Ready for IBC 2025? What to Ask When Evaluating OTT Platforms
IBC is next month, and for many in the industry, it’s the ideal moment to reflect, reset, and rethink your streaming strategy. Whether you’re launching something new, scaling an existing service, or considering a platform switch, the questions you ask now can define your success for years to come.
With tighter budgets and rising viewer expectations, choosing the right OTT partner is no longer just a technical decision; it’s a strategic one.
At Magine Pro, we’ve helped broadcasters, content owners, and streaming operators around the world build flexible, scalable services across every screen. And if you’re thinking about making a change, our OTT Platform Migration Guide walks you through exactly how simple it can be, with step-by-step timelines, key considerations, and tips for a smooth transition.
We also know how overwhelming it can be to evaluate platforms that often sound (and look) very similar. So here are five essential questions to ask when exploring your options at IBC.
1. Can I make changes to my service without a developer?
Your audience moves fast. You should be able to respond just as quickly. Look for a platform that puts you in control, from metadata and promotions to layout and collections, through an intuitive CMS or operator console.
With Magine Pro’s Console, customers can update content rows, create offers, manage access, and push changes live instantly.
2. How does the platform perform across Smart TVs?
Mobile-first isn’t enough. Big-screen viewing is still dominant, especially in living rooms. Make sure your platform offers a polished, responsive UX across Smart TVs and connected devices.
Magine Pro delivers native Smart TV apps with a lean-back UX that keeps users engaged.
3. Can I launch in new markets without rebuilding my service?
Scaling shouldn’t mean starting over. The right OTT platform will support multiple regions, languages, currencies, and monetisation models.
Magine Pro supports global expansion with a flexible architecture designed for growth.
4. Is the platform easy to operate, not just easy to launch?
Launching is step one. Retaining subscribers and running a smooth operation is where the real work begins. Look for automation features (like dunning, notifications, promo codes), actionable analytics, and simple onboarding tools.
Magine Pro helps operators reduce churn and increase lifetime value with built-in retention tools.
5. Will the team feel like a partner or a vendor?
Tech matters, but so do people. Ask about onboarding, support, and what happens after the contract is signed.
At Magine Pro, we work closely with our customers to help them launch, grow, and adapt, bringing a collaborative mindset and real industry expertise.
Meet Us at IBC 2025
We’ll be at stand D72 in Hall 5 showcasing our proven OTT platform, demoing our Smart TV-ready streaming services, and walking you through the power of our Console.
If you’re attending IBC and want to explore how we can support your next move, we’d love to talk. Book a meeting or simply drop by the stand. Use the code IBC7357 for a complimentary visitor’s pass to IBC.
Why OTT Needs to Simplify: Insights from IBC 2024
If there’s one phrase that kept coming up in nearly every conversation at IBC 2024, it was operational & cost efficiency. As OTT services become more complex, media companies are losing focus on what they do best: delivering great content and building lasting audience relationships.
At Magine Pro, the message we kept hearing from customers and industry peers was clear: “We need to simplify.” And that’s exactly what we’re focused on.
Why simplification is the key to OTT success
While the smaller niche OTT players have always looked for a one-stop platform that offers all the tools they need, many others have built intricate, multi-vendor technology stacks to keep pace with the market. Several of these, including significantly sized broadcasters and VOD services, are now finding this approach is starting to show its challenges. When you’re constantly juggling different vendors, integrating new technologies, and troubleshooting your stack, you lose valuable time and energy that should be spent engaging your audience.
At IBC, one of the hottest topics on our stand was the need to streamline these operations. More and more media companies are looking for ways to outsource their entire tech stack. They want a single partner who can handle everything from the platform to the applications, so they can focus on the big picture. This is where Magine Pro comes in.
We’ve seen a real shift in mindset. Companies are migrating to our platform because they realise that operational effectiveness and cost-efficiency are just as important as the content itself. By outsourcing their technology to a partner like Magine Pro, they get to simplify, innovate, and concentrate on what really matters: building their brand and winning over audiences.
Navigating subscription fatigue: The top challenge for 2025 and beyond
Subscription fatigue was another major theme at IBC. With disposable income stretched, services are fighting for attention in a saturated market. Consumers are becoming more selective and churn rates are rising. We’ve been putting a lot of energy into this area at Magine Pro, focusing on adding lifecycle management tools to our OTT Platform and helping our clients to keep users engaged for the long haul.
One of the things I’m most excited about is how we’ve optimised our billing platform to monitor, manage and reduce passive and active churn. It’s not just about keeping users from cancelling their subscriptions. It’s about winning them back with the right tools. This means better payment options, more engaging notifications, or curated content recommendations that keep them coming back. I believe this is going to be one of the defining challenges of the coming few years, and it’s something we’re ready to tackle head-on.
The power of partnerships in a changing industry
It’s clear that partnerships are also going to be important success criteria in the future of OTT. While there’s plenty of talk about consolidation, the real need is for companies to work together to better serve their audiences. Going it alone is becoming less viable.
At Magine Pro, we see this first-hand in our work with tier 2 and tier 3 media companies, broadcasters, and niche video-on-demand providers. Many of these organisations come from a media background, not technology. Simplifying technology for them, bringing them a complete solution but also working with a wide range of partners to meet their needs, allows them to stay agile and growth-focused, putting their energies into curating content and engaging their audience.
Why experience still matters in OTT
Something that doesn’t get talked about enough in our industry is the value of experience. There’s a lot of new technology and fresh ideas out there, but there’s also a lot to be said for working with a partner who has been through it all before. Magine Pro has been around since 2012, and before we shifted to a B2B model, we were running a direct-to-consumer service ourselves.
That experience—of being on the frontlines of the DTC market—still informs everything we do today. We’ve lived through the challenges of consumer acquisition, content curation, and churn management, and we’ve applied those lessons to how we serve our clients now. We’re not just another technology vendor. We’re a partner who understands the entire lifecycle of the video service business.
At IBC, it was clear that this experience resonates with our clients and the potential customers we spoke to. In a crowded marketplace where technology can often feel commoditized, our ability to offer deep, hands-on expertise is what sets us apart. We’re not just delivering a platform; we’re helping our clients navigate the complexities of a shifting industry.
What’s next?
IBC 2024 may be over, but the conversations we had will continue to shape our approach in the coming months. The message from our clients and partners is clear: simplicity, partnership, and user engagement are the keys to success in OTT.
Here’s to the next phase of OTT, and to keeping things simple!
If you’d like to know more about how Magine Pro’s OTT platform helps services to simplify their operations, why not book a demo?
Panel Discussion: Benefits and Challenges of Migrating from Legacy Systems
In a fast-paced market increasingly driven by profitability, video service providers are re-evaluating the benefits of moving from custom, in-house solutions to Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) models. This shift from internal development to partnering with established OTT platform providers offers a strategic advantage for operators. By leveraging these platforms, service providers gain access to comprehensive end-to-end solutions, specialised expertise, and significant cost savings.
At IBC 2024, these topics will be explored in depth during the panel session, “Moving with the Times: Benefits and Challenges of Migrating from Legacy Systems” This session will feature a detailed discussion of the key considerations and impacts of such a transition.
Magine Pro’s CEO, Matthew Wilkinson, will join a panel of industry experts to share insights on supporting service providers through migrations. The discussion will address crucial questions, including how OTT platform providers minimise downtime and disruptions during the migration process, ensuring a seamless transition for operators and their subscribers.
Panel Details:
Location: IBC Content Everywhere Stage 1 (Hall 5, 5.A28)
Date & Time: 14 Sep 2024 at 10:45 – 11:30am
Moderator: Ophélie Boucaud, Principal Analyst at DATAXIS
Panelists:
- Matthew Wilkinson, CEO at Magine Pro
- Fredrik Andersson, SVP Accedo SaaS Solutions at Accedo
- Gary Hamer, Chief Commercial Officer at SmartLabs
Add This Session to Your IBC Calendar: Moving with the Times: Benefits and Challenges of Migrating from Legacy Systems
If you’re looking to simplify your service migration, download our latest e-guide, ‘How To Upgrade Your Streaming Service: OTT Migration Made Easy‘. For an in-person chat with Matthew and the team book a meeting at IBC 2024 to explore how our robust, scalable OTT platform can drive meaningful results for your business.
About Matthew Wilkinson, CEO at Magine Pro:
Matthew has over 18 years of experience in Telecom & IT, working with clients in the IT & Cloud, and Media Domains, with deep experience in software development & delivery, SaaS, and enterprise solutions, and previously held various leadership roles in strategy & delivery.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpwilkinson/
If you are keen to find out more about the panel session and/or our streaming solutions, get in touch with us today. We also have some useful insights and resources available on our blog and free to download white papers, ebooks and more.
Panel Discussion: Building an OTT video service
It’s no secret that the way we consume video content has drastically changed over the years. The popularity of online streaming services has increased significantly across the world. However, building an OTT video service is no easy feat, which is why it’s essential for operators and those considering launching a service to catch up on the free panel discussion ‘Building an OTT Video Service – Custom Build or Managed Service’ that took place at IBC 2023 in Amsterdam this September.
During the panel discussion, Magine Pro’s CEO Matthew Wilkinson joined other industry experts to discuss the best approaches to launching an online video streaming service and tackling important questions such as, should you build a custom service, or opt for a managed service platform? Is it better to go with in-house development or outsource? The panelists offer valuable insights on each option and more. They also explore the relevance of a hybrid approach for incumbent players, and the role of the CDN.
WATCH THE PANEL HERE
Moderated by Ian Nock, Vice Chair of IET Media, and features the following industry experts:
- Matthew Wilkinson, CEO at Magine Pro
- Manish Sinha, VP, and Business Head of OTT Solutions & Services at TO THE NEW
- François Collobert, CDN Product Manager at Orange International Carriers
Want to learn more about how Magine Pro can help you build and launch a successful OTT business? Book a meeting with us and experience our OTT platform firsthand and gain valuable insights into how our robust and scalable streaming solutions can benefit you.
About Matthew Wilkinson, CEO at Magine Pro:
Matthew has over 18 years of experience in Telecom & IT, working with clients in the IT & Cloud, and Media Domains, with deep experience in software development & delivery, SaaS, and enterprise solutions, and previously held various leadership roles in strategy & delivery.
Email: matthew.wilkinson@magine.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewpwilkinson/
If you are keen to find out more about the panel session and/or our streaming solutions, get in touch with us today. We also have some useful insights and resources available on our blog and free to download white papers, ebooks and more.
PANEL: Key considerations when launching an OTT service
Catch up on the IBC panel discussion, ‘Key considerations when launching an OTT service’ with Magine Pro CEO Matthew Wilkinson.
During IBC 2023 in Amsterdam last month, our CEO Matthew Wilkinson joined a panel discussion focused on the opportunities still available to brands looking to launch streaming services that serve relevant content to clearly defined audiences. The session explored each of the speakers’ years of experience and industry research alongside:
• The opportunities and challenges partnerships bring to OTT entrants.
• What services and brands should look for in a partnership?
• What connected TV can offer to brands and the most common barriers to entry.
• How technology can help win and keep the audience’s attention.
Meet the panel speakers:
- Matthew Wilkinson, CEO of Magine Pro. Matthew shares insights from our recently published white paper with Omdia that explores how strategic partnerships can provide avenues for growth in OTT.
- Matthew Duhig, Co-Founder & Managing Director of FX Digital. Matt Duhig has a deep passion for Connected Technologies and has strong experience delivering global products across Connected TV for some of the worlds largest content producers.
- Gary Hamer, SVP Sales & Business Development at Smartlabs. Gary Hamer leads Smartlabs international expansion plans and has years of experience in the Pay TV technologies field.
MODERATOR: Hayley Bull, Director, 3vision. Hayley is Director of leading global content and TV consultancy 3Vision. She has an in-depth understanding of industry developments and trends and has helped global companies like Intel, Airbus, and Vodafone with building their content businesses.
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Watch the panel session: Key considerations when launching an OTT content service.
Run time: 50 minutes
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You can also download our latest white paper now, Advancing OTT audience capture: how strategic partnerships provide avenues for growth, which features original research by Omdia, highlighting why partnerships are key to delivering sufficient online video growth and, specifically, the impact of bundling and aggregation partnerships with the likes of telcos and Pay-TV operators. The white paper also includes insights from Magine Pro partners who share their experiences on how partnerships have improved their service discoverability, acquisition and growth.
Learn more about Magine Pro’s flexible OTT solutions and how we can help you build and launch a successful OTT business here. And head to our experience page to check out our partners and case studies.
You can also subscribe to the Magine Pro e-newsletter to stay up-to-date with our latest news, partners, and products, and to find out which industry events we’ll be attending next.
WEBINAR | Ways to Build, Engage and Retain Online Audiences
Join Magine Pro CEO Matthew Wilkinson in the recent IBC hosted webinar, ‘Ways to build, engage and retain online audiences’.
Building and retaining an audience is essential to the success of all broadcasters, video service providers and content creators. In this IBC hosted webinar session, Magine Pro’s CEO Matthew Wilkinson and fellow speakers discuss the different approaches needed to attract and grow an audience successfully.
Meet the speakers and find out more about what’s discussed during the session:
- Matthew Wilkinson, CEO of Magine Pro. Matthew shares insights from our recently published white paper with Omdia that explores consumer behaviour around discoverability during the session.
- Ed Abis, Managing Director at Never.no. Ed talks about the tools and strategies employed by content producers, rights holders and sporting institutions to engage with their fans, audiences and viewers.
- Joe Foster, co-founder of Easel TV. Joe shares a pandemic case study in which his company’s SaaS OTT platform was deployed to enable one London theatre to host and sell live and recorded productions and was then expanded and extended as a shared service for multiple theatres to offer an ongoing programme to an aggregated audience of theatre lovers.
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Run time: 45 minutes
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You can also download our latest white paper now, OTT Discovery: How to stand out amongst the crowd, which features Omdia’s full report, as well as an overview of product features and marketing essentials for new online streaming services to drive awareness, cultivate brand credibility and trust and increase conversion rates.
Find out more about Magine Pro’s flexible OTT solutions and how we can help you build and launch a successful OTT business here. And head to our experience page to check out our partners and case studies.
Subscribe to the Magine Pro e-newsletter to stay up-to-date with our latest news, partners, products, and find out which industry events we’ll be attending next.
IBC2019: OTT has arrived!
September welcomes one of the busiest calendar events for us here at Magine Pro and the entire OTT industry, IBC. The annual event has long been considered the leading go-to exhibition and conference for media, entertainment, and technology and as such, attracts industry professionals from all over the world.
This year marked our fourth year exhibiting in Content Everywhere hall 14 and was arguably one of the busiest we’ve seen. Without doubt, there were more buyers present than years previous, with a noticeable increase in production houses, smaller ISP’s and Telco’s all looking to go OTT for the first time. Not too surprising. In our post-IBC 2018 blog, we reflected on how the OTT takeover was looming, and how telcos could move into the OTT market by either vertical integration or through partnerships. Check out our reflections on last year’s event here.
This year, the impact of OTT services dominated most discussions at IBC2019. There were panel sessions dedicated to monetization models, niche content, and how streaming is driving a golden era of content creation. It certainly raised some interesting questions around how new market entrants could compete against big brands with much bigger budgets. A popular opinion being that new entrants would need to offer services tailored to niche interests and content. On the Magine Pro stand, we demoed a few of our partners who offer just that. If you missed it, check our experience page to learn more about niche services such as PassionFlix Docsville and True Royalty.
User engagement has been a nascent trend in the OTT space this year. Likely driven by SVOD user fatigue and competition, we’ve seen more content owners looking for innovative ways to monetize and engage their users. Many now want to focus on customer loyalty, engagement, and differentiation in the user experience around content. This also explains why recommendation tools (although not new) were a popular talking point at IBC2019.
We also noticed more interest and focus on analytics and business tools, as operators look to move on from just having OTT, to now successfully monetizing. There was also an uplift in SVOD and live event offerings, alongside traditional AVOD, and subscription and advertising led linear.
But, more important things you might have missed from Magine Pro were our live product demo’s on the stand, including demos of the Magine Pro Console. If you didn’t get a chance to stop by, you can find out more about our products here or download our white paper. Get in touch if you would like to learn more or try a demo.
With OTT being a hot topic at IBC2019, it’s no surprise that hall 14 will be expanding at next year’s event as organisers increase capacity for more vendors by adding hall 5. It seems the OTT takeover is no longer looming, it has arrived!
We’re heading to the SportsPro OTT Summit next month. If you’re attending and would like to meet with a member of the Magine Pro team get in touch!