Keep OTT users engaged with a video end screen

How can you keep users engaged after they have finished a video?

To keep viewers engaged on your OTT service after a video ends, offer clear follow-up options. These options should help users discover new content with no interruptions.

Accedo One supports two main end-screen modes:  

1. ‍Binge – Autoplays the next episode in a series.  
2. ‍Up Next – Shows recommended videos and can autoplay them.  

Both features help improve viewer retention by reducing friction between videos.

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Binge 

The Binge feature is ideal for episodic content in a video-streaming service. It automatically queues and prepares the next episode to maintain momentum.

Binge applies to TV shows or collections. Near the end of the current video, viewers see:  

• A countdown timer to the next episode  
• The upcoming episode’s thumbnail  
• Series title  
• Season and episode number  
• Episode title  

When the countdown ends, the next episode starts automatically.

To enable Binge in Accedo One:  

1. Turn on the Binge feature.  
2. Set the countdown duration.  

Tip: Align the timer with the length of the end credits so that the next episode’s thumbnail appears at a natural point, minimizing disruption for the viewer.

Up Next 

Up Next appears when there is no logical next video to autoplay - for example, after a movie or after the final episode in a series. Showing suggestions at the end of a video helps reduce “final drop” in retention: research into audience retention curves shows that viewers often start disengaging during video outros or credits.

In these cases, users are shown recommended videos. These come from your video catalog or from an external recommendation service.  

• Selecting a recommendation starts playback immediately.  
• Pressing Back or Close returns the user to their previous screen.

Up Next can also be set to autoplay. When the countdown finishes, the top recommendation (or a configured default) starts playing automatically.

Autoplay of recommended content is a strong engagement lever, but platforms should also be aware of user experience risks: one study found that this can lead to “regretful” extended viewing sessions when users watch unintended content.

To enable Up Next in Accedo One:  

1. Turn on the Up Next feature.  
2. Choose the countdown duration.

Make sure to test different timer durations: too short may feel abrupt, too long may frustrate users - data-driven tuning is key.