The Growing Market for Kids' Content on OTT Platforms

The streaming world has opened the door to a new generation of viewers who are now watching all their favorite shows and movies from a variety of devices. There's more OTT content than ever before being geared toward children these days, and if you create content for younger audiences, you've likely observed how families gravitate to apps that offer immediate, distraction-free access to the kid-friendly material they need. This means you have opportunities to explore fresh avenues of growth, expand your range of offerings, and build strong connections with parents and their kids.

The Growing Market for Kids' OTT Content

Families these days are trading traditional TV schedules for on-demand services, especially when it comes to shows aimed at kids. Many parents are juggling work, school, and other responsibilities, so they welcome the ability to handpick what their children watch and when, and that's exactly where OTT platforms shine. They give parents a chance to curate viewing to match the household routines and timetable.

Why Kids' Content Stands Out

Kids' entertainment has been a powerful driver in media for a long time because of how it connects with entire households. When children fall in love with a particular series, there's a good chance the parents will subscribe to it or purchase whatever service makes that show available; and, a lot of times, the parents are watching (and enjoying), too.

Prioritize Quality and Educational Value

Parents weigh the educational value of what their children watch. Some parents want content that teaches social skills or moral lessons while others look more for math, reading, or science-based activities. You can tap into this demand by designing shows that hold children's interest while also boosting their cognitive or emotional development.

Build Brand Identity

Families looking for safe, age-appropriate content will often remember certain characters, logos, or musical themes because those are quick ways to remember "Yeah, that show's safe and good." If you keep up with consistent design elements and design memorable characters that don't change on a whim, you're creating an anchor that keeps both kids and parents loyal.

Monetizing on OTT

You might package your shows as part of a subscription offering that covers a variety of material. Alternatively, you could let families pay for individual shows or bundles, which they can then watch on any device. Advertising is also an option, though you should keep in mind the regulations around advertising to kids. Merchandising can be another angle if you have established characters.

Ensure Safety and Compliance

Parents need to know that what their children watch will be secure, free from inappropriate content, and won't be gathering unnecessary private data about their kids. If you handle user profiles, make sure you're aware of and compliant with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in the United States or similar rules in other regions.

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