Every video you view online relies on streaming technology for delivery. Essentially, a media streaming application enables users to participate in events from any location and access video content without downloading it to their devices. Streaming has emerged as the internet’s answer to traditional TV broadcasting, offering a higher level of accessibility.
Companies across diverse sectors can significantly benefit from developing media streaming applications, as streaming stands out as one of the most effective and convenient methods to engage with audiences. In this article, we will cover essential concepts and facts to consider before you begin the process of creating a custom video streaming app. Let’s get started!
What is a streaming app?
A streaming application includes both the software and hardware necessary for delivering video content to audiences. This also extends to live streaming applications, which allow for the immediate broadcasting of video as it is being recorded. Given the substantial size of video data, it necessitates specialized technology and equipment to ensure effective transmission.
- Video Encoders: Essential for compressing large video files to facilitate efficient streaming.
- Video Transcoders: These enable multi-bitrate and adaptive bitrate streaming, ensuring optimal video quality across varying bandwidths.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN): A network of strategically placed servers that deliver content to users from the nearest server, enhancing loading speeds and reliability.
- HTML5 Video Player: The most widely used video player today, having replaced Adobe’s Flash Player for a more seamless viewing experience.
The applications of video streaming are virtually limitless. They are frequently utilized for virtual events, online learning sessions, sports broadcasts, concerts, and even local government meetings. Additionally, marketing and sales teams leverage streaming for presentations, product demonstrations, and informational videos, which are especially advantageous for consumers who are comparing products. Furthermore, the healthcare industry is increasingly adopting live video streaming solutions for remote monitoring of patients, enhancing care accessibility and efficiency.
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What’s new in the video streaming app market
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated the digital transformation across the globe, leading to a remarkable shift in the video streaming market. With lockdowns in place, individuals began to engage more with online video content, turning to streaming for entertainment such as movies, video games, and virtual fitness classes, as well as attending large events remotely. In response, businesses embraced live streaming as a new avenue to generate revenue during these unprecedented times. Below, you’ll find a graph illustrating the surge in subscriber growth for leading streaming services during the third quarter of 2020.
The global video streaming app market is set for remarkable growth, projected to increase from $473.39 billion in 2022 to an estimated $1.69 trillion by 2029, achieving a substantial Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 19.9%. This rapid expansion presents a significant opportunity for entrepreneurs to explore underserved niches and launch innovative video streaming app services, provided they are ready to navigate a competitive landscape.
- The video streaming app industry generated $72.2 billion in revenue in 2021 and is anticipated to reach $115 billion by 2026.
- In April 2019, viewers watched a total of 1.97 trillion hours across the four major video streaming platforms; this figure surged to 3.93 trillion hours in April 2020, marking a significant increase of 99%.
- Live video streaming subscribers are projected to reach 91 million by 2024.
- A notable 80% of U.S. consumers prefer watching a video from a brand over reading a corresponding blog article.
- Approximately 90% of users find new brands or products through YouTube.
Types of streaming apps
There are four distinct categories of streaming applications, each necessitating unique considerations regarding the appropriate technology stack. Understanding these differences is crucial for developers and entrepreneurs as they design and implement their platforms effectively.
Live broadcasting apps
Live broadcasting apps are among the most widely used types of streaming applications. They enable users to broadcast and record videos in real-time, allowing audiences to engage with content as it happens, all without the necessity for downloads. Some of the leading live broadcasting platforms include Facebook Live, YouTube Live, Livestream, and Twitch. For those interested in creating an app like Twitch, we have dedicated a separate article that outlines the essential steps and considerations involved in that process.
Audio streaming apps
Audio streaming apps operate on a similar principle to broadcasting apps, but they exclude video content. These platforms enable users to listen to music and audio content in real-time without the need to download any files. Some of the most popular applications in this category include Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, and Tidal. It’s noteworthy that Spotify has also introduced the capability for video podcasts for its Anchor creators in select regions, including the US, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand, in order to take advantage of the increasing demand for video content.
Video on Demand (VoD) streaming apps
VoD streaming apps are perhaps the most common type of streaming application used today. These platforms allow users to access and watch video content at their convenience, without any time constraints or limitations. Popular examples of VoD streaming apps include Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, and HBO Max. This category also includes online movie rental services such as iTunes and Google Play Movies & TV.
TV live streaming apps
Similar to VoD streaming apps, TV live streaming apps provide users with the ability to watch television programs in real-time. These applications typically require a subscription and offer a wide range of channels and on-demand content. Some popular examples of TV live streaming apps include Sling TV, Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, and DirecTV Now.
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Video streaming app architecture
The architecture of a video streaming app consists of several components that work together to deliver high-quality content to the user. These components include:
- User Interface: This is the front-end component of the app that allows users to interact with the platform and access content.
- Content Management System (CMS): This back-end component is responsible for organizing and managing the content available on the app.
- Content Delivery Network (CDN): CDN servers are used to store and distribute media files, ensuring fast and efficient delivery to users.
- Media Servers: These servers handle the encoding, transcoding, and streaming of media files in real-time.
- Payment Gateway: Many video streaming apps require a subscription or payment for access to premium content, which is facilitated through a payment gateway.
- Analytics and Reporting: This component tracks user activity, engagement, and other metrics to inform decision-making and improve the overall performance of the app.
Key tech stack considerations for a custom streaming app
A relevant queueing system
A reliable queueing system is important for managing the high demand and large amounts of data in a video streaming app. The most popular options include Apache Kafka, RabbitMQ, and AWS Simple Queue Service (SQS).
Streaming protocols
The choice of streaming protocol is crucial for ensuring a seamless and uninterrupted viewing experience. Commonly used protocols include HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), and Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP).
Reliable storage system
A robust storage system is essential for managing and delivering content to users. Options range from traditional databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL to scalable NoSQL databases like MongoDB and Cassandra.
Content Delivery Network (CDN) integration
Integrating a CDN into the app architecture helps to improve loading times and reduce buffering for users. Popular options include Amazon CloudFront, Akamai, and Fastly.
Media player integration
Choosing the right media player is important for ensuring compatibility across various devices and operating systems. Popular options include ExoPlayer, AVPlayer, and Video.js.
Key tech stack considerations for live streaming app development
To create a live streaming platform, developers need to consider similar factors as those for a video-on-demand (VoD) app, but with an emphasis on real-time transmission. Live video streaming has distinct requirements since it entails handling significant data volumes and transferring it over a communication channel with limited bandwidth. The primary objective is to minimize lag time to ensure an engaging live experience for users. Ideally, maintaining latency below 500 milliseconds is deemed necessary for a true live stream; however, most streams are typically delayed by 1 to 5 seconds.
The importance of latency can vary depending on the type of content being streamed; for example, it is less critical during a yoga session than during a live sports event like the World Cup. Achieving low latency presents a technological challenge, as original data must be efficiently stored across numerous global servers for optimal proximity and processed flawlessly. Nevertheless, it is not an insurmountable task. Furthermore, selecting the right streaming protocols is crucial for live streaming app development, with WebRTC being an effective browser-based protocol that facilitates sub-500 millisecond real-time latency while also supporting two-way video communication.
Alternative: a managed streaming solution
These considerations are essential when planning to develop a custom tool from the ground up. Alternatively, you might explore a specialised managed streaming solution like Amazon IVS, which operates globally over its optimised infrastructure dedicated to live video. Another viable choice is AWS Elemental with the MediaLive service, which also provides excellent capabilities for live streaming.
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Steps involved in streaming app development
Step 1: Find your niche
With numerous live video streaming platforms vying for attention in different industries, competition is intense. As an app owner, relying on assumptions for your new live video streaming application won’t suffice. It’s essential to thoroughly research your market segment and assess the features offered by competitors. Engaging with potential users through interviews can reveal the specific challenges they encounter, enabling you to determine how your application can effectively meet those needs.
Step 2: Pick a monetization strategy
Your monetization strategy should be a priority from the outset. The type of content you plan to stream will determine which revenue model is best suited for your application. For instance, if you’re streaming fitness classes, a subscription-based approach might be more effective than pay-per-view.
Step 3: Pick a suitable team
You certainly have the option to build your team in-house, which involves hiring backend and frontend developers, business analysts, UX specialists, and graphic designers. Alternatively, you might consider outsourcing the development of your video streaming app to an experienced external company like ours that possesses the necessary expertise. While creating a video streaming app isn’t overly complex, it does require a specific set of skills and experience. Choosing a partner with extensive knowledge of the third-party solutions relevant to your project is crucial. If your intention is to host your live streaming app on AWS, selecting a partner with proven experience in this area is essential. Once you’ve made the right choice, they can assist you in addressing key aspects of your development process.
Step 4: Pick the right tech stack
In addition to selecting the appropriate programming languages, developing a video streaming application necessitates various components, including a media processing platform such as AWS Elemental MediaConvert. You’ll need a robust server or compute layer, which can be fulfilled through options like Amazon EC2, Amazon EKS, or AWS Lambda. Effective storage solutions, such as Amazon S3, are essential, along with the implementation of streaming protocols like RTMP, M2TS, Apple HTTP Live Streaming, WebRTC, and RTP/RTSP. Database providers, including Amazon RDS and Amazon DynamoDB, are integral for data management. Additionally, incorporating push notifications and messaging queues, such as Amazon SQS, enhances user engagement. For managed live streaming, consider options like Amazon IVS, AWS Elemental MediaLive, DaCast, or Wowza, while for facilitating managed chat during streams, Amazon IVS can be utilized. It’s vital to not only select these technologies but also to optimize them for optimal performance, especially in scenarios with low internet speeds or limited connectivity.
Step 5: Understand legal requirements
Depending on the geographical reach of your application, it is imperative to adhere to a variety of legal regulations. As users sign up for your platform and you handle their personal information, it is essential to comply with data protection laws like GDPR or CCPA.
Step 6: Work on the UX/UI
The design of your live streaming app will be equally crucial as the chosen tech stack and adherence to legal standards. In this intensely competitive market, exceptional UX/UI design can distinguish your app from others. These applications need to prioritize user-friendliness, enabling users to concentrate on enjoying the content without the distraction of navigating a complicated interface.
Step 7: Think about features that will add a competitive edge
No matter what kind of live video streaming app you choose to develop, it’s essential to consider how your platform can differentiate itself from competitors. Today’s users are increasingly drawn to applications that offer personalized experiences, including tailored content, relevant recommendations, and notifications about new videos that align with their interests.
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How much does streaming app development cost?
The expenses associated with developing a video streaming app can be significant: creating a working prototype typically ranges from $50,000 to $75,000, whereas a fully functional platform may fall between $250,000 and $500,000. This pricing encompasses software development for web, desktop, and mobile applications. Considerable effort is needed to optimize streaming and establish a scalable architecture. Additionally, DevOps services are essential for enhancing storage and retrieval efficiency. The overall cost will also be influenced by the integration of the streaming engine. For a detailed estimate and to better understand the services you may need, check out our App Development Cost calculator, which can provide insights into the expenses of developing an MVP for your live streaming app.
Video Streaming app development with iTechnolabs
At iTechnolabs, we have a team of dedicated developers and designers who specialize in building live streaming applications for various platforms. We pride ourselves on our ability to deliver high-quality products that are both user-friendly and cost-effective. Our development process involves understanding your specific business needs and creating a customized solution that meets your requirements. With our extensive expertise in mobile app development, we can help you create a competitive edge for your live streaming platform. Contact us today to learn more about how we can bring your streaming app idea to life. The features that set your app apart from the competition will ultimately be what drives users to choose your platform over others.
- Personalization options such as curated content based on user preferences
- Interactive features like live chat and polls during streaming sessions
- High-quality video and audio streaming with minimal buffering or lag time
- Multi-platform compatibility to reach a wider audience
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Conclusion:
Through a combination of cutting-edge technology and strategic development, we can help you create a successful live streaming app that stands out in the market. Contact us at iTechnolabs to get started on your video streaming app development journey today. Let’s make your vision a reality together! So why wait? Connect with us now and create your own unique live streaming platform with the help of our expert developers. We look forward to working with you! Start building your live streaming app today and join the growing industry of online content creation and distribution. Your users are waiting for an exceptional streaming experience, and iTechnolabs is here to help you provide just that.
