MEDFORD, NJ and SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 30, 2013) - StreamingMedia.com, the premier online destination for the streaming media industry and community, today announced the availability of a new report, titled "OTT Video: Coming to a Paid Channel Near You." In the report, StreamingMedia.com and Unisphere Research's team of experts summarizes and analyzes the results of its recent survey on over-the-top (OTT) video and security trends, with pay-TV operators, content owners and technology providers offering insight into the current and future state of OTT video, and exploring continuing challenges and opportunities.
Sponsored by Verimatrix, and featuring an executive summary by Dan Rayburn, executive vice president, StreamingMedia.com, the report reveals that the number of companies involved in OTT delivery will grow and the proportion of those businesses substantially invested in OTT technologies will more than double over the next three years. Additionally, the pay model for OTT services is seen as growing in dominance compared to a free or advertising-supported model, which is a very significant change of perception for Internet video that was initially interpreted as a free alternative to traditional TV services.
"This survey and report sought to uncover the latest views on the current and future state of OTT video from inside the trenches. Respondents provided new details about the business, highlighting shifts in models, commercial and technical challenges and security implications for the growing business sector," said Rayburn. "The respondents already see significant parts of their businesses influenced by the OTT model, in which programming, both live and on-demand, is delivered directly to consumers' devices, via increasingly robust broadband networks."
Key findings of the report include:
- 48 percent of respondents believe that rights management is the largest single business-related issue for multi-screen service delivery today
- A majority, 59 percent of respondents say broadband bandwidth limitations are currently the leading technical obstacle to OTT adoption. Quality of service and quality of experience -- which may also be related to bandwidth issues -- is also seen as an obstacle by 55 percent
- 53 percent of respondents prefer HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) -- with enhanced rights management or basic encryption -- twice as much compared to Adobe Flash Access and Microsoft PlayReady for OTT video security
- Close to one-third of respondents indicate they simply do not know their strategy for managing digital rights management (DRM) across different networks and devices
Indeed, the issue of content security is explored at length in the report. With many respondents acknowledging that content protection is a murky area to navigate and that the need for common approaches, that provide consistent quality across multi-screen environments, has never been greater.
"StreamingMedia.com and Unisphere Research is well known and respected for providing insightful and informed analysis on the key trends and issues impacting the OTT video industry, and this is report is no exception," said Steve Oetegenn, chief sales and marketing officer, Verimatrix. "Because this is such a fast-evolving market segment, this report enables us to help our customers stay ahead of key issues and make informed decisions about their OTT content security strategy and investments."
The report is available for download at www.streamingmedia.com/VMXOTTReport
About Streaming Media Magazine and StreamingMedia.com
Streaming Media magazine (StreamingMedia.com) is the premier magazine and website for professionals seeking industry news, information, articles, directories and services. Led by a team of recognized industry experts, Streaming Media is dedicated to providing industry professionals and corporations using digital media technology with global real-time news, expert opinion and analysis, and in-depth industry research. Streaming Media Xtra, the weekly e-newsletter considered a "must read" by industry insiders, has a senior level readership now exceeding 38,000. For more information about Streaming Media magazine and other Streaming Media products and services, visit streamingmedia.com and follow us at @streamingmedia or on Facebook.
About Verimatrix
Verimatrix specializes in securing and enhancing revenue for multi-network, multi-screen digital TV services around the globe. The award-winning and independently audited Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS™) and ViewRight® solutions enable cable, satellite, terrestrial, IPTV and OTT operators to cost-effectively extend their networks and enable new business models. As the established leader in cardless security solutions, the company has leveraged its innovative 3-Dimensional Security approach to provide harmonized rights for premium content delivery to a range of devices over new hybrid network combinations.
Maintaining close relationships with major studios, broadcasters, standards organizations and its unmatched partner ecosystem enables Verimatrix to provide a unique perspective on video business issues beyond content security as operators introduce new services to take advantage of the proliferation of connected devices. Verimatrix is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. For more information, please visit www.verimatrix.com, our Pay TV Views blog and follow us at @verimatrixinc, Facebook and LinkedIn to join the conversation.