by With the advancement of technology and increasing access to high-speed internet, people’s consumption of online video content has skyrocketed over the past few years. This has made video streaming software one of the most commonly used types of applications today. Let’s take a deeper look into the rising popularity of video streaming and the different options available in the market.
Growth of Video Streaming
Online video consumption has seen tremendous growth globally with millions of people streaming content on platforms like YouTube, Netflix and more every day. According to studies, the average viewing time per user for online video content has increased by over 50% in the past 5 years alone. Some key factors that have contributed to this growth are:
Ubiquitous High-Speed Internet: Widespread availability of high-speed internet through broadband and mobile networks has enabled seamless streaming even on mobile devices.
Affordable Data Plans: Mobile data plans have become much more affordable in recent times allowing people to stream multimedia content easily on their phones and tablets.
Sharp Improvement in Device Screens: Devices today come with large, high-resolution and vibrant screens that deliver an excellent video viewing experience.
Pandemic-Driven shift to Work From Home: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to more people staying indoors and streaming entertainment content for leisure during quarantine and work from home routines.
Growth in OTT Media Services: Paid streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar and more offer large catalogs of on-demand content driving more sign-ups.
Major Streaming Software Options
With the growing market Video Streaming Software for streaming video, there is no dearth of options available for individuals, organizations and enterprises looking to build their own streaming platforms or websites. Here are some of the popular choices in the video streaming software space:
OBS Studio: A free and open-source tool primarily used by streamers on Twitch and YouTube for desktop streaming. It offers advanced features like recording, scene switching etc.
Streamlabs: A desktop app for Windows and Mac that provides tools to launch and manage live streams to Twitch or YouTube with overlays and alerts. Also has mobile apps.
Vimeo: Known for hosting and monetizing videos, Vimeo also offers a robust enterprise-level video streaming solution for businesses with plugins for LMS etc.
Wowza Streaming Engine: A commercial solution extensively used by broadcasters and enterprises for live streaming, VoD and DVR functionality over multiple protocols.
Zoom: While known for video conferencing, the platform offers reliable streaming services as well through its webinar capabilities and integration with tools like YouTube.
Kaltura: A leader in video platform as a service technology used by universities, companies and TV networks to power their video experiences online or through mobile/TV apps.
Brightcove: Provides all aspects of online video management – hosting, encoding, content management, analytics and monetization tools for media companies.
Features to Consider
When choosing a video streaming solution, some important factors to evaluate are:
Cost & Licencing
Storage Capacity
Encoding Formats
Delivery Network
Multi-Platform Support
Uptime Reliability
Analytics & Metrics
Customization Options
SDKs & Integrations
Security & Privacy
Vendor Reputation
Support Services
The right software should suit one’s specific use cases, content type, audience size, budget and technical requirements. Free open-source options work well for individuals while paid tools from Zoom, Kaltura or Brightcove are preferred for large organizations.
Future of Streaming
Experts forecast video streaming traffic to grow exponentially in coming years driven by higher bandwidth access worldwide and evolving consumption habits. Major tech companies are working on low-latency streaming technologies using standards like AV1 to deliver life-like streams on any device. Edge computing and 5G networks will help support real-time interactive experiences beyond just broadcasts. Immersive media formats employing VR/AR are also expected to find wider application in video platforms. Overall, online video is set to remain one of the dominant mediums of content delivery and consumption landscape globally.
Video streaming has emerged as a formidable sector today due to convergence of multiple factors. While free tools cater to individuals and SMBs, advanced commercial solutions equip enterprises to build sophisticated media platforms. With continuous innovation, streaming is poised to get richer and more immersive to enthral audiences across the world. The market is ripe with opportunities for software vendors as well as for content creators, publishers and service providers.
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
