Global revenues for video platform providers distributing content for media and entertainment companies will reach $2.1 billion in 2012 and grow to more than $4 billion in 2017, according to a new report from ABI Research.
TV Everywhere and Over-the-Top (OTT) online video service providers– including Comcast Xfinity, HBO Go, Netflix, iPlayer and Sky Go– are showing impressive growth, according to ABI. Enabling this are online video platforms (OVPs), managed video platforms (MVPs), content management systems (CMSs) and content delivery networks (CDNs), which also are growing impressively.
“Many of these companies claim the same competencies in video delivery,” commented Sam Rosen, practice director of TV & video at ABI Research. “However, each offers a unique piece of the solution.”
“Smaller content owners and those wanting social media integration and simple platforms lean to online video platforms (OVPs). Managed video platforms (MVPs) are helpful for operators that don’t have the technical expertise to deliver a video service, and want a turnkey solution. Content management systems (CMSs) are attractive to the largest operators with diverse assets and a desire to manage all their video centrally. Finally, content delivery networks (CDNs) handle the logistics of video delivery for nearly all the players.”
ABI finds that CDN Akamai has a “commanding lead” in the market for video distribution platforms, with revenue totaling about $475 million in 2011. CMS provider KIT Digital is leading the market for content management systems with nearly $175 million in revenue from media and entertainment companies last year, though it experienced “serious growing pains in early 2012,” according to ABI.
Brightcove is the largest OVP with $64 million in 2011 media and entertainment revenue. Synacor, whose primary business is hosting websites for cable MSOs, leads the MVP market, with nearly $91 million in 2011 revenue, according to ABI’s Video Delivery Hardware and Platforms Research Service.
