Watching TV series and variety shows during leisure time at home has become a popular way to pass the time. Since the pandemic, mobile devices and smart TVs have once again become the center of home entertainment, providing viewers with more options and further expanding the OTT market. If you plan to develop an OTT app compatible with both mobile and TV devices in 2024, what costs should you consider? This article will provide a detailed analysis to help you fully understand the investment required to start your video streaming services.
Infrastructure Costs
Server bandwidth costs are incurred in real time, mainly influenced by the number of users and concurrency. To ensure a good user experience, it is recommended to use cloud server and CDN (Content Delivery Network) service. Cloud servers provide basic computing resources, while CDN accelerates content distribution and reduces latency, optimizing server performance.
Cloud Servers
Cloud servers provide computing, storage, and network resources. Costs depend on the scale of users and the quality of service (e.g., AWS, Google Cloud, Azure). When choosing a cloud server, consider the following factors:
Processor and Memory: Choose the right configuration based on the number of users and application complexity to ensure the ability to handle high concurrent requests.
Storage Space: Select enough storage space based on the quantity and quality of video content, preferably using high-speed SSD storage to improve read speeds.
Network Bandwidth: Choose a high-bandwidth network connection to ensure smooth playback of high-definition videos.
CDN (Content Delivery Network)
CDN distributes content to nodes worldwide, reducing user access latency. The cost of using CDN mainly relates to the following factors:
Traffic Fees: Purchase traffic packages based on user access volume, usually priced in tiers.
Node Distribution: Choose a CDN provider with wide coverage and dense nodes to ensure good access speed for users regardless of their location.
Cost Estimates
Cloud Servers: $500 - $5,000 per month
CDN: $1,000 - $20,000 per month
Development Costs for OTT Apps
The process includes determining functions, product prototype design, UI design, development, deployment, and maintenance.
Basic Features: Video play, search, category, introduction, episodes, user registration, and basic UI/UX design. These need to be managed and edited in the background.
Advanced Features: Interactive features like comments and likes, multi-language support, offline viewing, DRM (Digital Rights Management), and monetization models (SVOD, AVOD, TVOD).
Platform Compatibility: Developing for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, web, smart TVs) will increase costs.
Cost Estimates
Depending on function complexity and the development team's experience with costs from a few thousand dollars.
Licensing and Content Costs
Besides software and hardware costs, running your own video streaming app also requires content costs. It is highly variable, ranging from a few thousand to millions of dollars annually.
Summary
Building an OTT app compatible with both mobile and TV devices requires a comprehensive consideration of server costs and software costs. For companies with limited budgets, choosing a mature OTT app software system is a better option. These systems have been market-tested, offering good compatibility and stability with most functions already implemented. They can be deployed directly.
Additionally, compliant use of copyrighted resources is crucial for long-term operation. By optimizing user experience and enriching content, you can gain user recognition in a competitive market.
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