Media software development for streaming, OTT and fan engagement apps
Media software development for live and on-demand streaming apps, OTT platforms, creator tools and fan engagement products. We build the mobile apps, video pipelines and moderation tools behind them, on AWS media services, for iOS, Android and the web.
projects shipped since 2012
building software since 2012
AI systems running in production
clients in 45+ countries
on Clutch, from 33 verified reviews
9001:2015 certified delivery process
Media, telecom and consumer brands we have worked with
What media software development covers
The apps and pipelines that capture, deliver and monetise content.
- What is media software development?
- Media software development is the engineering of the apps and platforms that capture, process, deliver and monetise video, audio and other content. It covers live and on-demand streaming apps, OTT platforms, user-generated video with moderation, creator and fan engagement apps, and the encoding, storage, delivery, payment and analytics systems behind them.
Four reasons streaming products lose their viewers
Streams that buffer at the big moment
Traffic peaks at kick-off, the final stage or a premiere, which is when an under-sized pipeline falls over. We load test the pipeline against your expected peak and deliver through a CDN with adaptive bitrate streaming.
Uneven video from different phones
Fan and creator uploads arrive in every resolution, orientation and frame rate. Preset recording settings in the app and a transcoding step on upload give every clip the same format, as on CrowdStreaming.
Moderation that cannot keep up
User video that reaches the stream unchecked is a brand and legal risk. A moderator console approves or rejects clips before they go live, with automated checks added where volume needs them.
Viewers who do not come back
A catalogue with weak discovery and no reason to return loses its audience after launch. Recommendations, notifications and fan features such as tipping or live chat give viewers a reason to open the app again.
Media and entertainment software we build
From a proof of concept for one live event to a subscription platform with a full catalogue.
Live streaming apps
We build capture, ingest and live playback on iOS and Android, on Amazon MediaLive or a streaming provider's published API.
See cross-platform developmentOTT and video on demand
We build catalogues, subscriptions, pay-per-view and playback on web and mobile, with adaptive bitrate streaming over a CDN.
User-generated video and moderation
Fans record, upload and trim clips, and a moderation console approves each one after transcoding and before it goes public.
Creator and fan apps
Artists and fans get discovery, tipping, events and galleries, as we built for TipStars.
See mobile app developmentReal-time interaction
Live chat, polls and synchronised state over WebSockets, so remote viewers take part while the event happens.
AI for media
Recommendations from viewing history, automatic captions and transcripts, and tagging that makes an archive searchable.
See AI recommendation enginesPlanning a streaming app or a new fan product?
Talk to us about your audience, your content rights and the first feature worth testing.
Media software for sports, OTT, creator and live event teams
A sports start-up and a subscription video service need different first builds. These are the four we see most.
Sports and live events
Fans and official crews shoot video at the venue, with moderation and live chat for fans watching remotely.
OTT and subscription video
On-demand catalogues with subscriptions or pay-per-view, delivered to web and mobile.
Creators and artists
Apps where fans discover, follow and pay the people whose work they watch.
Immersive and VR experiences
We stream live video into VR headsets and other immersive devices.
When to build a streaming platform and when to license one
White-label OTT platforms get a catalogue with subscriptions to market fastest, and we will say so on the first call if one fits. A custom build pays off when the viewing experience itself is what you sell.
- User-generated or fan-shot video. Upload, transcoding and moderation flows that a licensed player app does not offer.
- Live interaction around the stream. Chat, polls, tipping and multi-angle views stay tied to what is happening on screen.
- Your own business model. You control pricing, bundles, rights windows and viewer data, with no per-subscriber fee to a platform vendor.
Prove the video pipeline first, then build the app
Video is where streaming products break, so capture, encoding and playback are tested before the screens are finished. Every release goes through staging, with automated tests on every change.
The streaming and media stack we work in
Chosen per project. CrowdStreaming runs on Flutter, Node.js, MongoDB and AWS video services.
CrowdStreaming: a proof-of-concept live streaming app for rally fans
ScalaCode built a proof-of-concept mobile app for a UK client's crowd-driven rally streaming platform. Fans at an event record and upload video, moderators approve it, and remote viewers watch the approved streams live on Android and iOS.
from one Flutter codebase
More media and streaming case studies
All case studies
ScalaCode vs the alternatives
Most media teams weigh hiring, a white-label OTT platform and an agency. The table compares cost and fit.
| In-house hire | White-label OTT platform | Generalist agency | ScalaCode | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Salaries plus months of hiring | Monthly fee, often per subscriber | Variable | From $1,799 a month per engineer, published |
| Fits your content and format | Yes | Within the product's limits | Sometimes | Yes |
| Apps, video pipeline and AI in one team | Hard to hire | Not applicable | Sometimes | Yes |
| You own the code and viewer data | Yes | Depends on the vendor | Depends on contract | Yes |
| Same team over time | Yes | Not applicable | Often no | Yes |
One team, 14 years of shipping
projects shipped since 2012
AI systems running in production
clients across 45+ countries
years building software, since 2012
Rated 4.8/5 by the clients we build for
Verified reviews from Clutch and GoodFirms, and clients on camera.
33 verified reviews on Clutch
Clutch review★★★★★“They delivered everything on time and responded promptly to every request.”
Clutch review★★★★★“They managed to balance technical skill with an understanding of the marketing world.”
Clutch review★★★★★“Their engineers responded with remarkable agility.”
Trustpilot review★★★★★“ScalaCode delivered a game changing custom CMS for our outdoor business.”
“Their approach, dedication and project execution played a critical role in TipStars' success.”
Clutch review★★★★★“What sets ScalaCode apart is their technical AI expertise and an understanding of a client's organizational ethos.”
Clutch review★★★★★“They understood the business side of our requirements and often brought up solutions or ideas we hadn't considered.”
Media software development FAQs
We will answer any other question on the call.
How much does media software development cost?
Every build starts with a free discovery sprint. A proof of concept or MVP, such as a live streaming app with recording, moderation and playback, starts from $9,999, a full mobile app from $9,999 and an enterprise media platform from $24,999. Dedicated engineers start from $1,799 a month, full-time. Streaming and storage costs depend on viewing hours, so we estimate them in discovery.
Should we build our own OTT platform or license a white-label one?
License a white-label OTT platform if you need a catalogue with subscriptions in market quickly. Build when your product depends on something those platforms do not do, such as fan-shot video, live interaction or your own pricing model. Many teams start with an MVP that tests the one feature that sets them apart.
How do you keep live streams smooth when traffic spikes?
We size the pipeline for your expected peak, deliver video through a CDN with adaptive bitrate streaming so each viewer gets the quality their connection can hold, and load test before launch. The backend scales up on AWS for event days and back down afterwards.
Can you protect paid content with DRM?
Yes. For paid or licensed content we integrate a multi-DRM service through its published API, covering Widevine on Android and Chrome and FairPlay on Apple devices, alongside signed URLs and token-based access. Your content licences usually say which protection is required, and we scope to that.
How do you moderate user-uploaded video?
Uploaded clips go to a moderation queue first. On CrowdStreaming, moderators approve or reject each video in a web console before it reaches the live stream. For higher volumes we add automated checks that flag clips for a moderator, and the final decision stays with a person.
Can you add AI recommendations, captions or highlights?
Yes. Common additions are recommendations from viewing history, automatic captions and transcripts, tagging that makes an archive searchable, and suggested clips for highlights. We test each one on your own content before release.
How long does a streaming app take to build?
Most MVPs take 6 to 8 weeks after a discovery sprint of 1 to 2 weeks. The CrowdStreaming proof of concept delivered a Flutter app, an AWS video pipeline and a moderation console.
Who owns the code, the content and the viewer data?
You do. IP assignment is in the contract, NDAs are standard, and the code, the viewer data and the cloud and streaming accounts are yours from day one. Your content and its rights stay with you throughout.
Watch Ruairi's reviewRally Sports: a live-stream app on AWS
Scope your streaming product in 30 minutes
- Advice from a team that has shipped live streaming and creator apps
- Build or license, video costs and the first feature covered up front
- Free, with no obligation to build with us