OTT and CTV: What Definitions You Need to Know in 2020

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Over The Top (OTT) vs. Connected TV: What You Need to Know

Around 50 million people in total will have ditched cable or satellite television subscriptions by 2021 thanks to internet bound TV. 

OTT and CTV are two services that both use the internet, but what is the real difference between them? Find out here:

What Is OTT – Over the Top?

OTT TV, otherwise known as over the top tv, is video content that is played over the traditional closed TV system. When using OTT services, people don’t have to subscribe or pay a television cable company. This is because most content through OTT TV works via the internet. 

OTT TV has boxes available for purchase even though a television, laptop, or mobile phone can be used to watch TV if they are connected to the internet. The television boxes can function as a miniature computer with everything that is needed to watch over the top TV, such as specifications, connections, and applications. 

The general OTT TV box is an Android OTT TV box, but you can find these boxes almost anywhere. The most popular versions of these boxes are Apple TV, Roku, and more. Big companies often have their own version of the OTT TV box.

OTT content is often delivered through CTV.

What Is a CTV – Connected TV?

CTV stands for connected TV. This is another term for a television that can connect to the internet wirelessly or has an ethernet connection, a connection that is built-in. Connected TV can stream OTT content through applications, it is paired with devices like Apple TV or Roku in order to work.

A traditional TV can turn into a CTV if additional devices, like Apple TV or Roku, or gaming consoles are added. 

The main difference between the two services is that OTT is the content being streamed through a public internet connection and connected TV is a device in which OTT content can be watched. 

What Does the Future Hold?

The future of advertising, OTT and CTV and the way people consume media is an important part of the OTT and CTV conversation. 

Fewer people already have, and will continue to, get rid of satellite and cable television. Because of this, OTT advertising will replace traditional TV advertising. Ads will be shown before, during, or after watching OTT video content. Unlike a normal computer screen, OTT videos are full-sized and cannot be skipped. 

The new trend where viewers are switching to OTT devices and streaming services gives advertisers an opportunity to reach users in a new way. Advertiser budgets are shifting from traditional TV to OTT advertising. Eventually, OTT advertisers will surpass traditional TV ad revenue. 

OTT advertisements are played on OTT digital services such as SlingTV, Roku, and more. 

A Growing Industry

OTT and connected TVs are a growing industry that is continuously changing. Knowing the difference between the two services is the key to understanding how to market within them correctly. 

Those wanting to create video content and advertisers wanting to target more people should consider the benefits of switching over to OTT and CTV. OTT and CTV are services creating an evolution, so get on board with the new way of accessing content.

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