Discover the fundamentals of streaming media in this free, entry-level course. Perfect for non-engineers and beginners, this course breaks down the core concepts behind how streaming works covering the differences between live and on-demand, key technologies, and the building blocks that power today’s digital experiences. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation that prepares you to confidently move on to more advanced streaming courses.

Learn the business models, technologies, systems, and services that power modern streaming platforms

Learn how streaming services build profitable and sustainable businesses by combining strategy, technology, and execution. The course begins with the core business models: subscription, advertising, FAST, vMVPD, and hybrid. You’ll see how each model drives decisions about pricing, packaging, and content. From there, you’ll explore monetization mechanics including CPM, ARPU, churn, dynamic pricing, and yield optimization.

You’ll learn how companies acquire content, attract subscribers, and grow revenue through data, targeting, and personalized recommendations. You’ll also see how privacy laws, identity systems, and data restrictions are reshaping the way monetization works.

Next, you’ll learn what it takes to deliver content reliably, securely, and at scale. You’ll study video processing, encoding, adaptive bitrate packaging, digital rights management, and content delivery networks. You’ll get a clear view of the ad tech stack, from programmatic platforms to ad servers and delivery systems. The course also covers accessibility and inclusive design, and how they influence reach, regulation, and retention.

In under seven hours, you’ll have a working understanding of the full monetization engine and how to contribute both strategically and technically within any streaming organization.

Who This Course Is For

Professionals seeking a solid foundation in how streaming platforms make money, including subscriptions, advertising, and hybrid models.

• Media and streaming pros moving into AVOD, SVOD, or FAST
• Product managers and marketers at OTT services looking to grow revenue
• Ad ops and strategy teams learning programmatic workflows
• Agencies, consultants, or investors evaluating business models
• Anyone new to streaming who wants a fast and focused onboarding

What You Will Learn

In under seven hours, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of how streaming platforms generate and grow revenue. You’ll learn:

• Learn how AVOD, SVOD, FAST, TVOD, and vMVPD models make money
• Master OTT pricing strategies, from free trials to bundles to premium tiers
• Understand programmatic advertising end-to-end, including deal types, ad tech, and platforms
• Learn how privacy laws, identity systems, and clean rooms are reshaping targeting and measurement
• Learn to match content to the right business model and drive engagement through discovery and value
• The tech stack behind monetization, from ad insertion to playout systems