In this digital world, the importance of integrating videos into your marketing techniques is only projected to rise. Innovative marketers are increasingly using videos and integrating these new ways to engage users to remain relevant and competitive in the industry. In the past decade, there has been a rapid shift from text and visual content to more engaging video content. Businesses who are slow to adapt to their transformation might find themselves dealing with underperforming sites and marketing campaigns. A visitor tends to spend 88% more time on a site with videos than they do with any other type of content.
Businesses can use videos for landing pages, YouTube, emails, training purposes, landing pages, and a lot more. Videos also help brands to introduce themselves to potential customers and build lasting relationships with existing customers and earn new customers.
Live Streaming and VOD
Video streaming is quickly gaining momentum these days with more online audiences embracing streaming like never before especially during the time of COVID-19 pandemic. According to Statista, the Coronavirus outbreak has led to increased digital media consumption in many countries across the globe ac
While most businesses understand the power of videos for promoting their brand and growing their business, they find it challenging to choose the right type of video content for various scenarios. For example, video on demand and live streaming are the two main types of video content which comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.
In recent years there has been a rise in popularity and usage of live streaming apps like Facebook Live, Periscope, Instagram Live, etc. Likewise, video streaming services like Netflix, HBO Now, Disney Plus are gaining momentum as well among viewers who prefer viewing on demand videos. Live streaming probably is an easy way to introduce your brand to the online world. It is a great short-term option that will help you get online and start making money. But considering the longevity of your business, you must consider video on demand (VOD).
According to the type of your business and the demographics of your customers and their preference, any of these content types can be chosen. But, how to choose between VOD vs live streaming. Let’s find out. Once you finish reading this blog, you will have a clear idea about the two and so that you can make a decision fast.
What are on-demand videos?
Video on demand is a way of accessing content from online libraries according to the convenience of users, anywhere, anytime, and on any devices. When traditional broadcast services force users to view content on their schedule, video on demand platformsallow users to access videos at their time.
VOD offers a wide selection of online videos including entertainment, sports, educational programs, movies, TV shows, and feature films. VOD services allow customers to stream content through computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TV, etc. delivered over the internet.
VOD streaming is not just confined to watching movies and shows on Netflix. You can create on demand videos in any niche like entertainment, sports, religion, education, etc. according to the interest of your audience.
Let’s look into the benefits of video on demand content.
Convenience of access
It is for no reason that video streaming services like Disney+, Netflix, Hulu, and HBO now are gaining popularity among the audience. These video streaming services allow people to view content whenever they like, unlike traditional TV networks. Traditional broadcast services allow people to watch programs on their schedule, whereas the VOD platform allows viewers to watch programs in their own time according to their convenience and choice.
Fewer mistakes
Video on demand content is pre-produced and edited making adequate room for improvements. As making on demand videos take more time in producing and improvising the content, it leads to fewer mistakes as well. VOD allows content creators to improve the videos to a greater degree for delivering a better viewing experience to the audience.
Content varieties to select from
VOD content can be edited to be personalized according to the unique needs of your business before distributing the content. There is always a big space for customizations so that you can bring much-desired variety to your content. You can craft your videos in a way it can go viral than live broadcasts. VOD content is easier to implement if you want to provide the best video quality to your viewers provided that you have a lot of time to create and edit videos.
Ability to leverage editing tools
As on demand videos are pre-made, you can use different editing tools to create and make your videos appealing. You can use creative tools to implement your creative ideas and bring them into life with your videos, which cannot be used in live streaming.
Live Streaming
Live streaming or broadcasting your videos live is a modern streaming technology that lets you create, watch, and share live videos as it is shot. Considering the fact that the live streaming industry is projected to hit $70.05 billion by 2021, live videos are growing popular every year with a huge user base that enjoys and supports live streaming.
Unlike VOD content that is pre-produced and edited, live streaming is live, authentic, and unedited. You just need a smartphone and a stable internet connection, and a live streaming platform or an application to broadcast live from. Let’s explore some of the benefits of live broadcasts.
Simple to produce
When compared with VOD content, live videos are much easier to produce and fits into your budget as well. While you might just need a free social media platform to stream from, you might need a more professional setup including a live streaming software to broadcast your live videos with the best quality.
Takes less time to produce
Considering the time to produce a different type of content like blogs, and VOD content, live videos take quite less time to produce. While the time varies when it comes to traditional video production, it might take a couple of hours to create and edit even the simplest vlog. However, if you create live broadcasts that are 5 minutes long, it just takes 5 minutes.
Real time experience
Online audiences want to become a part of brand stories as they happen. This is why live streaming services for businesses are becoming a sensation today. Nothing is better than seeing your favorite brand showcase something right at the moment. Unlike years before, you can easily become part of your customer’s life instantly with live streaming.
Direct engagement
Live streaming helps to establish a direct and personal connection with brands and the audience. Through live chat and other engagement tools integrated into live streaming platforms, there is a huge possibility of direct engagement with customers is much more direct and personal than VOD.
It’s cheap
If you think about the cost of creating live videos, it is incredibly cheap. In fact, if you are planning to do on a small scale using free social media platforms it’s completely free. Even if you want to do it in a sophisticated professional setup, the cost is quite low making it an affordable option.
When to use video on demand and live streaming
Now that you know about live streaming and streaming video on demand, it’s time to find which is the best option that will help you take your business online to grow your business and generate revenue. VOD makes an effective online asset for your business to deliver more value to your audience for a longer time frame than a live streaming. Whereas, live streaming is an easy way to reach and connect with your audience due to its raw and instantly engaging nature.
Let’s find out when is the best time to use VOD and when you must use live streaming and the advantages of using it together.
When to use VOD
Launching a VOD service works great when you want to provide your target viewers with the convenience of choosing when to watch your content. People use VOD services pretty much every day for various purposes. One of the biggest advantages of streaming video on demand content is that you can produce videos in large batches and create a video library with the content your audience would love. If you want to use VOD to power your marketing activities, you can consider creating VOD service in any niche of your choice.
Corporate training is a good example of when VOD might be a better choice to adopt. You can also use VOD when you are running a business like an online fitness class, or running an online teaching business, or looking for streaming church services, or simply you want your audience to access your pre-made videos.
For example, Fiit is a fitness VOD platform which brings you high quality fitness experiences, regardless of where you are.
With easy integration and security, you can create a video on demand platform that offers the best quality video streams for all types of enterprise solutions.
When to use live streaming
Now that you know the difference between VOD streaming and live streaming and when to use VOD, let’s see when you must use live streaming for your business advantage. Live streaming suits scenarios when you have to establish a personal and authentic connection with your viewers in real-time. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, people would rarely watch a live video again as the second time is not as exciting as the first time. However, the Coronavirus pandemic has changed how people consume live streams.
Online viewers enjoy watching live streams live and again to kill time. Moreover, as most businesses have shut down their services, most of them are shifting their business operations and activities online. As the setup is easy and cheap, more businesses are adapting live broadcasting.
Live streaming or VOD: Deciding factors
Video on demand services set the basics for video streaming for any business, whereas live streaming solutions help to enhance the viewing experience and engagement considerably. Most successful streaming businesses leverage both live streaming and VOD to power their business operations. Use both to create extra layers of value for your business.
An ideal online video streaming business makes use of both types of content. This is how you can utilize both live streaming and video on demand.
Use live streaming to create a premium viewing experience.
Build a foundation of the video library with VOD content.
When your live broadcast ends, you can save the content to repurpose it later and use it for on demand streaming. However, make sure you choose the right type of live streams that have long-term value like interviews with important personalities, Q&A videos, product information, etc. that can be repurposed for future viewing.
Using a combination of both will help you to create a reliable core offering to grow your business, and emotionally connect with your customers for better customer experience and engagement.
Conclusion
Live streaming is the best way to take your business online and reach out to a global target audience for better connectivity and engagement. Whereas, streaming video on demand holds equal significance if you want to ensure better performance of your marketing efforts and build a long term asset which you can count on.
While both live streaming and VOD comes with its own advantages, the best option is to use a combination of both live and on demand streaming for your streaming business that excites your customers, generates more money, and will help you grow your business through the challenges that come on your way. Both live streaming and VOD can be great ways to support your video streaming strategy, it just depends on who your audience is and what you are using your videos for. Regardless of the type of streaming type you choose, the content you create must always be exciting and niche relevant.
Deciding between VOD vs live streamingrequires a detailed analytics of your businesses and its unique requirements. Get in touch with us to know what suits your business the best and how to proceed with business idea execution. We have the expertise of helping businesses to realize their requirements and offering the right video streaming solution that suits them the best.
Video streaming over the internet allows users to view and download video content from anywhere on the globe. Utilizing this technology, Netflix launched its videos streaming service in 2009 with video streaming for Hollywood movies and TV series. With aspects like HD video streaming, buffer-less streaming, affordable pricing, multi-user, and multi-platform support, Netflix revolutionized the way video content is consumed by the users; first in America and then everywhere on the planet.
If we consider today’s scenario of video content consumption, the audience is massive. In fact, it is large enough to accommodate Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime altogether. People love watching videos. When one-third of the internet traffic is videos only, there is massive scope for new entrants in the market to claim their share of revenue from this $20,501 million industry.
Considering this trend, a large number of entrepreneurs, who see VOD as a billion dollar industry, are entering in the market with their video streaming services. Netflix being a global example of a well-planned and efficient video streaming service, entice almost every VOD entrepreneur. Our collaboration with the founder of “Netv.net”, Simone, was a result of one such enticement with the Netflix business model and its portal’s architecture.
Background
Simone wanted to launch a video streaming service in America. On our first conversation itself, we were made clear that he wished to start a Netflix-like video streaming service. Though he did not intend to upload as many videos at the beginning, his requirements were not any less than Netflix-like scalability.
Video-Content Objective
You can make a website like Netflix. In fact, it’s not tough to design an identical clone of Netflix. What that makes your video streaming service different from Netflix are your own business model and Content quality. Simone was certain about adopting an identical business model like Netflix. However, he had some unique content ideas for his own version of the same-
Original content from independent creators
Prize-winning movies from film festivals
Popular web series content
The primary focus retained the intentions to fit original films from film festivals. Numerous film festivals occur everywhere on the planet. Many of them win some prestigious awards. However, such high valued content gets lost in the crowd of massive commercial films released every week. What a waste of some high-value and revolutionary content! The founder of NeTV wanted to give a commercial platform to such content. A win-win relationship where these awesome content creators get a platform and the platform gets some high valued, unique and exclusive content for its audience.
The Challenge
As we started evaluating the requirements, we found the following main challenges that needed our prominent attention-
Film festival content– The platform was supposed to fit originals, which is an inherited feature from the Netflix. However, the challenge was to design a home-page and category architecture that show-cases this content as a USP to the new users landing on the website.
Global Standards– Though the client primarily aimed at acquiring the audience from America, he was also open for worldwide consumers. Hence, the challenge was to design an internationally acceptable UI and architecture.
Registration Flow– The first thing that comes in mind with a Netflix-like business is its ground-breaking registration flow architecture. With this flow, a user can access the content only after registering a user account. The user registration flow actively involves the steps in a particular order-
Select a plan
Provide details(Name, Email, Contact Number)
Register account
Verify details (Email or Contact Number)
Make Payment
Continue browsing as per base plan
The challenge was to tweak the Registration flow with a custom requirement, which demanded the following flow:
Provide details
Register user account
Select a plan
Payment
Continue browsing
Free Trial– In this whole customized Registration Flow, the challenge was fitting a “One-month free trial”. That too with a selected subscription plan. After selecting a plan, the user is supposed to continue with a free one month trial.
Cancel Anytime– Like Netflix, the user must be allowed to cancel the subscriptions anytime.
Subscription Plans– The platform was supposed to offer three plans: One-month free trial, Plan-1, and Plan-2.
Auto Renewal– As soon as the trial is finished, the user subscription would be automatically renewed as per the selected plan
Categories on Homepage– We were supposed to implement the categories-architectures to segregate Originals, Film-festival content, and Web-series separately.
Cross-platform support-Last but one of the biggest challenge was making the platform compatible on almost every device. NeTV users were supposed to stream the video content anywhere from the following platforms-
WebRTC
Android App
iOS App
Coupon Management System- Like every smart online business, NeTV too wanted to offer various discounts to the users. For this, the platform was supposed to offer a coupon management system where the admin can create, deploy, and track discount coupons.
Content Moderation Dashboard- The Platform was supposed to offer a separate dashboard for content creators. Using this front-end dashboard, the content creators can upload their content, which will then be inspected by the Admin or Moderators before publishing them to the public.
Commission management system- The content creators would be paying commissions to the Admin. We were supposed to integrate both – a percentage-based commission system and an absolute amount-based commission system.
The Turnkey Solution
Netflix has done an exceptional job of anticipating the consumer needs and preparing its platform accordingly. After analyzing the requirements and post multiple communications with the client, the most suitable solution we settled on was a Netflix clone script. We selected our StreamView Netflix clone to do the job as a base script for the project.
The main reason for selecting the StreamView script was its similarity with Netflix’s architecture. Moreover, as per the client’s requirements, this script also offered the exact UI that he wished for. Just a few tweaks and UI-design would have been ready.
Requirements that were fulfilled by the base clone Script
Luckily, a majority of the requirements were seemingly being fulfilled with clone script alone. Here is a list of requirements and how Netflix Clone was able to offer the same with minimal or negligible modifications-
Business Requirements & SRS Documentation-
Based on the requirements analysis and solutions we proposed, an SRS document was prepared and shared with the client. After three iterations involving the client’s approval and modifications, we finalized the final document and started with the Implementation phase. With most of the requirements being already fulfilled with the base Netflix clone script, we moved to the customizations phase.
The customizations
As the majority of requirements were fulfilled by the based script, we had to perform minimalistic customization on the following features-
Registration Flow: We tweaked the registration flow to re-arrange the process as per the requirements (as stated in the ‘Challenges’).
Subscription plans– The default script offered four plans. Using the integrated plan management controls, we allowed the client to set new plans as per his choice. Default plans were one-month free trial plan, and three other plans like Netflix. The new customized plans were one-month free trial, and two other paid plans.
User support– Default script allowed a maximum number of simultaneous logins similar to Netflix. However, we had to tweak a little to allow admin to change the logins as follows: Plan 1 with SD video support and 1-login allowed at a time. Plan 2 with HD videos support and 2-Logins allowed at a time.
Technologies utilized in the project –
The Readymade Netflix clone script was built on the following technologies.
Bootstrap – Frontend Framework
Angular JS – Frontend UI
Laravel 5.2 – Backend
MYSQL – Database
Nginx Server – Streaming engine
DigitalOcean – Server Hosting
Firebase Cloud Messaging- Push notifications
REDIS Server and Queue Concept – Dynamic video compression and Resolution conversion.
PayPal Payment Gateway –on-site transactions
BitBucket- Version Control System.
Facebook and Google Plus API- Social login
JW Player-video player
SMTP- Email delivery
GreenDao- Android ORM
AFNetworking- Library for Apple devices
Process and Approach
A team consisting of the following members was assigned to the project-
One project Manager
One SEO expert
One graphic designer
One web designer
Two coders
One tester
We followed the agile model to develop the final script. Post each phase, the project was sent for review to the client as we kept posting of the progress through Trello Project Management System. The process continued in the following sequence-
Design- Finalized the design of the website.
Prototype- Prepared a prototype design using HTML and sent for review to the client.
Development – After multiple iterations, we finalized the design and continued with the development phase.
Testing- Post development, we conducted multiple testing sessions with different approaches and analyzed the software with functionality, regression, and strain testing.
Beta Phase- Post multiple iterations of testing and error handling, we exposed the beta version to a group of hundred users.
Re-development– We went through multiple iterations again to fix the issues detected in the beta phase. The project was again exposed to final testing before delivering the final version.
Applications
As per the customer requirements, the following applications were delivered to the client. All of the applications are synchronized with the WebRTC version of the project through a web service script.
Android Mobile App
iOS Mobile App
Outcome
The stable versions of the website and all the applications are now live. In a very short span of launching the service, the platform was able to get some decent number of customers. The business is performing extremely well with is unique value proposition of exclusive content, affordable plans, and multi-platform support.
The service currently offers three subscription plans-
One month free trial- with no commitment required
Popular plan- with $6.99/month and maximum one user allowed
Premium Plan-with $9.99/MONTH with maximum 2 users allowed
The client speaks and as we quote-
When asked the Founder about experiences with StreamView clone and StreamHash’s team, here is what he says:
Q1 – What made you start NeTV?
I have been working in the industry as marketer analyzer for many years, and since the beginning in early 2012 I have noticed that filmmakers work hard but not always received the recognition they deserve. NeTV is behind the filmmakers allowing them to easily distribute and profit their movies soon after attending the Film Festival. Many films get lost nowhere unless continuing financing the film in the hope to find distribution without losing any rights or loyalties. With NeTV it is possible.
Q2 – What makes NeTV stand out from the crowd?
NeTV is an independent network. Our platform will broadcast only originals independent films from festivals.
Q3 – Who are NeTV customers?
All major film festivals organizations around the world will join NeTV with their movie programs, from feature movies to short movies of any genre.
Q4 – How did you find StreamHash?
We have found StreamHash through the internet as it is the best-voted company outside the US to develop such a platform like NeTV.
Q5 – What challenges were you experiencing prior to purchasing our product or service?
None that I remember.
Q6 – How were the initial conversations with StreamHash Sales team? Can you specify how easy it was to gather requirements and kick off the project?
It was very simple to request the services through their website and soon after one of their personnel connected with us via Skype.
Q7 – How was your experience with StreamHash during the development process?
Excellent, they are working hard around the clock, always available.
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.
The internet is a boon to mankind which is a platform consuming the least amount of time in order to reach out to an insurmountable mass of audience. There is certainly an archive of web based services such as search engines, social media, blogs and others which has really remodeled the planet we are living in. Consider yourself lucky that such an impeccable service reached mankind without which the commencement of daily life would have been burdensome.
One of the most unscathed platforms which have been providing fun and frolic to the audience glued to the online TV for some years now is Netflix. Netflix was brought to the market even one year before Google which might be an element of surprise for many.
At first, Netflix was giving away DVDs through customary pay-per-rental model. Within two years time from its advent, in 1999 they propelled computerized distribution of motion pictures and TV shows. At that point, they have already set up their own selves as an amazing amusement supplier organization which prompted an effective IPO in 2002.
In 2000 Netflix offered Blockbuster for obtaining $50 million which they turned down. The video rental organization turned down the offer and today Netflix is esteemed as a $20 billion worth organization.
The film and TV series streaming organization coined Netflix allures 60 million viewers all around with a yearly income of $5.5 billion. Suggestion algorithms involve worrying for each online gateway, thus improving the situation of Netflix. To relieve that, in 2006 they held a million dollar challenge to get the circle of best suggestion algorithm.
Here in this article, I would like you to get a kick out of the chance to give you a thought on cost estimation for building a video streaming platform like Netflix.
For the most part, the cost to manufacture a VOD stage like Netflix frequently surpasses USD $50,000.
Impeccable and technically vibrant VOD stage at an ostensible improvement cost is the thing that everybody looks for regardless of the nation they are looking into due to the handover of the advancement venture in their enterprise.
As a matter of fact, the cost to build up a VOD stage differs extensively according to different platforms. Be that as it may, we are going to make a sincere endeavor to unravel the cost assessing equation to discover the closest figure to the correct improvement cost of the Netflix like VOD stage you are longing for.
In spite of the fact that hourly rates of the designers decide the cost, there are a few different variables to be mulled over while building a site like Netflix. We should observe those components that impact the last sticker price.
APPLICATION AND WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT TEAM
The task necessities matter and in light of this, the development group should be ready. A mobile application augmentation group would involve a UI/UX planner, 2 to 3 designers and a testing group.
For the online version of a movie streaming site like Netflix, you’ll be requiring 2 to 3 web engineers and UI/UX originator too.
Furthermore, you will obviously be requiring a backend advancement framework to deal with the operations in your application. Such endeavors will be carried out by an API engineer.
Building up your backend on StreamView would be a decent decision. As a video streaming podium, your servers will undoubtedly activity variances. Streamview offers an edge for engineers as far as execution and taking care of various clients is concerned.
Generally, the development of such a platform would cost around $25 per hour.
STREAMING VIDEO CONTENT LIVE
Technical difficulties associate the conglomeration of several third party outlays in order to arbitrate pivotal functionalities.
One might require assistance in order to initiate live streaming. A third party service such as StreamNow might be assistive in mediating live streaming for you.
Such kind of a live stream set up in general would exhaust as much as $45 per hour from the customer. It would set up payment wallets, subscription modules and monetization curriculum for the website as well.
The yielding nature of your video player chooses the experience remainder of end users. On the off chance that you choose to go for cost effective video streamers, StreamView would be a decent decision. However, since it is an open source platform, assistance can’t be normal.
HOSTING
Facilitating prerequisites for the formulation of a site like Netflix on a cloud foundation like Amazon ought to incorporate administrations like CDN, Amazon EC2, Elastic Transcoder, and Amazon S3 bucket.
FRAGMENTATION OF DEVICES
Gadget fracture comes up with equipment related challenges which you’ll need to overcome. Screen estimate, equipment particulars, screen resolutions, and OS version adaptation are some of the disputes you are likely to face.
DESIGN
Apprehending a design is the part in which clients make full utilization of in order to cooperate with your VOD platform. Altered UI is of high significance which would provide accommodation and brand involvement.
POST RELEASE EXPENSE
Application support or post discharge costs likewise signify your bill. Facilitating answers in order to keep your Netflix clone up and running, bolster for clients, a support group to evacuate specialized glitches on request and so on, are actually essential.
ACTUAL COST TO CREATE A MOVIE STREAMING PLATFORM LIKE NETFLIX
The advancement of a VOD platform on iOS, Android as well as the internet may cost roughly around $ 10,000 – $50,000.
On the off chance that you incorporate back-end administration into this, the cost will go up. Here are some of organizations that are making an extraordinary mark with regards to concocting a site like Netflix for entrepreneurial brains, SMBEs and other top-notch ventures
By the day’s end, we would recommend an immediate conversation with a VOD platform arrangement supplier for a superior thought.
STREAMVIEW is one commendable white-label solution which you aid you in formulating a Netflix clone. The video on demand script which is encoded at StreamView is scalable, impeccable and customizable as well. Streamview would present you with a Netflix clone including all the essential specks of Netflix itself.
At StreamView you can find an Ultimate plan for $699 and a deluxe plan for $199. The $699 plan would include distribution of your venture over Web, Android and iOS platforms which the plan with a lesser cost won’t include. However features like SEO optimization, payment gateways, Google analytics, and banner videos would be available in case you choose any one of the two plans.
This article has supposedly given you the idea as to what amount you would need to spend in case you are carving a platform such as Netflix. However, it totally depends on you as to what way you are going to commence for such an undertaking. Make sure that the application you are spending on is worth the cost incurred.
In today’s virtual industry you have so many things to choose from that often it gets you into a state of dilemma. Such is the demand for a VOD platform, which has fused the digital and physical world in a manner where one has become dependent on each other.
If you are commencing video content in this digital or machine influenced era your audience will be looking up to you and will be asking for answers as to how comprehensively you have “tuned in” to a broadcast which your spectators would rate as commendable.
They will also be looking into the specks as to whether you have fulfilled their demands of having a colossal archive from where they would be able to select from.
Abundant broadcasters looking to concoct a video on demand platform are completely mindful that the circumstances are changing in their industry every second, yet many have eased back when they needed to respond to these progressions. Some are as yet stuck in the outlook of only five years back when telecasters were as yet ready to manage calendars for their groups of audience.
It is not at all shocking that there is a solid hunger among broadcasters to ‘catch up’ with their groups of onlookers and to begin addressing the significant difficulties that the alternating viewer requests display.
Wouldn’t you like to know the things that have altered the broadcasting industry? Of course, you do. Let us discuss this as a priority.
One can define broadcasting as a one-to-many model, where onlookers assume a simply aloof part. An entire biological system of equipment and work processes grew up through the years to nourish this once-effective and ever-predominant model. In any case, in the last 5-10 years, things have quickly changed. Furthermore, the pace of progress has gotten numerous broadcasters wanting to commence a video on demand platform on the jump.
Advanced video, video-on-request (VOD) and TV Everywhere (TVE) administrations have detonated onto a large number of stages and gadgets.
These administrations give watchers extreme control over where, when, and how they could watch content. In only a couple of years, the conventional models appear to be obsolete and are currently attempting to stay aware of innovation, client desire, and web-scale content conveyance.
All of a sudden, the gizmo utilized by an audience, alongside the source telecaster, are optional to the genuine substance which is on offer.
Together with video on demand platform, content produced by client and infringement are changing the substance of video amusement. More than 500 million YouTube channels compete with other interpersonal organizations against customary configurations.
Due to this clients are ending up progressively baffled at the test of finding pertinent substance and are moving over to administrations like Netflix.
The prominence of online video platform utilization with a high social remainder is epidemically expanding. Continuous games, reality appears, shows, sitcoms, and kids’ projects are among the most mainstream sorts in social TV today.
This prompts a progression of focused situations between all the significant players, including content suppliers, content packages, designing organizations, gadget makers, innovation organizations, organize administrators, and publicizing organizations.
Organizations and broadcasters are redoing their offerings to take into account the movements of the direct broadcast which is getting to be plainly littler as the greater part of material progress toward becoming on-demand.
There are some challenges you have to face while starting a subscription VOD platform. Quite a few of them would be:
Promotions
Implementing VoD endorsement additions has not been culminated and most systems are not willing to be problematic without the correct arrangement. On account of cable lines, the conveyance of VOD promotions is in the hands of cable providing organizations. With the integration of set-top boxes, there is a requirement for a limitation for dynamic VOD endorsement for the crosswise institutionalization over set-top boxes.
Another hurdle you might be facing is the way that implanted business inventories ordinarily run for only a month implying that promoters need to endure for a contracted period before having the capacity to evacuate an advertisement that isn’t faring admirably.
Content
Business initiating video on demand platform need to remember that buyers are lurking here and there for better substance disclosure through their companions utilizing social TV and second screen applications.
After we upgraded from analog to computerized TV broadcasting which got a taste of progress, smart TVs by creators, for example, Samsung and Sony immediately picked up a lot of fame for enabling clients to make utilization of the implicit Wi-Fi to talk with friends over Facebook or searching other stuff over a search engine while watching a program.
Genuine Presence of Multi-Platform
Your audience would today need vast control over their video utilization. The availability of substance over assorted stages has been one of the key factors in driving VoD development.
The absence of implanting substance over second and third screens can upset the development prospects.
Engagement
Civil computations have prompted the runaway achievements of VoD such as like House of Cards and Game of Thrones. It is vital that developers should be enticed and captivated through promos and trailers to keep the buzz on for their content.
The absence of it will mean tumbling appraisals and watchers moving on to another online video platform which would have an archive consisting of better and buzzing substance.
Innovation
Any VOD platform should re-find themselves now and again with UI changes, library name change arrangements, a better substance security practices and introduce free streaming. Netflix as of late abandoned its party UI, after detailed research, to refine and facilitate its substance so that it becomes discoverable to the viewers.
Certain subscription VOD platform such as Netflix and Amazon has their pros and cons. This does not mean you cannot trust these organizations that bring you the best video content for the most economical price.
STREAMVIEW is one such solution which would let you create an unblemished video on demand platform in return for a price which you would have never imagined.
Being an absolute white-labeled solution this enterprise helps to create a Netflix like venture if required. The unscathed script of Streamview which can be a clone of any VOD platform as requested by the customer has been attracting audiences from corners of the world since its advent.
The scalability and the personalization properties allow concocting an impenetrable bond between the customer and the admin. Even your audience would have enough control over their video consumption. You can now modify the front desk user interface by the addition of certain notable features in the mobile application of the business.
Most importantly, for a subscription VOD platform, you can also take the aid of Streamview in designing a payment wallet of your choice. The payment wallet to be integrated will certainly be a robust and secure platform and enhance the confidence of the customer. Just in case you are looking for a solution which would curtain the challenges faced while formulating a vod platform you can definitely switch your focus over to one of the best solutions available in the market which is Streamview.
