Key VOD and OTT Trends to Watch Out in 2018

In 2017, the broadcasting industry has seen a lot of changes. Various new technology trends have emerged on the landscape, whereas a few existing ones have gained wide acceptance. Video on Demand (VOD) and Over the Top (OTT) are two such trends, which have gained acceptance due to factors such as improving broadband speeds, reducing technology costs, and competitive pricing. As per various industry reports, these trends will continue to make headlines in 2018, too. How? Read the post to know more.

2018: Key VOD and OTT Trends Discussed

1.     Live Streaming will Gain Immense Strength: In 2017, over 40% of millennial have made their live videos, whereas over one-third of internet users have streamed live videos made by their friends and celebrities. This suggests that live videos will continue to be a trend in 2018, too. Facebook and YouTube are a popular choice for live videos. Twitter is exploring this trend, and has announced a partnership with BBC for news content and live videos. Additionally, virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributor (vMVPD), and Sell Videos Online on Subscription (SVOD) are also harnessing this trend to compete with social media platforms.

2.    The Growth of vMVPDs: In 2017, traditional cable TV networks faced severe losses due to loss of subscribers, whereas new age digital pay TV providers have registered immense growth at the same time. According to a report by Pivotal Research Group, various virtual multichannel video-programming distributors (vMVPDS) such as PlayStation Vue, Sling TV, YouTube TV, and DirectTV now are already powering 1.4 million homes in the US. It means, vMPVPDS are holding 20% of the US subscriber market. Despite certain limitations in the selection of channels, supported devices, and geographies, these services will grow significantly in 2018.

3.    Cord Cutting will be All-time High: In 2017, over a million viewers have opted for streamlined solutions over multichannel subscription services. Various industry reports suggest that this cord cutting trend will continue in 2018, too. All major and local media companies are gearing up to seize the opportunity to leverage this demand.

4.    AR, 360 ^o, and VR Videos will Scale Up: A report suggests that Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) headsets worth $9.7 million will be sold across the world by 2020. The year 2018 will witness the extreme adoption of AR devices such as ARKit and AR via ARCore. The industry players such as Google, Facebook, and Apple have already planned colossal investment in various immersive and engaging 360° video technologies. The latest OTT trends suggest that these technologies will make an impact on the movie industry, too. The new VR center by IMAX in Manchester suggests the same.

5.    4K Videos will Set the Stage: As known, various OTT providers are competing with each other to leverage the features of blu-ray and 4K formats. Nowadays, 4K supportive laptops and smartphones are gaining popularity. In 2017, the 1080p format became more accessible to traditional TV viewers due to fall in prices of 4K TVs, and wide availability of smartphone supporting the format. This trend will continue to grow in 2018. Some industry experts suggest that the reality isn’t far when viewers will be categorized into various viewing classes on the basis of 4K technology.

6.    Artificial Intelligence will Play a Key Role: Tracking customer’s behavior is one of the key challenges faced by a content creator. This is where Artificial Intelligence (AI) can make a difference. Various AI features will help content creators to analyze the video metadata, spot trends like most viewed series, viewership peaks, etc. This would help content creators to approach viewers with more engaging content.

The above mentioned are only a few VOD and OTT trends supposed to gain traction in 2018. Are you a new age digital broadcaster planning to leverage these trends? Or a traditional TV subscriber service trying to adopt these trends? If yes, you can approach an industry expert, who will make transition easier for you. RGB Broadcasting is a leading broadcasting company in India, which have helped several broadcasters like you to adopt these trends effectively.