EXPERT OPINION
Colocation optimises OTT
streaming for success in thriving market
Bryan Hill , Director ,
Interxion : A Digital Realty Company , Platforms , discusses the steps to building a strong IT infrastructure in order to generate user interest and long-term subscribers in the OTT media services market , and why colocating
IT in a dense connectivity hub is beneficial . n response to COVID-19 related quarantining and
I lockdowns , the hunger for athome streaming skyrocketed beyond expectation . What was once a US $ 110.1 billion industry in 2018 , the OTT media services market is now predicted to grow to US $ 438.5 billion in revenue by 2026 .
In the UK alone , people doubled the number of minutes spent streaming video content each day and 12 million subscribed to a new streaming service . Netflix seized a large slice of the increased user population early , doubling its expectations and adding 15.77 million paid subscribers globally in the first quarter .
Despite the uptick in streaming , there is of course a ceiling for how many OTT services can be successful , especially as COVID-19 continues to impact economies . Consumers are increasingly overwhelmed by the flood of subscription options and are less willing to pay for numerous , amidst an economy influx . To predict which services will prevail , it comes down to four factors :
• Fantastic , diverse or ‘ must have ’ content
• High-quality streaming experience
• Wide distribution
• Affordable price
With so many offerings competing for consumers ’ time , OTT services need to nail each of these factors to earn a sustainable user base . At the same time , our global digital ecosystem is under immense pressure as more of our lives go online . Most digital companies have
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