Maximizing Return on Investment: How Cost-Effective Middleware Increases IPTV Operators’ Profits

To make a service profitable, it must be functional, modern, and be able to process the maximum number of requests from users of various ages and with diverse interests. If an operator can't provide subscribers with a high-quality service, it won't take users long to start looking at alternative options from competitors.

A crucial role in building a modern service belongs to middle software, or middleware. In this article we'll tell you what you should look for when evaluating the IPTV middleware efficiency to ensure there is profit maximization and further project scaling and growth.

What is Middleware and How Does It Work?

A modern IPTV service includes a number of closely related elements: tariffs, subscriber data, content, operator and user equipment, tech support, billing, analytics, data security, and so on. Middleware is the 'middle' software that provides the operator with convenient IPTV platform management, as well as for all service components, integrating them into a single system.

The more functionality the middleware supports, the more competitive the operator will be and the more convenience they will be able to offer their customers. While local or start-up operators often don't have enough money to purchase expensive middleware, this doesn't mean that they should give up on the idea of creating a modern service.

Platform Hosting

The middleware can be easily hosted on either an operator's servers or in the cloud.

The advantages of on-premises hosting are that the operator has constant access to the software and won't depend on a third party and potential failures of the cloud provider. Another advantage is the high level of data security: no one else has access to the data except the operator. An ability to quickly resolve technical issues is the best way to gain the trust of users, increasing the likelihood that subscribers will continue to use the service.

With cloud-based hosting, operators are no longer required to purchase and maintain servers, nor do they have to worry about buying/renting premises for their maintenance. However, the operator will be largely dependent on the cloud provider and have little or no control over data security. In addition, they will be unable to ensure full control over all the processes as lack of access to software means that incidents cannot be quickly resolved, something that can affect customer loyalty.

Tech Support

If there's an issue, there are things it is critical for any operator to know, such as being able to contact the middleware provider to promptly resolve the problem for them. Technical and software failures are unavoidable and it's imperative to deal with these issues quickly and professionally because the trust and loyalty of subscribers depends on it. If failures frequently occur and the operator can't resolve them in a timely manner, customers will think about changing their IPTV service provider. In short, subscriber retention is directly dependent on tech support.

Make sure that tech support is included in the software provider’s service package and establish on what terms it is provided i.e whether the operator has to pay for it separately or if it's part of the total price of the middleware.

Customization

At first glance, the ability to customize the user interface is not the most important thing for a start-up operator (high-quality content, purchase of equipment and being able to offer a continuous service to the subscribers understandably take priority), but if you want to enter the market and gain a foothold in it, you will need to think about brand recognition.

Brand marks - logo, slogan, brand colors - make a service different from its competitors. The more often the branding comes to the attention of current and potential clients, the more recognizable the project will be. This increases the likelihood that people will remember it and one day, when they have a need to connect to IPTV, will choose a brand that they know. A high-quality visual identity also attracts customers, as: a successful brand design will show potential subscribers that the service is a serious operator which spares no expense in creating a professional design.

Thus, the ability to customize the UI is an aspect that should be given serious consideration when choosing a middleware provider, allowing the operator to effectively promote the brand and increase the number of subscribers.

Accessibility Across Different Platforms

Customers use a variety of devices to view content, including smart TVs, set-top boxes, and tablets. In recent years, users are increasingly using mobile devices, so make sure your middleware supports multiscreen functionality on all popular platforms (iOS, Android, Tizen, WebOS): this will allow you to reach out to the widest audience possible and not to lose potential profits.

Functionality

Make it affordable for your subscribers to watch interactive TV in as many ways as possible. Middleware must support the most popular features:

Linear TV - TV programs that are broadcast by local, national, and international TV companies on a scheduled basis.

EPG, or Electronic Program Guide - This is a list of TV channel programs that allows users to easily navigate through the content that is currently being broadcast on various channels and see the programs of each channel in chronological order.

Time-shift - This function allows users to rewind and pause the broadcast.

Catch up - This function allows users to go back to content previously broadcast. This is useful when users, for example, can't watch their favorite program or sports match during working hours.

VoD - Video on Demand. A catalog of movies and TV shows where the user can select content in accordance with their tastes: by genre, movie title, or actor.

Subtitles - This function allows users to display the spoken words in the form of on-screen text. This feature is especially useful for those learning foreign languages or non-native speakers of the language being used.

Infomir’s Ministra PRO

Infomir has been providing solutions for telecom companies since 2005 and its Ministra TV Platform middleware and MAG set-top boxes are used by IPTV/OTT operators in 151 countries. Infomir follows the ongoing trends in the telecom sector and cares about the improvement of its products, and in 2023 the company presented the updated Ministra PRO software. The platform is the optimal economical solution for local or start-up operators, offering a complete package of services at a great price.

The budget-friendly Ministra PRO Premium package includes:

• multifunctional multiscreen middleware with user-friendly interface
• platform installation
• package of the most popular interactive TV user featuresbilling systems
• tech support
• the ability to customize set-top boxes and the app, as well as to place it in the marketplaces of all the most popular platforms (iOS, Android, Tizen, WebOS and Roku)

The operator doesn't need to purchase special equipment to deploy the platform: Infomir deploys the solution on the vendor’s servers and integrates the most popular CAS/DRM at the client’s request. Google’s Widevine, Microsoft’s PlayReady or Apple’s FairPlay, for example.

In addition, Infomir offers its customers another cost-efficient service: when purchasing MAG set-top boxes, the Ministra PRO platform is available free of charge.

With Ministra PRO, operators can provide their subscribers with a modern, efficient, and multifunctional service. Users only need to download the Ministra Player from the app store and enter the license key: this will allow them to access the platform’s functionality on their device. 

When selecting middleware, it's important for start-up operators to calculate the budget balance, ensuring investment returns and revenue generation. Pay attention to user functionality, customization options, tech support, platform hosting and multiscreen. Software with these features is value-driven: with this middleware, IPTV operators achieve a return on investment in a short period of time, strengthen their brand, and implement cost-effective strategies. This allows them to increase the IPTV profitability and to scale the service in the future.

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