What is over the top (OTT) TV?

Over the top TV, or OTT TV, is video, television or film content that viewers can access with a high-speed Internet connection instead of a cable TV or satellite TV subscription.
Major companies providing OTT TV services include Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play, Roku and Pluto TV.
While OTT TV devices are available – and include standard TVs that can connect to the Internet to display OTT TV content – consumers do not need a dedicated over the top TV device to view OTT TV. Over the top TV content can typically be viewed on any laptop, smart phone, tablet or Internet-connected device.

Over the top TV is revolutionizing the way viewers consume television and video programming. But exactly what is over the top (OTT) TV, and how does it differ from standard cable programming? Here’s a brief introduction on the topic “What is over the top (OTT) TV?” that provides an overview.

Over the top TV or OTT TV refers to video content, including films and TV shows, that can be accessed and viewed using a high-speed Internet connection rather than through a subscription service with a cable TV or satellite TV company. The term “over the top” refers to the delivery of content and services to customers on top of network infrastructure that is provided by traditional Internet service providers.

What is over the top (OTT) TV vs. cable programming?

With cable programming, a cable provider bundles a number of channels and sells subscriptions to consumers for access to this programming. With OTT TV, a consumer can download an app for a single channel and pay only for access to that content.

What is an over the top (OTT) TV device?

An over the top TV device is any technology that can connect to a TV or reside within a TV to enable viewing of Internet-based video content. OTT TV devices include streaming boxes, media streaming devices, gaming consoles and smart TVs.

What is over the top (OTT) TV’s benefits?

Over the top TV enables users to pay only for the content they consume, rather than buying a subscription package where they may not watch most of the content.

What is over the top (OTT) TV advertising?

Some over the top TV content providers include advertising within their content, enabling them to provide access to content more cheaply or for free.

What is over the top (OTT) TV vs. IPTV?

Over the top TV services use public Internet access to deliver content, while IPTV uses a private network and is only accessible from devices that are provided by the IPTV company.

What is over the top (OTT) TV vs. SVOD, AVOD and TVOD?

Subscription video on-demand (SVOD), advertising video on-demand (AVOD) and transactional video on-demand (TVOD) are all different revenue models for over the top TV. SVOD companies charge a monthly subscription for access to a content collection, while AVOD companies earn revenue through advertising. TVOD services enabling users to pay for individual shows or films.