Exploring Video on Demand
and OTT Platforms
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CRTC Streaming Levy 2026: What OTT Platforms Actually Owe
Quick answer: The CRTC streaming levy is a set of contribution rules for large online streamers under Canada’s Online Streaming Act. The 2024 5% base contribution is stayed in court and slated for elimination (Michael Geist); the 2026 15% spending framework is under government-directed review (Cassels); no new payments are flowing. Small services under C$25…
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Can a Satellite TV Channel Stream on an OTT App in India? The WAVES Case Explained
Quick answer: Yes, in most cases. The MIB told the TDSAT on 12 October 2026 that OTT platforms are governed by the IT Rules, 2021, not the 2022 satellite uplinking and downlinking guidelines. The open risk is for broadcasters: the guidelines limit who may receive their satellite decoders, so how the feed reaches the OTT…
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How to Launch an OTT Platform in Nigeria and Kenya
Quick answer: To launch an OTT platform in Nigeria or Kenya, pick one country and one audience niche, secure territorial rights, and match monetization to the market: subscriptions plus direct debit or card billing in Nigeria, advertising plus M-PESA payments in Kenya. Design for low data use, pilot for 90 days, and scale only once…
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Do All Streaming Plans Have Ads Now? We Read the Fine Print of 6 “Ad-Free” Plans
Quick answer: No. Most major streamers still offer a paid tier with no commercial breaks during on-demand movies and series. But “ad-free” now usually excludes live sports, live events, linear channels, trailers, house promotions and sponsorships. On several services, those can carry ads on every plan, including the most expensive one. Do all streaming plans have…
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OTT Market Entry: Partner or Go Direct?
Your OTT market entry strategy comes down to one question: what do you own in the new country, and what must you rent? In September 2026, JioHotstar launched as a standalone app in the UK, Canada and Singapore. A month later it entered the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) inside another company’s app. Same…
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OTT Break-Even in 2027: What Netflix’s 5% Job Cuts Teach Small Streamers
Quick answer: OTT break-even = monthly fixed costs ÷ (contribution per subscriber − monthly churn × acquisition cost). Using our assumptions, a ₹299/month service with ₹5 lakh fixed costs needs about 2,230 subscribers on paper but 2,840 once 8% monthly churn and ₹600 acquisition cost are counted. Bringing churn down from 12% to 5% lowers…
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YouTube vs Your Own OTT Platform: The Break-Even Math Most Guides Skip
Quick answer: Build on YouTube until you can prove people will pay. Launch your own OTT platform when your paying audience covers the platform’s monthly running cost. For most creators, sports bodies and media brands, the sensible order is YouTube for reach, then YouTube channel memberships to test payment, then your own OTT app for…
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FAST Channel License India: TRAI ALTD Rules Explained
Quick answer: No. As of 12 October 2026, India has no FAST channel license in force. TRAI has finished consulting on rules for app-based linear TV, including FAST, but the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has not notified any rules. Until it does, FAST and OTT apps fall under the IT Rules, 2021. Source: TRAI…
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Sports Streaming Rights: What ISL’s Free YouTube Deal Means for OTT Builders
On 7 October 2026, the Indian Super League confirmed that every one of its 163 matches this season will stream live and free on YouTube. For fans, that is simple good news. For anyone building a sports OTT app, it raises a harder question about sports streaming rights: if the league is giving matches away,…
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How to Launch a Free Ad-Supported Sports Channel Inside Your OTT App
Quick answer: To launch a free ad-supported sports channel inside an existing OTT app, add it as a tab in your current app rather than a new app, fill it with content you hold ad-supported rights to (highlights, shows, delayed replays, selected live games), insert ads with SSAI (server-side ad insertion), require a free account…
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