We all know How OTT Platforms earn money, but what goes behind delivering us that content?

What happens behind the scenes?
What happens when you log-in?
What happens when you press the Play Button?

A Thread on how OTT Platforms Work

1/ Backend: OTT Platforms acquire content that generally runs into several Terabytes(TB). This content is then compressed to make it suitable for viewers to stream while maintaining the video quality.

2/ The compressed file is then encrypted. This ensures that the content is protected from unauthorized viewing or downloading. It also prevents viewers from watching content in a region where the OTT platform does not have a license.

3/ After encrypting (converting the file into code), next comes MetaData. MetaData contains information regarding the data in the encrypted file. Say a brief description or tags about what the movie or Tv-series is about.

4/ MetaData helps during search optimization and for providing recommendations to the users. Like in the case of the below search on Netflix, "The Social Network" (Story of FB). Along with my search, Netflix also recommended me similar movies, like Jobs and The Founder.

5/ The content is then uploaded to the Cloud. Cloud storage requires having hundreds of physical data centres across the world, cables connecting them, installing equipment and so on. Instead of spending on huge CapEx building Data Centres, OTT platforms can rent them.

6/ When you Log-in: The OTT machine learning comes into play here. Based on your consumption and search patterns, relevant content will be recommended to you. Along with that features like continue from where you left and auto-preview of shows and movies too would be there.

7/ When you hit the Play Button: The video player will ask its CDN (Content Delivery Network) to fetch the desired content from the cloud. CDNs are similar to Cloud data storage units, only there are thousands of them and spread across countries.

8/CDNs are like a pipeline from where data flows from the cloud to the content viewer.They pick up the encrypted files from the cloud to their server nearest to the user's location and finally to the user's mobile/PC screen.They reduce the time taken for content to reach the user

9/ Once CDN fetches the encrypted file, the OTT's application decrypts it. It optimizes the video quality basis the internet bandwidth, screen resolution, etc. to ensure minimal buffering and a smoother viewing experience. The application also glues ads to the content here.

10/ Unlike broadcasting on Television where the content is pulled from a satellite through a DTH provider, For streaming on OTT platforms, you have no idea from where the viewer will log-in. He might log-in from his home, the office, or while commuting on a train.

11/ Next time you open Netflix or Prime, you would know what is happening behind the app.

Share it with your friends too, to make sure they know what goes behind when they are binge-watching their favorite shows.

@SwarnashishC @AnishA_Moonka @RJGyanchandani @deepakvenkatesh