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Top 5 Reasons to Start your OTT Channel

By May 1, 2022May 2nd, 2022No Comments

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Top 5 Reasons to Start Your OTT Channel

As you’ll soon find out, there are plenty of benefits that come with starting an independent OTT channel. However, first, let’s go over some general information to set us on the right path.

What is OTT?

You can read an in-depth description of what OTT is in this blog post here, but here’s a quick overview before we hop to it on why it can be so beneficial to start your own channel:

OTT stands for ‘over the top’ and refers to the fact that much of today’s streaming is done over the top of traditional cable. All you need is a streaming box and an internet connection and you are good to watch a seemingly endless parade of movies, shows, shorts, you name it. It’s such an easy process that people are starting to create their own OTT channels hosted over the internet, so they don’t have to deal with platforms like YouTube or Netflix.

And the benefits of starting an OTT channel are definitely worth it (especially if it’s both easy to do and free). So without further adieu, let’s roll out the reasons why you should start.

#5

Time to Get Serious about Your Future as a Creator.

Like most of us video creators, you may have started out sharing content on YouTube and maybe Vimeo. Or you started out posting your videos on Instagram or TikTok. These platforms are the obvious place to start sharing video content since they are free, easy, and bring lots of viewers to their platforms. So, it makes perfect sense to many creators to start there. But at some point, serious creators eventually realize that they can only take their content so far on these free social video platforms. Not to mention, the rules and thresholds are always changing. Eventually the free platforms can lose their utility and even hold a creator back from real success as a content business. 

For creators who are serious about developing their creative careers and content, or monetizing their content directly, or both, it may be time to start your OTT Channel. The good news is this does not have to be an “either-or” decision. You can start your OTT Channel but continue feeding and building your audience on YouTube, TikTok and the other social platforms. In fact, you should continue using them. But it may be time to start looking at those places more like marketing channels than primary business platforms. Use them to build an audience, while you begin building your own branded content destination where you can offer premium OTT content and engage more directly with your audience under your own brand. 

Your OTT Channel is simply a better platform from which to build a directly targeted audience and distribution strategy. If this is not reason enough to start your OTT Channel, we have 4 more.

#4

Start Building a Direct-to-Consumer Business and Get on a Better Track Towards Distribution.  

You have great content. The stories you tell are inspiring the people who follow them, and chances are you have a target audience out there that is passionate enough about your content that they would be willing to pay for it to support you. So it’s time to start planning to launch your own OTT Channel with Endavo. Alternatively, if you think your content would be attractive to some of the increasing number of online distribution channels in the OTT market actively looking for content, then you should also consider launching an independent OTT channel. The investment in building your direct-to-consumer (D2C) business will be much greater, sure. However, it will be much more rewarding in the long-term.

Building a D2C OTT Channel may seem daunting at first, but I promise, it is achievable with the right strategy. It starts with great content and storytelling of course, for Content is King! So if you have entertaining or informative content that people will value, you already have a great start. After that, you need to have an audience strategy. Perhaps you already have a big following on YouTube or TikTok, but do you engage with them or know much about them? If so, can you imagine or foresee growing your fan base directly? If given the right tools, could you convert 1,000, 10,000, 100,000 fans into subscribers or event tickets? If so, then it is time to start your OTT Channel so you can start building a monetization and distribution strategy that puts you and your content on a path to big time success! Have you ever read “1,000 True Fans”? Check it out. You might find inspiration. 

Whether your goal is building a D2C steaming business or developing distribution partnerships with platforms like Pluto TV, Xumo, Amazon Prime Channels or the Roku Channel, or even Netflix, starting an OTT Channel could be an important step towards accomplishing those goals vs. trying to jump directly from YouTube. Endavo can help you not only build your own premium OTT Channel, but we also represent a conduit to many other distribution outlets. Think of us as your VDA hub. We coined Video Distribution AutomationTM (VDA) and developed our platform to give creators a central place to build their content libraries and distribute to outside channels, in addition to building their D2C OTT apps. Want to learn more about VDA?

#3

Take Control of your Brand and User Experience. 

One of the most frustrating things about YouTube and TikTok is how easy it is to get lost in the shuffle of endless video recommendations designed by those platforms to keep viewers on their platforms, instead of on your channels. We can’t blame them for doing that since we have to realize they are looking out for their business and brand, not necessarily yours.

If your content and your brand are truly valuable to you, then you must take care of it and develop it your way, for your audience. You can’t just stay on YouTube and get frustrated because your audience is being presented with the “rabbit hole” of other content recommendations, or YouTube is playing ads that don’t align with your brand or audience, or that your channel is really wrapped by and designed to fit YouTube’s brand, not yours. 

Starting your OTT Channel with Endavo is an easy and affordable step toward developing your very own OTT destination and brand that is entirely under your control. Ever dream of seeing your SVOD brand and content on all the OTT platforms, like Roku, Fire TV and Apple TV, just like Netflix? Do you want to put on live virtual events and give your audience amazing ways to interact with creators and each other? Want to conduct a virtual live film festival or screening? Whatever your brand looks like, you can take control of it by starting your own OTT Channel.

start your OTT channel

#2

Take Control of How You Monetize Your Content.

Let’s face it, building an audience on YouTube, Instagram and TikTok is great. But at some point, it’s time to start thinking about better ways to monetize your content and engage with your fans. We’ve met a LOT of creators who have put a LOT of work into their YouTube channels, as well as the other social video platforms, but the ROI (return on investment) is rarely there. YouTube and the others give you a lot for free, but free is in exchange for them monetizing your content and audience. Sure, they share a little back, but in the end it’s their money and they keep changing the rules on you. Again, the investment in building your own D2C business will be much greater, however it’ll be much more rewarding in the long-term if you take control over your content business. 

One of the best ways to start taking control of your monetization and content business is to start your own OTT Channel. At Endavo, your OTT Channel gives you the immediate flexibility to try out different consumer models and figure out what works best for you, your content, and your viewers. Is it a subscription (SVOD) channel? Want to do PPV live events? Want to offer movie or docuseries rentals (TVOD)? What about a free live event and ask people to donate? Do you want to crowdfund your channel or series to fund continued content development, like the next season, through member support? Ultimately as you scale up your viewership, wouldn’t it be great to curate your own ad inventory or sell sponsorships to brands that align with your content and audience? All of this is at your fingertips if you start your OTT Channel with Endavo. It’s your content. It should be your business as well.

#1

Take Control of your Data.

Why is this reason #1? The same reason this is probably the #1 asset that YouTube and all the other free platforms get from you, your content, and your audience – your data. And you should know that they use your data for their own business purposes. They own your data. Data is essential to successfully run a streaming business, whether for content development, marketing, sales, customer retention, monetization models, etc. On Endavo, starting your OTT Channel means getting and owning all the real-time data you need to start building your audience strategy and ultimately your D2C business or distribution. 

Even if you are seeking development funding for your content, having your own OTT Channel data gives you a leg up YouTubers. You’ll have much more information at your fingertips for investors and you keep control over everything. And on Endavo, it’s your data. You’ll get much more control over the types of data you need reported and total control to export it and use it however you need to run your business. 

Data is often one of the most overlooked assets for creators trying to monetize their content and build audiences. But data drives everything. Data is critical. So, start your OTT Channel on Endavo and take immediate control of your data and content business!

The Best Part? Getting Started is Super Easy— and Free.

Endavo is a video distribution automation company helping creators like you build their own OTT channel. Try us FREE for 30 days and you’ll understand why Endavo is the best place for your business. Visit our Help Center to get started with your new account in six easy steps:

  1. OTT Channel Website – Start making your website your own and get ready to upload videos and go live!
  2. Upload Videos and Schedule Live – Start building your content library and plan events and performances.
  3. Set Up Your Channels – Build channels to organize your content for your audience to easily access.
  4. Add Home Page Banners – Spice up your site by adding your own branding and promote your content and events with home page sliders! 
  5. Accept Payments – Integrate your Stripe account to start selling content or taking donations.
  6. Set Up Plans – Easily set up subscription channels, video rentals, and PPV live events.  

Want to see a live OTT Channel? Check out this demo channel to see what your channel could look like!

In Summary…

So, what’s the punch line here? Why do you need an OTT Channel? If you are an entrepreneurial creator seeking to build a D2C business with your content or develop premium distribution channels, you need to find a platform that allows you to harness the same superpowers that the big OTT platforms, like Netflix and Hulu, all have to build their businesses. And you need to get control over your content, brand, audience, monetization and data. Lucky for you, you may very well be in the right place right now 😊