With the surge in popularity of platforms like YouTube, Netflix, Twitch, and Hulu, the demand for online entertainment continues to grow. They provide a way for organizations to share their content with a large audience in real-time. If you're interested in creating your own live-streaming website, this article will guide you through 9 steps to a custom solution.
We dive into the essentials of creating a successful video-streaming website. From innovative features to effective monetization strategies, we'll guide you through the process of attracting users and maximizing viewer engagement. Let's explore how you can tap into the thriving world of online video streaming!
- Video streaming websites in 2024: Key Market Trends & Future predictions
- Top Streaming Statistics
- Key Trends and Drivers
- Top live streaming platform features: Must-haves for success (MVP & advanced features)
- Subscription and payment gateway
- Personal information management
- Search
- Home page
- Playlist
- Intuitive Player
- Recommendations
- Cloud Transcoding
- Video Streaming Analytics
- High-quality resolution
- Subtitle and Closed Caption Support
- IP Based Access Control
- Multi DRM Platform
- Token Security
- AES Encryption
- Watermarking
- Screenshot Prevention
- How to Create a Live Streaming Website: 9 Steps to a Custom Solution
- 1. Budget Planning
- 2. Define Project Requirements
- 3. Choose a Monetization Approach
- 4. Ensure Legal Compliance and Security
- Set Up Your Tech
- 5. Work on a Seamless UI/UX Design
- 6. Test before Launch
- 7. Market and Promote your Website
- 9. Hire a Software Development Team
- How Much Does it Cost to Create a Live Streaming Website
- Monetization Strategies for Building a Video Streaming Website
- Subscription
- Rent a film
- Catch-Up TV
- Advertising
- Third-Party Ad Integration
- Pay-Per-View
- Hybrid Models
- Inoxoft’s Expertise in Building a Video Streaming Website
- Consider Inoxoft Your Trusted Partner
- Conclusion
Video streaming websites in 2024: Key Market Trends & Future predictions
Video streaming is a perspective and beneficial business to engage in. Fortune Business Insights reports that last year the size of the video streaming market was valued at $ 554.33 billion and projected to grow from $ 671.89 billion in 2024 to $ 2,486.51 billion by 2032.
PC Mag listed a few of the best video streaming services in 2023. These video streaming platforms are either on-demand video streaming or live video streaming. The on-demand videos are stored on the video streaming server. You can access them 24/7. The live-streaming video content has a live broadcast and you can access it only at a specific time. The biggest on-demand streamers are Netflix, Amazon Prime Video Disney+, and Max. Facebook Live, Twitch, and YouTube Live are the most known live broadcasters.
Discover some of the best features of streaming platform!
Top Streaming Statistics
- Last year US users viewed 21 million years worth of streaming content, compared to 17 million years in 2022
- Americans spend an average of 3h 9min a day streaming digital media. What makes 21 hours per week (equivalent to a part-time job)
- 99% of US households subscribe to at least one or more streaming services
- The average American spends $46/ month on streaming services
- 50% of subscribers pay for ad-free content
Key Trends and Drivers
- The Rise of AI. Generative AI disrupted the tech landscape, and AI-created content became a reality with artists and creators using it to create clips and short films. Leveraging vast datasets, AI-powered algorithms improve content discovery, personalize user experiences, and optimize advertising strategies.
- Content protection. AI is changing how content is secured. It can protect monetization, especially for video platforms that broadcast live sports events and premium content. The technology can detect unauthorized streams and remove them. It can also extract the digital watermarks of pirated content and block users who use it.
- Competition for Market Share. Streaming services are adapting to changing consumer behaviors influenced by factors like the end of COVID-19 isolation and increased inflation. Major players like Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+ are exploring new strategies beyond content to increase profits and retain subscribers.
- Engagement and Revenue. Engagement-focused offerings and the integration of gamification into content are crucial for expanding free, ad-supported TV (FAST) channels. Personalized user experiences and targeted advertising strategies driven by AI increase revenue potential.
- Hyperpersonalization. OTT platforms are adopting hyper-personalization strategies to tailor content recommendations, interface design, and advertising to individual viewer preferences, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction. For instance, AI-powered recommendation engines let Netflix increase viewing hours by 80%.
- Live Sports Streaming. Live sports broadcasting remains a driving force for streaming platforms. Investments in broadcasting rights and advancements in production technologies enable the effective monetization of niche sports through FAST channels.
- Convergence of TV Streaming and E-commerce. Live streaming integration with online shopping is revolutionizing retail experiences, with platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Amazon leading in livestream commerce.
Read more: Node.js for streaming web platform
Top live streaming platform features: Must-haves for success (MVP & advanced features)
Before we dive into the must-have features, let’s define the difference between MVP and advanced features on live streaming platforms:
- MVP is the basic set of functionalities that a live-streaming platform should provide. These features are essential for basic streaming but need more advanced capabilities to enhance user experience fully.
Subscription and payment gateway |
Monetization feature that allows users to offer subscription plans or charge for access to premium content. |
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Personal information management |
Allows users to create and manage their profiles, customize preferences, and interact with content. Includes features like profile editing, avatar uploading, social media integration, and notification settings to enhance user engagement and personalization. |
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Search |
The amount of video content can be overwhelming for users, who would like to find a film to watch at once. Here, you should focus on making some filters for users to choose films more easily. With the help of keyword or filter searches, users can find the movies they are looking for in no time. A search engine can save users much time and add one more point to user satisfaction. |
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Home page
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A homepage is considered to be the face of the whole platform. Its first impression impacts user satisfaction with the platform almost immediately. If the home page is functional and user-friendly, then it should not be packed with movies. The films should be organized in groups under a specific name, e.g. “Trending”, “New of 2021”, “Oscar-winning”, “Most searched”, etc. The design of the homepage should be intuitive. Users, who are new to the platform, should always feel at ease. Their acquaintance with the video streaming system should be no more than a few minutes. The trickier the homepage is, the more chances it will irritate your users and make them abandon your service. |
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Playlist |
This feature enables creators to organize videos into playlists for sequential playback. Users can create custom playlists, reorder videos, and embed playlists on external websites. Enhances content discoverability and encourages binge-watching. |
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Intuitive Player |
Provides a user-friendly interface for viewers to watch live streams or on-demand videos. Supports adaptive bitrate streaming for seamless playback across various devices and network conditions. Includes features like DVR (Digital Video Recording) for live streams, playback controls, and fullscreen mode. |
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Recommendations |
Users enjoy recommendations of films based on the ones they’ve watched or on favorite genres. ML, NLP, predictive, and data analytics technologies proved to be useful. This feature might give your platform a big plus among competitor websites. |
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Cloud Transcoding |
Converts video streams into multiple formats and bitrates suitable for different devices and bandwidths. Enables adaptive streaming, reduces buffering, and ensures optimal viewing experience by adjusting video quality dynamically based on available bandwidth. |
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Video Streaming Analytics |
Provides insights into viewer behavior, engagement metrics, and content performance. Tracks metrics such as viewer count, play duration, geographical distribution of viewers, peak viewing times, and conversion rates. Enables data-driven decisions for content strategy and monetization. |
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High-quality resolution |
High resolution is an important aspect that adds to an increase in screen time. For this reason, developers use different protocols. They are important both for high-quality streaming and security:
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Subtitle and Closed Caption Support |
Enhances accessibility by providing text overlays that display dialogue and audio cues. Supports multiple languages, customizable styles, and integration with speech-to-text services for automatic caption generation. Improves video SEO and ensures compliance with accessibility standards. |
Advanced features are additional functionalities that go beyond the MVP and provide more sophisticated options to improve the streaming experience. They can also include interactive elements such as live chat, polls, and Q&A sessions, which enhance viewer engagement and participation.
IP Based Access Control |
This feature can restrict access to video content based on IP addresses and ensure that only authorized users from specified locations can view the content. |
Multi DRM Platform |
Digital Rights Management (DRM) solutions protect video content from unauthorized access and distribution. |
Token Security |
Token-based authentication generates and validates access tokens for users. Tokens expire after a specified period or upon logout, enhancing security by minimizing the risk of session hijacking or unauthorized access. |
AES Encryption |
Advanced Encryption Standard prevents unauthorized viewing of content during transmission and storage. AES encryption provides robust security and confidentiality for video streams. |
Watermarking |
Watermarking helps identify the source of leaked content and provides a deterrent against illegal sharing. |
Screenshot Prevention |
Prevent users from taking screenshots or capturing video frames during playback. This feature helps prevent unauthorized copying and redistribution of copyrighted content. |
How to Create a Live Streaming Website: 9 Steps to a Custom Solution
How to create a video streaming website? Before going into the development stage, you can try out discovery phase services. The goal here is to get a consultation on the business idea you have. And, an opportunity to understand whether your idea is successful or needs improvements.
Another way to reduce risks, and cost wasting, and justify the efforts is to design an MVP. A minimum viable product is a project with a limited set of features and functionality. But, it will still be a website for end-users to use, test, and give feedback on the way they feel about your product.
So, how to create a live streaming platform? Let’s explore the following 9 steps:
1. Budget Planning
A detailed budget plan is essential to ensure the financial viability of your future product:
- Development Costs: Expenses related to web design, development, and testing.
- Hosting and Infrastructure: Costs for web hosting, servers, and CDN services.
- Licensing and Software: Fees for using streaming platforms, encoding software, and other third-party services.
- Marketing and Promotion: Budget for social media campaigns, SEO, paid advertisements, and collaborations.
- Operational Costs: Ongoing expenses: staff salaries, maintenance, etc.
2. Define Project Requirements
This step lays a strong foundation for your live-streaming website’s successful development and launch. Here is a list of topics our team advises to include:
Identify Your Audience
- Demographics: Age, gender, location, language, and income level.
- Interests: Hobbies, favorite online activities, and types of content they consume.
- Viewing Habits: Preferred times for watching live streams, device preferences (mobile, desktop, smart TV), and interaction levels (active chat participants or passive viewers).
Define Your Content
Clearly define the type of content you will be streaming to align with your audience’s preferences and your strengths. Consider the following aspects:
- Genre: Gaming, education, fitness, cooking, live events, etc.
- Format: Solo streams, interviews, panel discussions, tutorials, performances.
- Schedule: Daily, weekly, or monthly streams; fixed or flexible scheduling.
This clarity will guide your content creation process and help maintain consistency.
Set Functional Requirements
Outline the core functionalities your live streaming website must-have to provide a seamless user experience. MVP features to consider:
- User Registration and Profile Management
- Content Management System (CMS)
- Search and Categorization
- User Notifications
- Analytics and Reporting
Determine Technical Specifications
To ensure smooth operation, your website must meet certain technical requirements. Consider the following:
- Streaming Quality: Decide on the video resolutions you will support (720p, 1080p, or 4K) based on audience preferences and internet speed considerations.
- Bandwidth and Server Capacity: Estimate the amount of data transfer and server load to handle concurrent viewers without lag or downtime.
- Security Measures: Implement SSL certificates for secure connections, encryption for data protection, and measures against DDoS attacks.
- Scalability: Plan future growth with scalable infrastructure that can handle increased traffic and additional features.
3. Choose a Monetization Approach
Product and services delivery ground on generating income. This is also a point to take into account. You should figure out how to earn money the right way and choose a monetization model to meet your needs:
- Subscription
- Rent a film
- Catch-Up TV
- Advertising
- Third-Party Ad Integration
- Pay-Per-View
- Hybrid Models
4. Ensure Legal Compliance and Security
To broadcast video content you need legal permission to use copyrighted material. Protecting Lawful Streaming Act describes concrete cases of illegal streaming. Here, every video belongs to intellectual property. Department of Justice can bring felony charges against anyone providing illegal streaming services.
The security issue is also important. For even with a legal permit to stream movies, you need to encrypt this path. To ensure media content is safe on your platform, you should consider using DASH and HLS streams. See more about DASH and HLS streaming by following the links.
Set Up Your Tech
The right technical infrastructure for your live streaming website ensures high-quality, reliable streams and a smooth user experience. Here’s a look at the essential components:
- Web Hosting
- Domain Name
- Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- Server Infrastructure
- Database Management
- Security Measures
- Monitoring and Analytics
5. Work on a Seamless UI/UX Design
Users are picky when it comes to design. The hierarchy of needs by Aarron Walter shows that UI/UX aims to be functional, reliable, usable, and pleasurable. Features and colors that will please the eye and seamless functionality will get user attention. That’s what users will search for in your video streaming platform. Therefore, never underestimate the impact of design on software development.
6. Test before Launch
Website performance testing before launch should be initiated together with the development stage. Start testing early and get to fix all the problems beforehand. Additionally, ensure the platform works fine, is stable, loads videos fast, functions well, and meets your expectations.
7. Market and Promote your Website
Marketing and promotion of the video streaming platform should cover a great deal of the software pre-launch stage. Why? A good marketing campaign can make your website popular. There are different channels you can use to promote your product. For example, these might be:
- SEO
- SMM
- Social media advertising
- Paid target advertising
- Content marketing
Whatever method you choose, the advantages are obvious. Read more about how open-source software makes money to get more insights.
9. Hire a Software Development Team
While a business owner can manage several aspects of building a video streaming website independently, hiring a professional software development team can significantly enhance the quality, performance, and scalability of the website. This approach allows you to leverage expert knowledge and experience, ensuring a successful and sustainable online presence.
Reason to Hire a Software Development Team:
- Advanced Technical Setup
- Custom Development
- Ongoing Maintenance
- Focus on Core Business
- Relevant Experience
How Much Does it Cost to Create a Live Streaming Website
The cost to create a streaming website varies on several factors: the platform complexity, the technology stack, features, design, team capacity, and marketing expenses. Here’s an approximate breakdown of the product’s price:
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Development Costs |
Basic Website with Streaming Capabilities:
Advanced Features:
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Design Costs |
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Streaming Infrastructure |
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Licensing and Software |
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To sum up, here are rough estimates for different stages of development:
- Basic live streaming website: $10,000 – $20,000 initial setup, with $2,000 – $5,000 monthly operational costs.
- An advanced live streaming website with custom features: $30,000 – $100,000+ initial setup, with $5,000 – $20,000+ monthly operational costs.
Keep in mind that we can’t specify the exact price without knowing your business idea. If you want to calculate the cost of your future product, request an estimate from our team.
Monetization Strategies for Building a Video Streaming Website
Subscription
Subscription is the strategy most used in video streaming website monetization. For instance, Hulu charges $5.99, HBO Max takes $9.99, Prime Video has a threshold of $8.99, and Netflix has a fee of $8.99. In this case, the payments given are per month. What’s more, all these subscriptions are minimal and correspond to the minimum features available on the platform.
Rent a film
If users are not willing to subscribe every month, they can always choose to rent a film per one-time view. For example, it is possible in Google Play Movies. Here, the cost is pretty satisfying and you can also buy the film and place it in your library to watch later. However, the price per purchase will be higher than per rent.
Catch-Up TV
This model allows users to watch previously aired content on-demand, with limited or no advertisements. It’s often used by TV networks to extend the lifespan of their shows and increase viewership.
Advertising
Advertising is one of the means that can bring you profit as well. For instance, you can place an ad within a movie at any moment of its streaming. However, do not overdo it! The audience will tolerate one or two ads that will not interfere with watching the movie, but three or more ads will distract and irritate it.
Third-Party Ad Integration
Platform owners can not only host their ads but also integrate ads from third-party networks or advertisers. This can increase the variety of ads displayed and potentially boost revenue.
Pay-Per-View
PPV is a business model that allows viewers to purchase and watch content for a one-time fee. This model is often used for live streaming (one-time events like award shows) exclusive content (major boxing matches, UFC fights), or movies.
Hybrid Models
Combining two or more of the strategies mentioned above can provide flexibility and cater to different user preferences. For example, offering a subscription with an option to purchase premium content or providing a free, ad-supported tier alongside a subscription-based ad-free tier.
Inoxoft’s Expertise in Building a Video Streaming Website
All in all, how to build a video streaming website? Inoxoft has vast experience and knowledge of how to create a live-streaming website. For example, our team has created a video-sharing solution for social media, which:
- gives users a helpful start with easy and emotionally rich video communication
- notifies users about happy moments in a digital way
- delivers social networking app for Android and iOS with smooth UI/UX, quality video integrations
- has a possibility to invite people from contact lists
- adds design features to update the product’s entertainment and educational functionality
Also, It is unique and innovative due to being:
- the 1st streaming platform for women and about women
- female-led with a large movie database
- top-quality streaming movie service
- LNS and DASH transmission supported
- adapted for mobile users
- user-oriented with the ability to invite friends to watch movies together online
The cost of these video-streaming solutions highly depends on the clients’ requirements as well as common and extra features they would like to have in the type of website. If you’d like to get a more precise estimate, you can always contact us or view our app cost calculator here. Nevertheless, both methods are fine as long as you get the approximate app cost and an app maintenance cost right away.
The cost of these video-streaming solutions highly depends on the clients’ requirements as well as common and extra features they would like to have in the type of website. If you’d like to get a more precise estimate, you can always contact us or view our app cost calculator here. Nevertheless, both methods are fine as long as you get the approximate app cost and an app maintenance cost right away.
The difference in video streaming platform cost on different markets depends mostly on the vendor, who will create a video streaming website, your budget and time, copyright policy, technologies to use, and so on.
Consider Inoxoft Your Trusted Partner
Inoxoft is a custom web development and UI/UX development company that can implement your wildest ideas into being. Our certified engineers turn web applications into powerful tools meeting clients’ requirements and fulfilling the expectations of end-users.
As a custom web development company, Inoxoft changes the business potential by implementing web app ideas and enabling the apps’ strong competitiveness in the market. Thus, we can become your most open and reliable partner there is. Our delivery services focus on amazing software quality combined with business analytics, sophisticated code, and user-oriented seamless custom web design.
Therefore, if you’re thinking “How to make my video streaming website?”, choose Inoxoft as your app-building partner. We will develop a video streaming website that is highly functional, innovative on the market, user-friendly, and even more. Contact us to discuss details!
Conclusion
As a custom web development company, Inoxoft changes the business potential by implementing web app ideas and enabling the apps’ strong competitiveness in the market. Thus, we can become your most open and reliable partner there is. Our delivery services focus on amazing software quality combined with business analytics, sophisticated code, and user-oriented seamless custom web design.
Therefore, if you’re thinking “How to make my video streaming website?”, choose Inoxoft as your app-building partner. We will develop a video streaming website that is highly functional, innovative on the market, user-friendly, and even more. Contact us to discuss details!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a specific niche for my live streaming website?
While it's not absolutely necessary to have a specific niche for your live streaming website, it can be highly beneficial. Having a niche allows you to:
- Target a Specific Audience: Focusing on a niche helps you understand and cater to a specific audience's needs and preferences, leading to higher engagement.
- Differentiate from Competitors: A niche can help you stand out in the crowded live streaming market by offering specialized content that larger, general platforms might not provide.
- Build a Community: Niches often have passionate communities that can help spread the word and attract more viewers through word-of-mouth.
- Monetization Opportunities: Niche markets can provide more targeted advertising opportunities and potentially higher revenue from specialized content.
What are the different business models for live streaming websites?
1. Subscription
2. Pay-Per-View
3. Advertising
4. Catch-Up TV
5. Coupons & Promotion
6. Third-Party Ad Integration
7. Hybrid Models
Read more in our article.
What hardware and software do I need for live streaming?
Hardware:
- Camera: A high-quality webcam or professional camera.
- Microphone: A good quality microphone for clear audio.
- Streaming Device/Computer: A powerful computer or streaming device capable of handling video encoding.
- Capture Card: Necessary if you’re streaming from a console or using a professional camera.
- Lighting: Proper lighting setup to improve video quality.
Software:
- Streaming Software: Tools like OBS Studio, Streamlabs OBS, or XSplit for encoding and streaming.
- Video Editing Software: Software like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro for editing recorded streams.
- Content Management System (CMS): For managing video content and user interactions.
- Security Software: To protect your platform and content.
How can I promote my live streaming website?
- Social Media Marketing: Use platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to promote your streams and engage with your audience.
- Content Marketing: Create and share valuable content related to your niche through blogs, videos, and infographics to attract viewers.
- SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your website and content for search engines to increase visibility and attract organic traffic.
- Email Marketing: Build an email list and send regular updates about upcoming streams, events, and exclusive content.
- Collaborations and Influencers: Partner with influencers and other content creators in your niche to reach a broader audience.
- Paid Advertising: Invest in PPC ads on Google, social media ads, or sponsored posts to target specific demographics.
- Community Engagement: Participate in online forums, groups, and communities related to your niche to build a loyal following.
- Cross-Promotions: Promote your live streaming website on other platforms you might own or through partnerships with related websites.
- Host Contests and Giveaways: Engage your audience with interactive content and incentives to share and promote your streams.
- Quality Content and Consistency: Ensure that your live streams are of high quality and broadcast consistently to build and retain an audience.
