Don’t let the title fool you – OTT platforms are still relevant in this day and age, and are currently one of the best ways to consume television shows and movies, much recently. Especially since the coronavirus hit the globe like wildfire, streaming platforms were most of our go-to entertainment spots. With no sports, live events, etc. happening around the world, OTTs literally saved people from boredom for months. And they profited heavily too. No, what we were talking about is the term “OTT” – aka “Over the Top”, which seems to have pretty much run its course.
OTTs were initially named as such due to their reference to devices that go “over” a cable box to give the user access to TV content. In OTT channels, content is delivered via an internet connection rather than through a traditional cable/broadcast provider. But now, the internet acts as a basic layer for viewing specialized content, so the phrase “Over the Top” has become redundant. YouTube, Dailymotion, Twitch, etc. are examples of free streaming sites which are easily accessible via the internet.
Streaming platforms were always the future of the viewing experience, but only few media platforms had the guts to pour all their capital into investing and fully integrating into the then-scarce market (around a couple of decades ago). And out of the many, the first one to get international fame and recognition was Netflix. This OTT paved the path for the old and the new alike – with Hulu, Amazon, Windows, Apple and Disney (among others) quickly following suit. This changed the TV dynamic, as many TV networks were forced to reduce their prices to make it appeal to the newer generation.
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