Exploring Video on Demand
and OTT Platforms
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DACH OTT Platform Launch Guide 2026: The Germany, Austria and Switzerland Rules Most Launch Checklists Miss
Launching a DACH OTT platform is no longer a question of whether German-speaking viewers will stream. They already do: VAUNET forecasts that streaming will account for 52% of Germany’s audio and audiovisual media revenue in 2026 (VAUNET autumn 2026 forecast). The harder question is what a new service has to get right in Germany, Austria…
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Linear to Streaming Migration: What BBC Three Already Taught Broadcasters
Quick answerA linear to streaming migration moves a TV channel’s audience from a broadcast schedule to internet delivery (on-demand, live streams, or a streamed linear channel). The BBC’s own history shows the risk: when BBC Three went online-only in 2016, it lost most of its young audience and returned to TV in 2022. The safe…
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FAST Channel Economics 2027: The Revenue-per-Viewing-Hour Model for Roku, Tubi, Pluto TV and Samsung TV Plus
Quick answer: FAST channel economics come down to one number: how much you keep per hour someone watches. Multiply ad slots per hour by fill rate, effective CPM and your share of the inventory, and you get revenue per viewing hour (RPVH). Divide your monthly costs by RPVH and you know how many viewing hours…
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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…