Hidden Hurdles: Challenges in OTT Platform Testing

Binge-watching is the new norm in today’s digital world and OTT platforms have to be flawless. Behind the scenes, developers and testers face many issues. These hidden challenges ranging from variable internet speeds to device compatibility issues have to be addressed to ensure seamless streaming. This article talks about the challenges in OTT platform testing and how to overcome them.

Importance of OTT Platform Testing

OTT platforms have changed the way we consume entertainment by offering seamless streaming across devices. But to achieve this it requires thorough OTT platform testing to optimize performance and seamless content delivery. Regular testing is also important for monitoring the functionality of the application across a wide range of devices. It also plays a key role in securing user data and boosting brand reputation through reliable service. Despite its importance, OTT testing is full of challenges including device compatibility and security measures.

Challenges & Solutions in OTT Testing

Device Coverage

Typically applications will be developed to work on computers and mobiles, and are rarely optimized for tablets as well. But when it comes to OTT platform testing, a new variety of devices such as Smart TVs and Streaming devices are being used. Apart from the range of devices, each of these devices will run on different versions of the software and you’ll have to cover them as well.
Even if you plan to automate the tests, conventional automation will not help you cover the vast device coverage as these Smart TVs and Streaming devices operate on different operating systems such as WebOS, TizenOS, FireOS, and so on. Additionally, there are region-specific devices and screen size variations that make it more complex.
As a company specializing in OTT testing services, we have gone beyond conventional automation to automate Smart TVs, Firesticks, Roku TVs, and so on. This is the best solution for ensuring that automated tests run on a wide range of devices.

Device Management

Apart from the effort needed to test on all these devices, there is a high cost involved in maintaining all the devices needed for testing. You would need to set up a lab, maintain it, and constantly update it with new devices. So it is not like a one-time investment as well.
The solution here would be to use cloud solutions such as BrowserStack and Suitest that have the required devices available which in and itself could be a separate challenge. A hybrid approach is recommended because it balances the need for physical devices and the cost-effectiveness of cloud solutions, ensuring comprehensive testing coverage. So prioritization plays a crucial role in finding the right balance for optimal OTT platform testing.

Network & Streaming Issues

A stable internet connection is key to seamless streaming. Bandwidth and network variations affect streaming quality and require extensive real-world testing. In this case, Smart TVs and Streaming Devices might have a strong wifi connection, but portable devices such as laptops, mobile phones, and tablets may not have the best connectivity in all circumstances. One of the major advantages of OTT platforms is that they can be accessed from anywhere and to ensure that advantage is maintained, network-based testing is crucial.
Remember we discussed maintaining a few real devices on our premises? Apart from the ones that are not available online, it is also important to keep a few extra critical portable devices that can help you validate edge cases such as performing OTT platform testing from being in a crowded place, low bandwidth area, and so on. You can also perform crowdsourced testing to get the most accurate results.

User Experience & Usability

If you want your users to binge-watch, the user experience your OTT platform provides is of paramount importance. The more the user utilizes the platform, the higher the chances of them renewing their subscription. So a one-size-fits-all approach will not work and heavy customization to appeal to the audience from different regions is required. You also cannot work based on assumptions and would require real user feedback to make the right call.
So you can make use of methods such as A/B testing and usability testing with targeted focus groups for your OTT platform testing. With the help of A/B testing, you’ll be able to assess the effectiveness of content recommendations, subscription offers, engagement time, and so on. Since you get the information directly from the users, it is highly reliable. But you’ll only have statistical data and not be aware of the entire experience a user goes through while making their decisions. That is why you should also perform usability testing with focus groups to understand and unearth real issues.

Security & Regulatory Compliance

Although security and regulatory compliance are critical aspects of OTT platform testing, they are often overshadowed by more visible issues like content distribution. However, protecting content from unauthorized access and piracy is also crucial. There will be content that is geofenced and available only for certain regions. Users should also not be able to capture or record their screen while the application is open on any screen. Thorough DRM testing safeguards intellectual property and user trust.

Metadata Accuracy

A large catalog of content is always something a subscriber will love to have and maintaining the metadata for each content will definitely be a challenge in OTT platform testing. One piece of content might have numerous language options and even more subtitle options that could have incorrect configurations such as out-of-sync audio, mismatched content, etc. Likewise, thumbnails, titles, and so on could be different across different regions.
So implementing test automation to ensure the metadata’s accuracy is important as it is impossible to test it manually. It will not be easy as maintaining a single repository against which these tests will be carried out will be challenging. You’ll also have to use advanced algorithms such as image recognition to ensure the accuracy of such aspects.

Summary

Clearly, OTT platform testing is a complex task that is not like testing every other application. We hope we were able to give you a clear picture of the numerous hidden challenges one might encounter while performing OTT platform testing. Based on our experience of testing numerous OTT platforms, we have also suggested a few solutions that you can use to overcome these challenges.