Selecting an IPTV/OTT platform is a multi-year commitment with significant cost and operational implications. A structured RFP (Request for Proposal) process ensures you evaluate vendors consistently and identify the platform that best fits your requirements. This checklist covers the 50+ critical questions every operator should ask when evaluating streaming platforms.
Technology & Architecture
- What is the platform architecture? (Monolith vs microservices, cloud-native vs legacy)
- What hosting options are available? (Cloud, on-premise, hybrid, multi-cloud)
- How does the platform scale? (Horizontal auto-scaling, manual provisioning)
- What codecs are supported? (H.264, HEVC, AV1, VP9)
- Does the platform output both HLS and DASH simultaneously?
- What DRM systems are supported? (Widevine, FairPlay, PlayReady)
- What CDN integrations are available? (Akamai, CloudFront, Fastly)
Features & Capabilities
- Subscriber Management: User registration, authentication, subscription tiers, parental controls
- Content Management: CMS capabilities, metadata management, content scheduling
- App Deployment: Which platforms are supported? (Android, iOS, Smart TVs, STBs, Web)
- Is there a no-code app builder, or is custom development required?
- EPG Management: Data sources, multi-timezone, multi-language support
- Catch-Up TV / nPVR: Time-shifted viewing capabilities and storage management
- Advertising: SSAI/SGAI/CSAI support, VAST/VMAP compliance, programmatic SSP integration
- Analytics: Real-time dashboards, QoS monitoring, viewer behavior tracking
Security & Compliance
- Multi-DRM support (native or third-party integration)
- Forensic watermarking (native or integration)
- GDPR, CCPA, and data privacy compliance
- SOC2/ISO27001 certification
- Geo-blocking and content rights enforcement
- Data encryption (in transit and at rest)
Pricing & Commercial
- Pricing model: Per subscriber, flat fee, usage-based, or hybrid?
- Are there minimum commitments or lock-in periods?
- What is included in the base price vs add-ons?
- What are the setup and onboarding costs?
- What SLA guarantees are offered?
- How many active deployments does the vendor have?
Why MwareTV Passes Every RFP Question
MwareTV TVMS is designed to answer every question on this checklist affirmatively. Cloud-native microservices architecture, 15+ platform app support, native multi-DRM, Akamai CDN integration, no-code App Builder, comprehensive analytics, carrier-grade reliability, and deployment across 40+ countries. Request a detailed RFP response from MwareTV to see how the platform meets your specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start the RFP process?
Download this checklist, customize the questions for your specific requirements, and send to 3-5 shortlisted vendors. Require live demonstrations and reference customer contacts from each vendor.
What is the most important RFP criterion?
Reference customers. Ask vendors for 3+ reference customers with similar deployment sizes and use cases. Speak directly with their technical and business teams about real-world performance.
