OTT service migration in four simple steps (and FAQs)

Migrating your OTT services from another OTT platform can seem like a mammoth task, especially when dealing with intricate data, third-party integrations, and an extensive content library. If the service your current platform provides isn’t fulfilling the needs of your business, then migrating sooner rather than later could save you money in the long term.

Quickly and easily moving all your data to a new platform is possible, when following the correct steps. Simplestream has extensive experience in migrating its customers' data from platforms like Brightcove, Amagi, Vimeo OTT, Kaltura, Uscreen and Muvi.

Whether you want to fully migrate your services, or partially while carrying over third-party integrations, it’s simple with our Migration Services. Follow these steps for a seamless transition of your OTT services to Simplestream:

1. Organise the metadata for seamless OTT service migration

2. Create a roadmap for operational efficiency

3. Simplify your OTT workflows

4. Launch your OTT service

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Read on to find out how to migrate your OTT service in four simple steps and for answers to FAQs.

1. Organise the metadata for seamless OTT service migration

OTT service migration can be achieved seamlessly if your metadata is organised. This is the key to making the move from one OTT platform to another.

Complex and intricate data can limit operational efficiency and your bottom line as a result, which is why Simplestream focus on organising this data before starting the migration process. Collaboration is key, so ensuring your existing service is helpful in this process is crucial.

Most OTT platforms don’t offer fully managed services and operate mainly on a self-service model, which results in a significant learning curve for your employees. This can place further strain on your resources just as you’re in the middle of OTT platform migration.

Organising your metadata pre-migration of your OTT service should be a top priority. Once your metadata is in order, Simplestream can enhance the presentation of your video content in apps or websites by categorising it using the metadata in Media Manager. This can also be achieved while still using an external online video player (OVP) without actually having to move the video assets, with Media Manager acting as middleware.

2. Create a roadmap for operational efficiency

Strategy and planning are essential parts of creating a roadmap for migrating your OTT service. It’s your route plan and timeline which allows you to optimise the process and save money once it’s completed.

Understanding your business needs and how the OTT platform you’re currently using isn’t delivering them is the first step to creating that roadmap. Whether those issues are a lack of monetisation tools, limited features, reliability or scalability, it’s going to inform which OTT platform you choose to migrate to.

Deciding whether you opt for a full migration or partial migration of your OTT services will also need to factor in your choice of OTT platform. Integration is often overlooked as most OTT platforms would rather you move your entire stack to them, but you don’t need to rip out the foundations when renovating a house.

Considering both the migration of user data and your payment gateway will mean that you need to ensure the OTT platform you’re thinking of migrating to is secure and supports these features.

Create your roadmap using the following criteria:

1. OTT service requirements: what are you missing?
2. Do you need a partial or full migration of your OTT service?
3. What's your timeline for OTT platform migration?

The final point is to look at when you need the migration to be completed, which depends on the criteria you have from points one and two in your roadmap. Simplestream has previously delivered migration services in a matter of weeks, most recently migrating and revamping Ireland’s largest sporting organisation’s OTT service, GAAGO.

3. Simplify your OTT workflows

When working with intricate data to migrate OTT services, workflows can become needlessly complex. This is especially true if the OTT platform you’re moving to isn’t accustomed to migrating or integrating services from other platforms.

OTT service migration provides the perfect opportunity to audit your existing tech stack by consolidating some of these services. Using multiple third-party vendors for services can be costly, so it’s worth seeing which can be cut to save your revenue. When consolidating these services into a single OTT platform, it’s also easier to manage as everything is under one roof.

Experience makes the biggest difference here, increasing operational efficiency and driving growth once you’ve migrated. If your current OTT platform isn’t looking to optimise your workflows, then they aren’t going to deliver your business growth in the long term.

Ask for examples of previous successful OTT migrations, and how workflows were optimised in the process. Quality assurance (QA) testing should also be included in the process of migrating data to your new OTT platform, to ensure minimal issues once your new OTT service is live.

4. Launch your OTT service

Once your service migration is complete, the support from your new OTT platform provider shouldn’t end there. Managing your OTT requires support if things go wrong, to ensure minimal downtime for your users.

After your upgraded OTT service is live, Simplestream offers continued support through your assigned Technical Account Manager. We continually research and develop new solutions while improving and upgrading our existing services for our customers.

FAQs

How long does OTT migration take?

This depends on your business requirements, but OTT migration can take as little as a matter of weeks with Simplestream’s Migration Services.

How much does OTT migration impact revenue?

If done correctly, OTT service migration should increase your revenue once complete. When changing OTT platforms there should be some consolidation of the services utilised, so this will reduce your business’ operational expenditure.

Vimeo OTT alternative

There are several alternatives to Vimeo OTT, but at the top of that list is Simplestream. Offering a suite of OTT services that cover all your needs for content storage, management, monetisation, and distribution. Simplestream serves some of the leading broadcasters, news channels, content owners, sports organisations and teleshopping channels in the world.

Trusted by leading brands to deliver OTT services, globally. Find out more here.

Brightcove alternative

If you’re looking to switch from Brightcove, there are a few OTT platforms on offer that may fit your needs. Simplestream can provide partial or full migration services from Brightcove, giving you the ultimate flexibility for your business.

As the leading alternative OTT service provider to Brightcove, Simplestream offers a suite of products to manage, store, monetise, and distribute your content to your audience globally.

Find out why Simplestream is trusted by so many leading brands to deliver their OTT services here.

Amagi alternative

When looking for an alternative to Amagi for OTT services, Simplestream provides a leading OTT platform with migration services to make the transition seamless — comprising multiple monetisation options alongside a suite of products and solutions that deliver OTT services that are trusted by companies globally.

Find out why Simplestream should deliver your OTT service.