Over-the-top (OTT) platforms have become increasingly popular in Canada, especially during the pandemic. With more people staying at home, the demand for online streaming services has skyrocketed.
This has created a huge opportunity for many Canadian entrepreneurs to start their OTT businesses. They can easily find what people are searching for in regards to what to watch on Disney+ Hotstar in Canada and other platforms and create content accordingly.
In this blog, we will discuss the 5 best OTT platform inspirations for entrepreneurs in Canada to kick-start their OTT businesses.
The 5 Best OTT Platforms In Canada
In this section, we are going to share the names of the top 5 OTT platforms in Canada with their total number of users so that you can understand the commercial appeal of these platforms:
| OTT Platform | Number of Users (2022) |
| Netflix | 17.7 million |
| Amazon Prime Video | 8.8 million |
| Crave | 5.3 million |
| Disney+ | 4.2 million |
| CBC Gem | 3.1 million |
What Can You Learn From Netflix
Netflix is the largest OTT platform in the world, with over 200 million subscribers in more than 190 countries.
It started as a DVD rental service in the US but quickly pivoted to online streaming. Netflix has a vast library of TV shows, movies, and documentaries, and it produces its own content as well.
The company’s success lies in its ability to offer personalized recommendations to its users based on their viewing history.
Entrepreneurs can learn a lot from Netflix’s business model, especially regarding content curation and user experience.
One of the key features that make Netflix so popular is its personalized recommendation system. You can adapt this feature to your platform by using machine learning algorithms to analyze user behavior and suggest content that matches their interests. By providing personalized recommendations, you can improve user engagement and retention.
What Can You Learn from Disney+ Hotstar
Disney+ Hotstar is a relatively new player in the OTT market, but it has already made a big impact. The platform was launched in 2019 and has since amassed over 100 million subscribers worldwide.
Disney+ offers a vast library of content from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic.
The platform’s success lies in its ability to tap into the nostalgia of its users and offer family-friendly content. Entrepreneurs can learn from Disney+ how to create a niche platform that caters to a specific audience.
Moreover, Disney+ has successfully offered mass content that caters to a wide range of audiences.
You can adapt this strategy by focusing on a genre or theme, such as superhero movies, action, or sports movies, as these are the main mass genres. By offering mass commercial content, you can attract a good amount of audience that is passionate about the content you offer.
What Can You Learn From Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video is part of the Amazon Prime subscription service, which offers free shipping, music streaming, and other benefits.
Amazon Prime Video has been successful in producing original content that is exclusive to its platform.
You can adapt this strategy by producing your own original content that is not available on any other platform. Prime Video has a vast library of TV shows, movies, and original content, including award-winning shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and The Man in the High Castle.
By offering exclusive content, you can differentiate your platform from the competition and attract users who are looking for something new and unique.
Amazon’s success lies in its ability to leverage its existing customer base and offer a wide range of benefits. Entrepreneurs can learn from Amazon how to create a platform that offers multiple benefits to its users.
What Can You Learn From Crave
Crave is a Canadian OTT platform that offers a vast library of TV shows, movies, and original content.
The platform is owned by Bell Media, one of Canada’s largest media companies. Crave’s success lies in its ability to offer exclusive content from HBO, Showtime, and Starz, as well as Canadian content.
Entrepreneurs can learn from Crave how to create a platform that offers a mix of exclusive and original content.
Other than that, Crave has successfully offered its content on multiple platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs.
You can adapt this strategy by making your platform accessible on multiple devices and platforms. By offering multi-platform access, you can make it easier for users to access your content and improve user engagement.
What Can You Learn from CBC Gem
CBC Gem is another Canadian OTT platform that offers a vast library of TV shows, movies, and original content. The platform is owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Canada’s national public broadcaster.
CBC Gem’s success lies in its ability to offer Canadian content, including documentaries, dramas, and comedies. Entrepreneurs can learn from CBC Gem how to create a platform that focuses on local content and caters to a specific audience.
Additionally, CBC Gem has successfully offered Canadian content that is not available on other platforms. You can adapt this strategy by focusing on local content relevant to your target audience. By offering local content, you can attract users looking for content that reflects their culture and values.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the OTT market in Canada is ripe for entrepreneurs to start their own businesses. By studying the business models of successful platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, Crave, and CBC Gem, entrepreneurs can learn valuable lessons on how to create a successful OTT platform.
The key is to offer a unique value proposition, whether it’s exclusive content, personalized recommendations, or a mix of benefits. With the right strategy and execution, entrepreneurs can carve out a niche in the OTT market and build a successful business.
Read Also: Upcoming Movies & Web Series to Be Released on OTT Platforms
