also means that you can maintain free viewership and draw a larger following.
But there’s more to online ads than meets the eye. In recent times, ads on the internet have been largely segregated into two: native ads and traditional ads. You’re already familiar with the latter concept; the kind of ad that appears intermittently during a YouTube video, pushing a product or service. A native ad, on the other hand is modelled after tremendous research, and employs powerful storytelling coupled with a journalistic narrative. These ads are educative and entertaining, and often, the audience may not even know that the content is sponsored. That’s the beauty of native ads; they mimic quality content that sits on your platform, and your user is likely to follow it right through to the end.
In January, this year, Samsung launched a digital campaign in India called #SamsungService. The campaign sparked curiosity and inspired a personal connect amongst viewers, because of a touching, four-minute film that the company launched on YouTube and across 50 channels as a condensed ad. Amazingly, the film garnered 18 million views in its first six days. Not only did Samsung profit from a farther reach, but YouTube prospered from astronomical ad revenues.
When you do decide to take the ad route, consider featuring a healthy mix of native ads and traditional ads. If your native ad content leaves a mark on viewers, you’ve struck gold.
Donations:
Donations are wonderful, and will work once you have reached out to your followers and have made an impact. Consider integrating a donation feature on your site, almost like a virtual tip jar, that viewers can fill at will. If you are thinking of starting your own video-sharing website on the lines of YouTube, there are several ideas you can use for donations. For example, South Korea’s Afreeca.tv has an inbuilt feature where viewers can pay for star balloons as they follow a broadcaster, which that broadcaster can then swap for real money. On Afreeca, 1 star balloon equates to about 10 US cents. Now that’s not a lot, you may think. But it is, when volumes add up.
Afreeca feeds on South Korea’s quirky culture of broadcasting every aspect of life, whether it is dining in front of a screen for your viewers, or simply donning makeup and appeasing a fan following. Afreeca is built on a virtual gift economy, with a free flow of gifts between viewers and broadcasters. With 25 million users and 7,500 channels, it’s a winning product. One streamer, Yoo So Hee set a record by making US $37,000 in one night, back in October 2014. She did it by prettifying herself and then interacting with her followers on Afreeca. But hey, where’s the money for Afreeca? Well, Afreeca gets a share of every star balloon that is bought, and the more money a broadcaster makes, the more Afreeca makes. It’s a win-win situation.
YouNow, a webcast service headquartered in New York operates on a similar model. With a user base predominantly under 24 years old, the site is used as an interactive platform for dance and music, amongst other activities. Sometimes, users simply stream themselves sleeping, or other routine activities that make up their day. In March 2015, a Brooklyn cashier named Tayser Abuhamdeh, made headlines after he began streaming snippets of his daily life to his audience. His following grew rapidly, but so did his phone bill. And soon, his virtual lifestyle became unaffordable. When he wrote in to YouNow, they put him on their partner programme, which would allow viewers to leave virtual gifts and tips.
YouNow’s partner programme is unique. Through it, viewers can earn coins by just interacting on the platform. In turn, these coins can buy digital gifts like hearts, sticks, beers and fist bumps. When these gifts are given to broadcasters, YouNow gets a cut in its value. The platform has also opened a premium gifting service for the partner programme, which allows viewers to buy gifts using money f, in the hope of eliciting a personal mention, or a declaration of gratitude. The premium service hives off a portion of a broadcaster’s earnings as profit. It’s a bright business model that can be applied to any trend really; cooking, gardening, cycling. You name it.
Sponsors:
Sponsorships come with the territory if you’re a successful streamer. But how do you make money as a site owner? Sometimes, brands may approach a streamer directly, reaching a mutual financial agreement. If you’re a site owner, though, you can approach brands with the promise that you’ll have your top 10 users endorse their product during a fixed number of streaming sessions. This saves the brand money and time, and it leaves you as the middleman. This of course, means that you can liaise the deal with a fee in between. A revenue share agreement would make most sense in such a case, where the advertiser would pay a fixed sum per click, which you would then share with the broadcaster in a pre-decided ratio.
Exclusive Video Previews:
You don’t have to limit your site to the users that you have. Reach out to brick-and-mortar businesses and feature previews of their offerings on your site. Let’s say there’s an upcoming gym in your city. Have them shoot a video of an engaging exercise sequence and display it on your site. Or if there’s an exciting new restaurant in town, stitch together a behind-the-scenes teaser. While this doesn’t have to be your main business, it’s a great source of extra income.
Premium Chat Windows:
YouTube recently announced that it is going to launch Super Chat, a fantastic new chat window feature that monetises creators. Through Super Chat, viewers of a live stream will pay for chat messages that will be highlighted in bright colours and pinned to the top of a chat window, to catch the creator’s attention. It’s a monetisation tool for broadcasters, and excites viewers who receive virtual recognition. YouTube, of course makes a commission on each chat message bought. Think of how a premium chat service could fit in to your video streaming business model!
If you’re inspired, reach out to Streamhash to get your website started and make money from video streaming. Growing your bank balance has never been easier.
