TOP-7 Trends for Streaming in 2022

Streaming video is already the next squeak of fashion. Its popularity is growing at a rapid pace, and, according to experts, by 2022, streaming broadcasts will account for 82% of all Internet traffic. The emergence of new technologies, the increase in the bandwidth of Internet channels, the proliferation of mobile devices - all these factors contribute to further growth in the field of streaming. And the improvement in video quality has led not only to an increase in the number of consumers but also to an increase in the number of content owners and companies working in this area.

The competition in the video streaming market is enormous. Viewers have the opportunity to choose from a huge number of service providers, and therefore the main goal of the latter is to retain their audience. A new generation of content providers is empowering consumers to watch their favorite shows on any internet-connected device. In other words, users can forget about the time when they had to adjust to the TV program, and consume the content they are interested in anytime, anywhere.


The real breakthrough in this sector came during the lockdown. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, billions of people have been isolated in their homes and looking for any available means of entertainment - so the popularity of streaming services was simply doomed to skyrocket.


Streaming content across a variety of applications, game consoles, and multimedia devices is transforming the connected TV ecosystem into a highly attractive and growing media medium. The global OTT market grew from $ 104.11 billion in 2019 to $ 161.37 billion in 2020, showing an astounding compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 55.0%.


How will streaming develop and evolve in 2022? Let's try to predict by voicing the key trends.


Ultra-high-definition television (4K) is a key trend in the OTT services market


This is currently the highest level of picture quality available to viewers. Therefore, all the leading live streaming platforms have included premium 4K content in their offerings, and some platforms also offer 8K video viewing. With the advent of large-screen TVs, as well as laptops and smartphones that support 4K video, the demand for high-quality video content has seen an unprecedented increase in recent years. HD video has become the norm and the viewer is looking for Ultra HD (UHD) compatible devices and related content. That is, UHD will become one of the key growth drivers for streaming services.


The spread of 5G


5G technology is on the brink of maturity. Last year, fifth-generation high-speed wireless Internet networks were already built and put into operation in several regions of countries such as China, Japan, the United States, South Korea, and Europe. It is expected that by the end of 2021, 5G networks will cover even wider territories.


4K streaming requires an internet connection speed of at least 25 Mbps. And streaming 4K video without buffering will require at least 50 Mbps of bandwidth. Only 5G networks are able to ensure uninterrupted delivery of 4K video to mobile devices. 5G-enabled devices are capable of playing UHD content with ease and dramatically improve the user experience. The higher bitrate offered by 5G technology provides superior quality at the lowest cost. A faster bitrate will also reduce latency. This factor, combined with more functional 5G devices with higher computing power, will significantly improve the quality of video viewing on every screen. 5G technology will also enable unbuffered UHD, HDR, and 4K streaming. With the advent and growth of 5G, effective online 8K video streaming, 360-degree live streaming, VR, AR, and personalized streaming will also become a reality.


IoT video streaming


Companies around the world are already using the Internet of Things (IoT) for a variety of applications. Major IoT applications include, among others, applications for law enforcement, endoscopic surgery, and the manufacture of various goods.



However, with the advent of affordable IoT devices on the market, companies have begun to reorient themselves to support a variety of consumer applications, including home security systems, pet control systems, and IP cameras. And with the advent of connected home appliances and personal assistants, the Internet of Things will further expand its market penetration and grow its user base.


Workflow management with artificial intelligence


Analyzing current trends in the video streaming industry, experts predict that OTT platforms and online video streaming companies will increasingly use artificial intelligence and machine learning to improve their services. Machine learning is already being used to implement content-aware compression for better video playback. AI video processing is used to determine the most appropriate video format before starting each compression process to ensure the highest quality content is displayed on all devices.


AI-powered video processing has also found its way into dynamic resolution gaming and has dynamic frame rate configuration. This allows for efficient selection of compression mechanisms depending on the type of content in order to provide the best video quality every time.


OTT platforms will also increasingly leverage artificial intelligence to deliver content and use data to dynamically play content. This will enable players to easily adapt to network conditions.


Therefore, artificial intelligence is helping OTT platforms become more adaptive and flexible, adapting to the changing conditions of the global market. This helps companies compete with the rapidly evolving OTT video streaming market.


Mobile devices will set the tone for the video streaming market


The move to Television 3.0 is driven by the development of video streaming platforms. By the end of the year, the number of viewers watching videos on mobile phones is expected to surpass 179 million in the US market alone. According to the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the World Bank, and the UN, the number of mobile subscribers has already exceeded the population of the planet.


Based on the fact that the bill of users of mobile devices has already gone into the billions, the consumption of video content from OTT platforms on mobile devices will continue to grow. The continued development of 5G networks will catalyze an increase in viewers who will exclusively use mobile phones to access entertainment and consume other information via OTT video.


Experts predict that the increase in the availability of mobile devices and data subscriptions will lead to the fact that smartphones bypass TVs in terms of their popularity in the field of access to videos, TV shows, news, and sports broadcasts. In keeping with the trend towards consuming information and content via mobile devices, many companies have launched highly functional mobile applications or websites optimized for mobile devices.


Illegal content is another trend shaping the industry


The growing threat of piracy and illegal streaming is becoming a key factor limiting the growth of the OTT streaming market. In total, the illegal sale of video content caused the industry $ 9.1 billion in damage in 2019, while analysts predict that by 2024 the damage could be $ 12.5 billion. Live TV channels are also no exception in terms of security. Therefore, in the current year, an active struggle of copyright holders with illegal services is expected, which in turn will ensure a systematic flow of subscribers from pirated services to platforms with licensed content.


Summary


The OTT streaming industry will see rapid and steady growth in the near future. As emerging markets gain greater access to smartphones and high-speed internet services, experts say millions of users will subscribe to streaming OTT platforms. However, the industry is also facing a number of challenges and challenges, including a lack of 5G connectivity to stream high-quality online video content, constant pressure to create unique content, and competition with several small and large competitors.


The leading players in the streaming market already have a strong subscriber base, but the emergence of other serious players will further increase the competition. It will also lead to greater market consolidation and the production of world-class content by the major players in their quest to remain competitive and, most importantly, relevant.


Viewers of OTT platforms will be the recipients of the greatest benefits from all of this evolution and change in the marketplace.


Read also: How to sell videos online: steps to follow

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