Streaming & OTT Production Strategy

Lesson 1 • Key Stakeholders in the Ecosystem

Maps the roles of studios, distributors, aggregators, device makers, and advertisers. Shows how value flows between stakeholders in a streaming deal.

Lesson 2 • Defining OTT and Streaming Models

Clarifies the technical and business distinctions among SVOD, AVOD, FAST, and hybrid models. Establishes shared vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • Global Market Size and Growth Drivers

Examines subscriber trends, regional penetration rates, and macro forces accelerating OTT adoption. Provides data-driven context for strategic decisions.

Lesson 4 • Competitive Dynamics and Platform Positioning

Analyzes how platforms differentiate through content, price, and user experience. Introduces competitive frameworks applied in later strategic chapters.

Lesson 1 • Viewership Research and Competitive Benchmarking

Teaches use of third-party research panels and syndicated data to benchmark performance. Enables informed comparisons against competitor platforms.

Lesson 2 • Streaming Audience Segmentation Principles

Introduces demographic, psychographic, and behavioral segmentation methods specific to OTT. Grounds audience thinking before data tools are introduced.

Lesson 3 • First-Party Data Collection and Use

Covers how platforms collect, store, and activate first-party viewer data. Connects data collection practices to personalization and content decisions.

Lesson 4 • Translating Audience Insights into Strategy

Applies segmentation and analytics findings to content, marketing, and scheduling decisions. Bridges data intelligence to actionable production strategy.

Lesson 1 • Slate Planning and Release Scheduling

Covers how to sequence releases across a calendar to sustain subscriber engagement. Introduces windowing, event programming, and counter-programming tactics.

Lesson 2 • Format and Genre Selection

Examines how format length, episode structure, and genre affect audience engagement and cost. Connects format choices to platform positioning and viewer habits.

Lesson 3 • Original Production versus Acquisition Strategy

Compares the strategic trade-offs between commissioning originals and licensing existing content. Guides decisions based on budget, speed, and brand goals.

Lesson 4 • Greenlight Process and Decision Criteria

Details the stages and criteria used to approve original productions and acquisitions. Teaches how creative, financial, and strategic factors are weighed together.

Lesson 1 • Production Budgeting Fundamentals

Teaches how to build above-the-line and below-the-line budgets for streaming productions. Introduces cost categories, contingency planning, and budget approval workflows.

Lesson 2 • Development Phase Planning

Covers the steps from concept to greenlight, including script development, talent attachment, and pitch preparation. Sets the foundation for all downstream production planning.

Lesson 3 • Scheduling and Production Workflow

Builds skills in creating shooting schedules, production strips, and workflow timelines. Connects scheduling decisions to budget efficiency and delivery deadlines.

Lesson 4 • Crew, Talent, and Vendor Management

Covers hiring strategies, deal structures, and vendor negotiation for streaming productions. Addresses union and guild considerations without referencing specific agreements.

Lesson 1 • Licensing Models and Territory Rights

Covers exclusive, non-exclusive, and territorial licensing structures used in streaming deals. Connects licensing choices to platform strategy and content availability windows.

Lesson 2 • Talent and Creator Deal Structures

Details the deal points for showrunner, writer, director, and on-screen talent agreements. Addresses backend participation, first-look deals, and overall deals.

Lesson 3 • Co-Production and Co-Financing Agreements

Examines how co-production deals split rights, costs, and revenues between partners. Prepares graduates to structure international co-productions and co-financing arrangements.

Lesson 4 • Music, Archive, and Third-Party Rights

Covers music licensing, archive footage clearance, and third-party IP rights for streaming content. Teaches how to budget and manage rights clearance workflows.

Lesson 1 • Post-Production Workflow for OTT

Maps the post-production pipeline from picture lock through final delivery for streaming. Connects editorial, color, sound, and VFX workflows to platform requirements.

Lesson 2 • Streaming Technology and Infrastructure Basics

Introduces CDN architecture, adaptive bitrate streaming, and encoding fundamentals. Provides the technical literacy needed to collaborate with engineering and delivery teams.

Lesson 3 • Content Protection and DRM

Introduces digital rights management systems, watermarking, and anti-piracy measures for OTT. Connects content protection choices to licensing obligations and revenue security.

Lesson 4 • Localization and Accessibility

Covers dubbing, subtitling, audio description, and closed captioning for global distribution. Addresses accessibility compliance requirements without citing specific regulatory codes.

Lesson 1 • Paid Media and Performance Marketing

Teaches digital paid media channels, targeting strategies, and performance metrics for subscriber acquisition. Connects ad spend to cost-per-acquisition and lifetime value targets.

Lesson 2 • OTT Marketing Strategy Fundamentals

Establishes the marketing funnel specific to streaming platforms and subscription products. Connects brand positioning to acquisition, activation, and retention goals.

Lesson 3 • Content Marketing and Trailer Strategy

Covers how trailers, clips, and editorial content drive discovery and conversion for streaming titles. Teaches trailer versioning, release timing, and platform-specific content formats.

Lesson 4 • Partnerships and Distribution Channels

Examines how device partnerships, bundle deals, and affiliate programs expand subscriber reach. Teaches negotiation of distribution agreements with platform and device partners.

Lesson 1 • Pricing Strategy and Plan Architecture

Examines how tier design, price points, and promotional offers affect subscriber acquisition and retention. Teaches pricing experimentation and value communication strategies.

Lesson 2 • Advertising Revenue Optimization

Covers ad inventory management, programmatic selling, and direct sales strategies for AVOD and hybrid platforms. Connects ad revenue optimization to overall platform P&L.

Lesson 3 • Churn Analysis and Retention Fundamentals

Defines churn types, measurement methods, and the subscriber lifecycle for OTT platforms. Establishes the analytical foundation for all retention strategy work.

Lesson 4 • Personalization and Recommendation Systems

Covers how recommendation algorithms and personalized UX reduce churn and increase engagement. Connects personalization investment to measurable retention outcomes.