How to Make a Video Streaming Website Like Hulu, Prime Video, and Disney+

Due to the spread of COVID-19, people turn to online video platforms (namely, make video streaming website) to stay entertained and educated. Let's look at statistic resources to prove it.

The global video streaming market size valued at $59.14 billion in 2021. No wonder more and more video streaming startups rise here and there to get a tidbit. In fact, in 2020, Hulu got $41.6 million paid subscribers, and it’s not even the most popular service at the moment.

Moreover, a fast-growing young population, ever-changing consumer demand, and the increased usage of smart devices are also driving the need for media solutions.

In this article we’ll discuss how to create a video streaming website and what technology stack is right for the job. We’ll also identify must-have features, monetization strategies, pitfalls to avoid and make an approximate development cost estimate.

To develop video streaming website, you should first understand what is streaming itself. Streaming is a constant transmission of an audio and video file from a server to the client. In other words, streaming happens when you listen to music or watch videos on the Internet.

First, you may wonder what’s the difference between streaming and downloading when plan to build a video streaming site. Downloading requires you to save an entire copy of the file to your device. In other words, you can’t access it until the downloading process is completed. Streaming in its turn loads a file bit by bit without downloading it completely and taking the storage of your device.

So, video streaming websites broadcast the content in real-time by simply loading a video step by step.

Streaming technology offers us several ways of transmitting data. The first one lets us watch videos whenever we want to because they’re stored on servers. These kinds of websites are called on-demand video streaming websites. They are popular among people who don’t want to change their plans to watch shows and series in specified hours, like it’s on TV.

The second type lets you stream the content live. Live streaming records the video and broadcasts it to viewers simultaneously. This feature is highly appreciated by celebrities and influencers, and they actively decide how to make online video streaming website containing live streaming functionality. It allows the audience to chat with the streamer and get instant feedback. However, the biggest flaw is that live streams are only available during the broadcast. So, if you missed the moment, you’ll have to wait for another translation.

Since you already know the basics, it’s time to go through the essential features needed to make your own video streaming website.

Registration is one of the essential features you should include in a functionality list when decide how to make your own video streaming website.

It may be optional for some sites, but it’s totally necessary for your streaming site for video content. It’s much more convenient for users to access their personal data through an account. Besides, a streaming website can’t charge subscription payments from unauthorized users, so don’t lose your profit. Registration may be held via email, social networks, or Google accounts.

Users should be able to manage their personal information like emails, passwords, names, and so on. To build a video streaming website on a paid basis you have to take care about payment details. Your website should support several payment options, like credit cards, PayPal, and others.

Also, such basic features as viewing history, playlists, and updates on favorite series or shows would be a good addition. You should consider them when asking yourself "how to make my own video streaming website which will be both attractive and useful for customers?"

Any streaming website for video has a load of content. So, when you create video streaming site it’s obvious that clients have to navigate through their favorite series, movies, or directors. That’s why you have to provide some filters to ease the navigation through the content. Also, you can adapt users' search results according to their recent requests and preferences. So, a search engine is a must-have feature you should consider to build a website with video streaming.

Here you have a choice between a custom payment service or a third-party system. Without regard to what you choose, mind the security matters. If you use third-parties, you have to conduct a research and choose a reliable provider. When building your own payment systems, comply with every up-to-date data regulation and security protocol.

For now you have a choice of five major payment systems — Stripe, Braintree, PayPal, Dwolla, and Authorize.net. Each of them charges the same fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. They are quite similar. However, there’s one exception that's vital for every business accepting payments online. PayPal supports payments from more than 200 countries and accepts 25 different currencies. That’s much more than Stripe with 25 countries and Braintree with 46 countries. Still, you have to look at each system’s pros and cons and figure out the best for your needs when decide how to start a video streaming website and compose a feature list.

However, Hulu offers a variety of payment options to improve customer experience. Users can pay via debit or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover) and through third parties like Apple, Amazon, Spotify, Roku, etc. Of course, third parties can charge additional fees for their services. For example, Amazon Pay has 2.9% domestic processing fee and 3.9% cross-border processing one. Still, that’s a humble price for an additional payment option.

Finally, let your users pause the subscription temporarily. Hulu offers their customers to freeze their subscription for up to 12 weeks in case of vacation, business trip, or any other event. After the specified duration Hulu will reactivate your subscription and charge the money for it. This small detail shows a respectful attitude to users’ time and money.

In fact, the main part of any video streaming website. Here you should take care of an intuitive interface for those who’ll be uploading content to the website. Make sure it’s easy to figure out all the details that concern the upload process. Also, don’t overload employees with a ton of features and cut the complicated functionality to the minimum.

On top of that, divide your employees by roles when consider how to make live video streaming website. Someone responsible for uploading a video shouldn’t see the statistics or have access to clients’ payment info. Keep it simple!

Home page is the face of your product design when you build video streaming website. So, double-check that your users have an attractive home page. First of all, the main page should show new and trending movies and series. You have to find an appropriate number of videos on the main page that wouldn’t irritate users. A/B testing is a great choice to test all possible options and figure out which one works better.

Almost every video streaming website launches a preview when users hover on the video. It makes your home page stylish and engaging. But remember to leave some free space between videos. If there’s no place for a cursor, these previews will be always seen making the user experience worse.

Also, develop a section where users will be able to keep watching movies from the place they stopped last time. If you deliver live TV services, there should be a choice of channels on the main page too.

Lastly, ensure there is a place for the section keeping all the picks made by users when think out how to create a video streaming site. Here they can find movies and series they added to playlists, studios and directors they’re following, and so on.

How to build a video streaming website MVP and what time and money will it require? It's a high time to discuss it now.

All video streaming projects require a thoughtful admin panel for managing movies, users, and broadcasts. Keep that in mind to accurately calculate site development costs when deciding how to build a website for streaming video.

In the tables above you can see an approximate development time by modules telling that developers will spend about 999 hours in total to implement those modules. Dividing that time into smaller parts (called sprints), we'll get about 10 development iterations. Keep in mind that software developers aren't the only specialists you need on a team to build such a complex product.

Here's the full team composition you'll need to give a proper answer to how to create a website with streaming video feature:

• Front-end developer (2X) - all sprints
• Back-end developer (2X) - all sprints
• UI/UX designer - sprint 1-9
• Business analyst - sprint 1-9
• Project manager - all sprints
• QA engineer - all sprints
• DevOps engineer - all sprints
• Team lead - all sprints

Given that team composition and the amount of work, it'll cost you approximately $97,125 to build a video streaming website described in the table. As a software service provider, we can guarantee successful product delivery within a specified time frame only if all needed specialists are on the team.

To be honest, today's state of progress can provide much more sophisticated options to your users. The section below will cover some of them, so keep up with me to know more about how to create a video streaming platform!

A recommendation system can offer users content based on their recent viewing history and search requests. The most common way to form a recommendation list is to let users leave a like and dislike. If a user dislikes the video, they won’t see this and similar content in their feed any more. On the contrary, thumbs up will put similar types of content on the main page. That’s how to create a website with video streaming that offers the best match for the user, so they can feel the personal touch and improved customer experience.

Video quality makes giant steps these days especially when you consider how to make video streaming website. UHD screens, which have been an unaffordable luxury a couple of years ago, are available at a reasonable price today. That’s why if you’re wondering how to create a video streaming website it’s highly recommended to take 4K resolution content seriously. Also, don’t forget about the HDR that makes the colors more saturated and increases the overall picture quality.

With a flexible price scheme, you can provide a basic subscription plan with Full-HD only and charge more for the ultimate plan with 4K and HDR included.

Also, modern streaming protocols are worth a separate list to create. Video streaming websites could use a vast variety of them today, and each one has its own pros and cons. Here are some of them:

• RTMP (real-time messaging protocol) is universally supported and provides the lowest latency, however it’s used mostly in live streaming.
• MPEG DASH uses AI that selects the video segments that can be downloaded for playback without buffering.
• HTTP live streaming (HLS) is by far the safest protocol on the market, but unfortunately it has the best performance only with iOS devices.

Finally, when deciding how to create video streaming website, don’t forget that there are already 8K UHD screens on the market. For now, there’s still no content for this resolution, but in the near future, those who catch this trend will rule the streaming market.

This feature should be implemented while creating a video streaming website, as it would be helpful for users who go to the areas that have no mobile service. A simple download button will defeat the boredom of long flights or road trips. In this way, the content won’t be illegally distributed, and there won’t be any copyright issues.

When people are fond of some films or series, they tend to discuss them with others. For that reason, you may add a section where users can share their opinion with each other. Let them upload screenshots, arts of their favorite characters, and more things concerning the topic they like. For now, Hulu provides a community page where users can ask disturbing questions, share their ideas on improvements with Hulu, and get the latest news about the content. This feature will show that you value your viewer community, so your app will definitely stand out.

The last point on this list is all about statistics. Data gathering algorithms will supply you with information about user preferences, relevance of particular series, prime time, and so on. This information will help you better understand your audience when considering how to create a streaming video website, and adjust your site to their needs.

Before purchasing the rights for broadcasting any content specialists from Hulu analyze it and compare with other similar content on the site. With this data, they estimate the potential profit this content may generate. Later, specialists monitor this content’s popularity and compare the real value to the expected. This approach allows Hulu to predict the investments’ success.

Family profiles deliver a personalized experience to each family member. Personal profiles help users keep an eye on their favourite shows independently from everyone else in their family. Each profile should have it’s own viewing history and personalized recommendations based on specific user’s tastes and preferences.

Screenshot block features make it impossible for users to take screenshots or screen recordings of the streaming websites. Moreover, it reduces the possibility of copying your digital content illegally. So, it should also be implemented when deciding how to build streaming video website and composing its feature list.

It’s a great option if you deal with a great amount of digital property accessible online. Then, there may be a need to restrict some videos from being watched from specific locations due to individual terms of copyright or licensing agreements. The customers’ location can be identified based on IP address, user profile information, and measuring ping. Besides, this feature enables you to generate content that is available to the target audience.

According to statistics, 90% of customers will buy a product or service if only it’s available in their native language. If you’re planning to branch out into international markets and reach more customers, it’s vital to provide multiple language support. However, website localization doesn’t mean translating copy from one language to another. You need to consider cultural patterns, colors, images, select the right tone of voice, and don't use idioms or phrases that are difficult to interpret after you finish to create a video streaming site.

Considering that we’re an outsourcing company experienced in streaming website development, we’ll describe how to set up a video streaming website and develop it to get a user-oriented product.

It’s worth noting that there is no sense in creating a great copy. Your task is to consider Unique Selling Proposition (USP) to stand out from competitors and attract more leads.

The tech business plan is a company's roadmap for doing business. It demonstrates how the business works and how the company generates income while delivering products or services. During this stage, you’ll also need to understand how to make money (subscription model, freemium, advertising, etc.).

It's vital to take care of the legal aspects of video creation and distribution. You can license your video content by signing a licensing agreement or obtain exclusive rights for some films.

One of the fastest ways to make a video streaming website is to outsource the development to a dedicated development team with confirmed expertise in this field. If you do so, you’ll get top-notch services for an affordable price.

During this stage, you need to define the types of users you’re planning to build a website for (video consumer, video creator, or admin) and the types of video streaming platform. Based on this information you prepare a list of core features.

The best way to captivate users’ attention is to create an eye-catching and user-friendly video streaming website design. The design process should concentrate on user experience, unique style, and responsiveness on different devices.

It’s vital to promote your video streaming website to make users informed of your digital solution. There are a lot of marketing channels to find your audience, such as SEO promotion, SMM, online publicity, paid advertising, content marketing, and so on.

Before releasing your website, it’s crucial to perform testing to ensure your product is bug-free and works as intended. Without proper testing, there is a risk of missing some severe issues with functionality and delivering the product that won't bring the expected results.

After releasing a video streaming website, collect initial feedback to figure out whether there is something that needs to be improved. All information should be categorized by types of feedback (regarding bugs, features, etc.) and clients (new or loyal consumers).

Here’s the list of technologies that may be used to build a video streaming website.

• Languages: C#, Java, JavaScript, Python
• Frameworks: Node.js, socket.io
• SDK and API: Wowza, AWS, Twilio
• Database: MySQL, Oracle
• Cloud hosting: Amazon EC2
• Cloud storage: Amazon S3
• JS libraries: React, WinJS

Programming languages are used to create video streaming website’s logic. Put simply, languages let developers build custom video players, ensure the transmission of the video files, and general features like registration and payments.

Database is the place storing tons of high-quality content. Flawless database structures and optimized queries are essential things needed to create a fault-tolerant website.

APIs and SDKs are generally used for cutting the development time. For example Wowza is a set of turnkey tools for video encoding, optimizing video bitrates, and so on. Twilio is an API that connects you with customers via phone calls, SMS, and messengers.Hulu used Twilio to optimize the work of the contact center. When users call Hulu’s support number, they are quickly redirected to a vacant customer support specialist. If all agents are busy, Hulu informs the client about an estimated waiting time and queue position. Hulu developers use Hulu because of its ease of use and affordable price.

It’d take an enormous amount of time to develop these tools from scratch, so APIs and SDKs are an integral part of development.

Monetization of your product is as important as the whole development process is. I will highlight the benefits of some monetization strategies and differences between them you should keep in mind when you make video streaming website.

The most common strategy of monetizing video streaming websites. You’ll provide the content to users on a monthly or yearly subscription basis. The price of a subscription may vary depending on a type of content and quality.

Different websites have different prices. Basic Hulu subscription costs $5,99/month and the most expensive one that includes Live TV and has no ads will cost $70,99/month. Prime Video is distributed for $8,99/month but you can also pay $12,99/month for all of the Amazon Prime services that include Prime Video. Disney + has charges $7,99/ month and $79,99/year for its services.

This approach is used by Google Play Movies. Users don’t have to buy a subscription and may simply pay for a view. This type of monetization suits better for movie streaming.

For example, Google Play Movies offers us two alternatives. Users can rent a movie for a limited time. The price starts from $0,99 to $7 per movie. Thus, you can watch a movie and spend less money. On the other hand, you can buy a movie and add it to your library if you want to get back to it later. The price varies between $5 and $19.99.

Actually, this strategy suits better to on-demand websites like YouTube, but we have to give it a shot. In order to create a video streaming website with this feature, you have to place ads throughout the video. The best timings are the beginning and the end of the video, however you can place them wherever you want. The more ads you show, the higher profits you have.

Another way of making use of ads is distributing no-ads plans. Hulu offers a basic plan for $5,99 and an ad-free plan for $11,99. A lot of viewers are likely to pay less and sacrifice a couple of minutes for watching an advertisement. In both ways, you’re a winner here, so consider this tip.

The major thing to remember: nobody likes ads, so integrate them wisely.

At first glance, video streaming website development doesn’t seem a challenge. However, there are some points that are beyond obvious. So now, I’m going to shed light on some of them.

It’s important to understand that a ready-made streaming website isn’t the final destination for you. To fill it with movies and series, you should own the copyrights for the specified content. So, you have to make arrangements with content owners in order to avoid trouble with the law. Of course, it’ll cost you a fortune. HBO Max purchased rights to air “Friends” from Netflix for $425 million. Still, if you will mess with copyrights, lawyers will charge you more.

Bitrate determines the picture, and the sound quality users get on their screens. However, different people have different internet connections. If the speed is not enough to load the high bitrate video, the user will be stuck in endless bufferization. To avoid this problem, you should provide the choice of video quality and optimize your server in a way it won’t fill the connection with useless requests.

If your website contains movies inappropriate for all ages, you should notify your viewers about it while creating a video streaming website. The simplest way to do it is to add an age icon on the movie page or put a disclaimer before viewing. On top of that, you can ask for the user's age during registration and display the content based on it. Finally, develop a separate kids profile. Hulu has an option to restrict the viewers rights to the Kids hub. This is a safe space where youngsters can see only the content aimed towards children. That’s why you don’t have to worry about other shows that may appear in recommendation or home page.

Last but not least is security. It relates to various aspects of video streaming website development. Let’s take a quick look at the security issues you may encounter and how to prevent them.

• Network security. Build a top-tier CDN platform to ensure the protection from DDOS attacks and illegal distribution of your video content.
• Domain restrictions. The feature limits access to your video content. For instance, if you have the site video.com, you can setup a domain restriction to block websites that aren’t video.com from trying to steal and reutilize your embed code.
• Referrer restrictions. The core idea of this feature is that you can make allowlists and blocklists. ‘White’ websites are allowed to share your video content, and the ‘black’ ones (malicious websites) aren’t.
• Payment security. It’s vital to add SSL encryption into your video streaming platform to ensure the safety of online transactions.
• Password protection. This feature allows you to provide video stream access to selected users.
• Copyright control. It’s essential to protect your video content from third parties’ copying and reproduction.
• Dynamic token security system. This system verifies the validity of geographic and domain restrictions. If there are invalid tokens or no tokens are there, the video won’t play.
• HTTPS video delivery. Websites utilize HTTPS to ensure data privacy. It provides security by preventing breaking in transmission along with giving authentication. Encrypted data can’t be changed while proceeding through the web without disrupting it.
• AES video encryption. After the video is encrypted, a private key encodes the video content. If the users don’t have an unique access key, they can’t watch films or TV series. Moreover, if they try to grab it, all they see is a mess of worthless data.

Blockbuster was an iconic video and gaming rental company. Later a top-tier Danish provider purchased its brand rights and launched a streaming platform for Nordic countries. Blockbuster has the website, iOS and Android mobile apps, and apps for Android TV and Apple TV. We were recently upgrading both of its mobile versions.

It’s available both online and offline. Blockbuster has some adorable features like collections of your favorite movies or series, mobile downloading, and subtitles in multiple languages.

During the video streaming website development, we used following technologies:

• Mobile/Tablet: Kotlin for Android and Swift for iOS development
• Authorization: Facebook Login
• TV streaming: Google Cast SDK
• Video analytics: Youbora
• Libraries for Amazon Web Services: Appollo, CloudFront, Lambda, Elastic Beanstalk, GraphQL, AWSAppSync

You can find more details on the project in our How We Improve Blockbuster Streaming App case study.

As a media software development company, we’re continually working to improve our expertise to provide our clients with custom-made digital media solutions aligning with their business requirements.