12 Open-source Free Self-hosted Live-streaming Platforms and Apps
Pay-per-view video hosting is a way to monetize your content and generate a new revenue stream. For your viewer, it’s a chance to sample the type of content you’re offering without committing to a full subscription.
Creating video content is costly. It takes days of planning, recording sessions, and editing to put good quality content out there that adds value to its viewers.
One popular method for monetizing your video content is pay-per-view video streaming. That way, viewers are paying to access a specific piece of content. It’s often used for events that, if hosted in person, people would pay to purchase a ticket to the event, especially one-time events such as:
- Sporting events
- Concerts
- Conferences
Professional video streaming platforms make hosting, creating, and monetizing pay-per-view events virtually accessible. PPV events are often live streamed. However, using this monetization method, you can generate and monetize pre-recorded content, known as videos-on-demand, for example, an exclusive unreleased music video.
Pay-per-view streaming also allows you to share content seamlessly without depending on advertisements interrupting the content for revenue.
Today, we will walk you through how pay-per-view streaming and hosting work. Then, we will explain a few things to consider when setting up pay-per-view streaming. Finally, we’ll share some tips to help you reach your broadcasting goals.
To wrap things up, we will look at a few of the market’s top PPV video streaming platform options.
Please note that pay-per-view streaming platform technology changes regularly. By updating the post with PPV video hosting steps and adding a pay-per-view platform comparison, this post reflects the most accurate information as of March 2023.
What is Video Monetization?
Make money with your content using pay-per-view, subscriptions, or ads.
Let’s start by reviewing what video monetization is. The various strategies used for generating income from any video content you produce are called video monetization. Whenever a viewer watches your videos or downloads them, you get paid.
Each pay-per-view hosting provider gives content creators a different percentage of revenue generated from their videos. These numbers can also vary depending on which video monetization models you utilize.
Most professional broadcasters use one of the three following methods
- TVOD: transactional video-on-demand, also known as pay-per-view
- SVOD: subscription video-on-demand
- AVOD: advertising-based video-on-demand
Even though each advertising methods contain the term “video-on-demand,” they can also be used for live streams. Each of the three primary video monetization methods serves a different purpose and is valuable for various reasons.
Pay-Per-View (TVOD)
TVOD, “transactional video on demand,” is more commonly known as pay-per-view. With TVOD, the viewer pays directly for the specific content they want to watch on-demand videos.
Pay-per-view is an excellent monetization method when viewers only want to access and pay for any particular content. With pay-per-view, viewers generally have access to that content for a specific time or an exact number of views.
For example, a streaming service that rents video content uses pay-per-view monetization. Or a streaming service selling tickets to a live virtual concert uses a pay-per-view monetization method.
Subscriptions (SVOD)
SVOD formally stands for “subscription video on demand.” With subscription-based monetization methods, viewers purchase access to your video library for a set amount of time.
Subscription and PPV video models run weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually. It is common for subscription services to offer a free trial period to entice viewers to pay for more extended access to your video library.
Advertisements (AVOD)
AVOD, “advertising-based video on demand,” refers to ad-based monetization. You will run ads before, during, or after your videos. Sponsors pay for the advertisements.
On-demand videos allow viewers to watch your content for free without paying you directly. Technically, the viewers pay you by watching the advertisements that run with your content. You can work with an established advertising network or seek independent advertising partnerships.
Similarly, You can use ad-based video monetization on its own. Or you can use ad-based monetization with PPV or subscription-based monetization, creating a hybrid monetization model.
Pay-Per-View Video Streaming: How does PPV work?
Pay-per-view streaming is very straightforward for both broadcasters and viewers.
Pay-per-view streaming allows you to make money by charging for access to specific content. There are multiple ways to charge for pay-per-view content. For example, you can enable viewers to rent the content for a set number of hours. Or you can allow viewers to buy the content, giving them unlimited access.
With pay-per-view monetization, you don’t have to run advertisements on your content. That allows you greater control over your viewer’s experience.
With pay-per-view monetization, you use an integrated paywall to collect payment. It is a relatively effortless way to generate revenue.
One of the biggest challenges with pay-per-view video hosting is having a well-developed video monetization strategy and selecting the right video hosting provider for your needs.
How to Price Pay-Per-View Video Content
Like live-streaming, there are many different ways to charge for pay-per-view video content hosting on a video platform. The type of content can also impact what you charge.
Access to a Singular Video
If you are trying to charge for access to a specific video, we recommend starting low, setting around $2 for one to two days of admission. You can also upsell, offering one-day access for $2 or unlimited access for $8.
That allows you to make more money from people who don’t want the pressure to access and use your content in a set amount of time, as the case might be with a live stream. Many viewers find it more valuable.
Access to a Special Event
If you are charging for a special one-time event, such as a concert live stream, play, or conference typically held in person, you may want to base what you charge on the in-person event’s price.
Remember that most people expect to pay less for virtual access via live streams.
So if you have an in-person event that you are charging $50 for, you would want to charge $25-$30 for virtual access to the event’s live stream. That way, you can earn while reducing the expense of hosting people while still providing value to your customers.
Access to Educational Content
Educational content has been gaining traction with the masses ever since Covid-19 shut down universities and schools around the globe. In addition, you can sell access to video courses that teach a specific skill.
For educational live streams, your price will depend on the market value for that educational content. Therefore, you should research what others charge for similar courses and price your video course competitively.
General Pricing Guidelines:
You should follow a few general guidelines regarding pricing and access to pay-per-view content.
- Make the access longer than the content: If the content is two hours long, give people at least four hours to view the content. Access should be at least double the run time of the video. That way, if a viewer has technical issues regarding the content or gets interpreted and has to return to the content, the access is long enough to allow for that.
- Be clear about access time: Second, you must be clear about how long someone has access to the content. It should be easy for your viewers to know what they purchase when they can access it, and how long that access will last.
- Compare pricing: Third, you should research your competitors and make sure that your pricing is competitive and offers a higher value.
You may have to adjust your pricing, and that is okay. However, you must find the right price for your audience and business. That can take some trial and error.
What is Pay-Per-View Video Hosting?
PPV video hosting is made possible with the help of professional OVPs.
Pay-per-view streaming enables you to charge users whenever they access your content. That requires the support of a streaming platform with TVOD monetization capabilities. You must invest in professional live streaming solutions for your live streaming events because free video platforms like YouTube are not equipped with pay-per-view hosting tools.
Professional video and audio streaming solutions range from less than $100/month to more than $1000/month. Your choice will depend on your budget, streaming goals, and the features you need to make those goals a reality.
Mslive is an excellent solution for broadcasters that need pay-per-view hosting support. Our platform makes it easy to set up TVOD monetization in a few simple clicks. We also support AVOD and SVOD, so you can modify your monetization strategy if you see fit.
Our platform has many professional video-sharing and hosting tools available. We invite you to check out our streaming platform comparison post to see how Mslive stacks against pay-per-view hosting solutions like Livestream, Brightcove, IBM Cloud Video, and more.
Pay-Per-View Video Platform Considerations
As you compare software options for PPV hosting, there are several things that you should consider: the reliability of the software’s CDN, if they support mobile streaming, how much the software will cost, the content management system used, scalability, privacy, and more. Of course, these considerations include the platform’s support for PPV monetization.
Let’s look at a little more context for some of the primary concerns you’ll need to keep in mind when selecting a pay-per-view video platform.
1. Content Delivery
The best pay-per-view hosting and streaming platform enables your content’s smooth, glitch-free delivery to your global audience. We recommend choosing a streaming service with a high-quality, global content delivery network (CDN).
A CDN uses a server network to distribute your content around a geographic region. Ideally, you’d want a CDN provider with servers around the world.
Mslive, for example, partners with top-tier live streaming CDNs, such as Limelight and Akamai, designed to increase the speed of your content delivery, reduce buffering and maximize streaming quality. In addition, when your viewers request content from a globally connected CDN, it automatically routes them to the closest available server.
2. Mobile Streaming
Monetize live stream content, PPV videos, and OTT content with mobile live streaming features.
Another thing you want to consider is whether or not your video hosting software supports mobile streaming so that your viewers can access your content via multiple devices. Most customers prefer a video platform where they can stream pay-per-view live on apps from their smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and computers.
An all-device HTML5 video player with a fully integrated paywall will do the trick.
One pay-per-view service that masters all device access is HBO GO. It offers access via multiple consumer mobile platforms, including Xbox 360, Smart TVs, Roku, tablets, and more.
That diversity of access contributed to its #1 ranking in domestic pay television service in the United States in 2013 when the trend was on the rise.
Think of the audience you could reach and the money you could make if you utilized an all-device video player like the one offered by Mslive.
3. Fees
The cost of using a pay-per-view hosting provider will depend on the software you select. The software you choose will depend on your internet latency, streaming needs, and the features you’re looking for. Most services use tiered pricing to help you pay for only what you need, although there are other pricing models, such as purchasing and redeeming credits.
The following section will take a closer look at real pricing examples. But first, it’s essential to consider your need for PPV streaming services and how quickly you’d like to scale that need..
4. Video CMS
A PPV streaming service is only as good as its content management system. Accessing your company’s content becomes a barrier limiting your reach if it’s not easy or intuitive. A CMS should make it easy to organize, access, and manage to monetize your content.
5. Scalability
When a company first sets up pay-per-view video, they need a smaller price tier that lets them experiment and learn to manage its content. Then, as they grow, they need a pay-per-view streaming platform that grows with them. You’ll want to avoid working with a company that locks you into too much service you need before you need it.
6. Free Trial Availability
Reviewing reviews, comparing features, and considering pricing don’t prepare you to implement pay-per-view streaming services. The only thing that can show you whether you have the best pay-per-view video hosting for your organization is to try it out. That’s why it’s critical to consider whether the pay-per-view video platform you’re considering has a free trial period.
Conclusion
Pay-per-view video hosting is valuable for broadcasters who want to monetize their video content without distracting ads. It is generally easy to set up with the help of comprehensive PPV hosting software.
For further information on setting up this monetization method, we recommend checking out our pay-per-view video walkthrough. Once you have a Mslive account, your customers can stream PPV in minutes.
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