This study analyzes the key factors influencing the switching intention from OTT(SVOD) services to YouTube(AVOD) platforms using the Push-Pull-Mooring(PPM) model. In the rapidly evolving digital content market, Subscription Video on Demand(SVOD) and A...
This study analyzes the key factors influencing the switching intention from OTT(SVOD) services to YouTube(AVOD) platforms using the Push-Pull-Mooring(PPM) model. In the rapidly evolving digital content market, Subscription Video on Demand(SVOD) and Advertising-Based Video on Demand(AVOD) platforms form distinct user bases based on subscription fees and advertisement revenue models, respectively. By examining the relative importance and interaction of factors that influence switching intention between OTT and YouTube, this study provides critical insights into the competitive and complementary relationships between these two models.
To achieve this, the study established Push factors(economic burden, lack of personalized content), Pull factors(content diversity, community/social features), and Mooring factors(economic conditions, social influence) as independent variables to analyze their effects on switching intention. The results show that all six hypotheses established in this study were statistically significant, indicating that each factor significantly influences switching intention. However, in the overall model analysis that included all independent variables, the significance of the economic burden among the Push factors was relatively low, suggesting its limited explanatory power in explaining switching intention.
In the analysis of Push factors, economic burden was found to create a psychological constraint regarding paid OTT services, but it did not significantly increase switching intention. This implies that switching intention is not solely a matter of cost but is more influenced by the content experience and user circumstances provided by other platforms. On the other hand, a lack of personalized content showed a stronger effect. Users who perceive that SVOD services provide insufficient recommendation algorithms were highly motivated to switch to alternative platforms.
Among Pull factors, content diversity and community/social features emerged as major factors influencing switching intention. Regarding content diversity, AVOD platforms like YouTube demonstrated a strong appeal by offering a wide range of genres and continuously updated content, sustaining user interest. Moreover, the community and social features provided significant value. The live chat, comments, and community features on YouTube allow users to share their opinions and engage with others, fostering a sense of belonging. This finding indicates that switching from OTT to YouTube involves not only a change in content consumption but also the experiential value gained through interaction and participation.
Mooring factors played a moderating role in the effects of Push and Pull factors on switching intention. Economic conditions were found to be particularly important when users considered switching to YouTube. Users experiencing financial difficulties were significantly driven by subscription fee burdens to switch to YouTube platforms. Social influence also positively affected switching intention. Recommendations from peers or the growing social trend of using free AVOD platforms like YouTube significantly increased the likelihood of switching. These Mooring factors highlight that switching intention is not confined to individual decisions but is also shaped by the surrounding social context.
Based on this analysis, the study concludes that user dissatisfaction with a specific service(Push factors) does not alone drive switching intention. Instead, the attractive elements of a new service(Pull factors) and individual economic situations or social influences (Mooring factors) play a more significant role. Notably, Pull and Mooring factors showed relatively higher explanatory power compared to Push factors, suggesting that switching intention is more strongly driven by expectations from new services than by dissatisfaction with current ones. This finding indicates the potential for AVOD and SVOD models to operate in a complementary manner, satisfying diverse user needs and experiences.
Building on this conclusion, the study proposes that the Hybrid pricing model may become a critical trend in the future market. The Hybrid pricing model combines the strengths of AVOD and SVOD, allowing users to access content for free while offering options to pay for ad-free experiences or premium content. For example, YouTube Premium allows users to watch content without advertisements, while paid OTT services like Netflix and Disney+ have recently introduced ad-supported subscription plans, increasing user choice. Such Hybrid pricing models bridge the gap between AVOD and SVOD, enhancing service flexibility and improving user experience diversity.
In conclusion, this study emphasizes the potential for OTT and YouTube to act as complementary rather than substitute services. The diversification of service models, such as the introduction of Hybrid pricing, expands user experience and accommodates various demands and preferences, paving the way for the future development of the VOD market. By highlighting the complementary relationship between OTT and YouTube, this study provides meaningful implications for VOD platforms to design user-centered and flexible service models in response to evolving market dynamics.