Ooyala launches AppStudio

Belsasar Lepe

Telstra-owned OTT TV specialist Ooyala has teamed up with Massive Interactive to launch Ooyala AppStudio, a new platform to enable video providers to build and deploy app and web-based entertainment services.

The AppStudio is designed to enable providers to deploy OTT services with simple interfaces without the need to hire technical staff to build or manage services, according to the company.

Ooyala says that content providers can use the AppStudio to automate the building of OTT apps for devices including Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Chromecast as well as iOS and Android devices and the web.

The AppStudio was developed in partnership with Massive Interactive and includes capabilities to deploy, manage, track, analyse and make money from all components of a cloud-based OTT service, according to Ooyala. Revenue models supported include subscription or advertising-supported VOD as well as hybrid models.

User registration is provided via Massive Interactive’s Massive Halo product, while video management and delivery, content recommendation and analytics and ad server support is provided by Ooyala.

Other contributions include payment management and subscription billing from Stripe, Quality of Experience analytics from Nice People at Work and page-level analytics delivered by Google Analytics.

“Media companies want to tap into the fast-growing opportunity OTT represents, but have been held back by slow pace and high cost of developing apps for the broad array of connected devices in the consumer market. Ooyala AppStudio changes that. There is tremendous growth in OTT demand particularly outside of the U.S., where broadband and 4G connectivity is improving, making offerings accessible to huge new audiences. For local content providers who want to hedge against larger OTT incumbents entering their market, Ooyala AppStudio is a perfect fit,” said Ooyala’s co-founder and senior vice-president of products and solutions, Belsasar Lepe.

“By integrating Massive Halo into Ooyala AppStudio, Ooyala’s mid-tier content owner and operator customers will experience previously unheard-of control of their video services. It is a real pleasure to welcome Ooyala as a partner and we’re delighted to have contributed a key enabling technology as part of this exciting new proposition,” said Massive CEO and co-founder, Ron Downey.

The product will be demonstrated at September’s IBC in Amsterdam.