In today’s dynamic post-pandemic landscape, the global video streaming industry continues to thrive, with user traffic surging across the globe. To remain competitive and foster brand trust in this evolving digital ecosystem, OTT (Over-The-Top) subscription-based platforms must prioritize modern digital services that engage audiences effectively.
However, relying solely on traditional localized content servers to deliver OTT streaming content can pose significant challenges, potentially jeopardizing business performance and brand credibility. This is where the adoption of CDN for video streaming emerges as a pivotal solution, especially now, offering an opportune moment to migrate.
Let’s explore how leveraging CDN for video streaming can revolutionize the subscription based streaming business, ensuring seamless content delivery, bolstering security, enhancing scalability, and ultimately elevating the overall user experience.
CDN for video streaming platforms
CDNs are widely used across numerous industries due to their robustness and ease of use. Streaming video content through built-in CDNs is particularly important due to the large size of video data, which can result in buffering and slow playback.
By using a CDN for video streaming, you can reduce latency and buffering time, and you will be able to enjoy an overall better viewing experience. You would have to serve all of your content from a geographically distant origin server in case of no CDN. You won’t be able to serve content quickly to distant locations across the globe, no matter how powerful your server is. Sooner or later, your server will be overwhelmed by a growing number of requests from your user base. A negative user experience could result from this. Rather than simply storing and streaming high-quality video content to end users, CDNs perform a wide range of functions as well.
Benefits of Using CDN for subscription-based video streaming
By connecting servers across the globe, CDNs create superhighways for delivering video streams rapidly and effectively to end users. In addition, it distributes the workload between the network of servers in order to increase scalability and viewership. Here’s a list of other benefits users can enjoy by getting a CDN for subscription-based video streaming:
1. Invulnerable security
By detecting bots, protecting users from malware, and limiting requests, CDNs keep streams of video and audio content safe. You can rest assured that your infrastructure is free of any vulnerabilities. Using CDN for video streaming ensures a robust security layer, mitigating potential risks and ensuring a secure streaming environment for users.
A CDN has the advantage that only proxy servers will suffer if your OTT platform is compromised. Other than that, using CDNs reduces the likelihood of cyberattacks such as DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service), which flood websites/platforms with simultaneous attempts to break into them.
2. Scalability
Scalability is one of the most significant reasons why people choose CDN for video streaming as well as live streaming services. Your content will circulate quickly and authentically across numerous audiences worldwide. Viral watchers spike with CDNs due to their ability to retain large audiences. There is usually close proximity between the master/origin servers no matter how fast they are.
It may simply not be cost-effective to invest in origin infrastructure outside of peak times, since you don’t need such high bandwidth. As your needs grow, you can add additional resources (add-on proxy servers) to your CDN to meet your needs. When the peak is over, the infrastructure automatically scales back, saving you unnecessary costs.
3. Higher streaming speed
In order for a platform to perform well, the buffer provided by the CDN for video streaming is essential. Master servers are protected against unplanned spikes in traffic through this buffer. Without CDN for video streaming , in spite of the fast internet connection, users may experience the following:
- Delayed streaming: Due to the server’s inability to ensure the streaming speed required by the device, this may happen.
- Occasionally, the video won’t start at all because the origin server is being bombarded with concurrent requests.
- As a result of the low bitrate, the video player automatically switches to lower video quality.
It is difficult to imagine a user experience that would be less than perfect if either of the above issues were present. It will be easier to avoid such problems if you integrate a CDN for video streaming. Utilizing a CDN for video streaming significantly improves streaming speeds, ensuring smooth playback without delays or interruptions for users.
4. Cost-effective infrastructure
Content creators and video streaming platforms cannot develop their own global CDNs due to their small size. With CDNs integrated into broadcasting, however, users can minimize costs and increase efficiency by outsourcing network infrastructure and maintenance. CDNs offer a cost-effective solution for video streaming platforms, enabling them to scale resources based on demand without incurring hefty infrastructure expenses.
5. Better quality
With CDNs, you can deliver the best streaming experience to your users. Through the use of rapid superhighways, streaming content can be sent to a wide range of audiences across the globe without buffering or delays. In general, mega giants are most likely to have their own global network of servers, but most content distributors are unlikely to be able to do so.
The use of CDN services allows businesses to outsource content distribution and reduce costs associated with infrastructure and maintenance. The cost can then be spent on improving quality. The capabilities of some CDNs, such as 5centsCDN, include adaptive bitrate streaming, sophisticated security features such as digital rights management, and multi-protocol delivery. Compare CDN providers side-by-side and look for such features when choosing one. Leveraging CDN technology for video streaming enhances content quality, ensuring a seamless viewing experience for users.
Do you really need a CDN?
The benefits of CDN for video streaming platforms are numerous. However, you probably won’t need one in one of the following scenarios:
- Your audience is small. Until you grow significantly, the source/origin server can handle all the requests for your platform.
- Your content isn’t distributed internationally. Providing content from a single local server should be fine if all your viewers are in the same country.
- It’s hard for you to stay within your budget. You can rely on our team to help you determine whether a CDN investment will yield a reasonable return. Additionally, you don’t have to shell out from the beginning since both paid and free CDN options are available.
Conclusion
Streaming platforms using CDNs are more secure, reliable, and scalable. Users are guaranteed not to experience buffering delays or downtime. Consequently, CDNs contribute to improved viewing experiences and a lower subscriber churn rate.
In addition to simplifying content distribution, CDNs are an evolving technology. Most companies are now creating their own CDNs for delivering content to their customers globally. If you’re considering your options regarding a suitable CDN for your streaming needs, feel free to reach out to our team. They’ll help you find a solution that aligns with your business.
Ensuring the integration of CDN for video streaming platforms enhances security, scalability, and quality of service, leading to enhanced user satisfaction and retention.
