Backscreen
Backscreen is a Latvia-based (SIA Tet) OTT platform provider offering cross-generation video streaming, MAM, transcoding, and web video tools for broadcasters, telecom operators, and media publishers across EMEA.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersRiga, Latvia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Backscreen does
Backscreen, operating as a brand of SIA Tet (Latvia, reg. no. 40003052786), is a cross-generation OTT technology provider founded in 2014 and acquired by Tet in 2024. It builds a modular, API-first, cloud-native video platform serving broadcasters, telecom operators, OTT service providers, and media publishers. The portfolio comprises four core products — Backscreen App (cross-gen multiscreen OTT player with Gen Z and traditional TV modes), Backscreen Media (a Media Asset Manager unifying OTT, FAST, live, and web distribution), Backscreen Stream (SaaS transcoding, packaging, DRM, origin and CDN delivery), and Backscreen Webplay (an online video platform for web portals) — managed via Backscreen Admin. Underlying architecture is multi-tenant with RESTful APIs, MQTT notifications, S3-compatible CEPH storage, custom microservices for parallel transcoding (4 processes per instance, fair queueing), and best-of-breed integrations with THEOplayer (player), NPAW (analytics), Akamai (CDN), Scalstrm (origin), and Didomi (consent).
The company monetizes via tiered pre-paid subscriptions (EUR 27–EUR 439/month, monthly or annual with 24% annual discount), usage-based overages on CDN traffic, storage, plays, transcoding, live events, DRM, and geolocation checks, plus custom Enterprise contracts and migration/professional services. Go-to-market is hybrid: a product-led self-serve web funnel with a 14-day free trial alongside direct field sales for enterprise broadcasters. Distribution spans direct sales, the self-serve portal, Google Play, the Apple App Store, and Smart TV/CTV (Android TV, LG and Samsung in certification), with anchor deployments including Latvian Television, LNK TV Group (LNK GO, launched January 2026), Telia Play (3M+ subscribers), FashionTV, Helio Media, and the Latvian Ministry of Education. Backscreen holds 70+ employees based in Riga, with no external funding rounds disclosed.
Backscreen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Backscreen
- Legal name
- SIA Tet
- Website
- https://backscreen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Backscreen is a Latvia-based (SIA Tet) OTT platform provider offering cross-generation video streaming, MAM, transcoding, and web video tools for broadcasters, telecom operators, and media publishers across EMEA.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Backscreen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- OTT Video Streaming Platform
- NAICS
- Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (51621)
- SIC
- Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Live Streaming & Low-Latency OTT Orchestration (LL-HLS, DASH, WebRTC) (MPAHAJAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Billing, Payments & Subscription Management (MPAHAJAC), Multi-CDN, Traffic Steering & Edge Optimization (MPAHAJAL), Video Streaming & OTT Delivery (Live/VOD, Low-Latency) (HDABAGAC)
Keywords
Where Backscreen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Riga
- HQ country
- Latvia
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Backscreen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Subscription Plans (Pre-Paid): Fixed-price subscription plans with pre-assigned volumes of CDN traffic, storage, plays, transcoding, and live events. Plans auto-renew monthly or yearly. Prices from EUR 27/month (Small, monthly) to EUR 439/month (Large, monthly). Annual plans save 24%. Core revenue driver.
- CDN Traffic (overage): Billed per gigabyte of streaming traffic delivered to end users. Part of plan quotas; additional volumes purchasable. One of multiple consumption-based billing components.
- Media Storage (overage): Billed per gigabyte for storage of source files, transcoded videos, audio/subtitle tracks, and supplemental files. Additional volumes purchasable beyond plan allocation.
- Media Plays (overage): Billed per 1,000 playback sessions. Each individual playback session registered regardless of length. Additional volumes available for purchase.
- Media Transcoding: Billed per media source minute for standard transcoding settings, or per output minute for Enterprise Plan. Output minute billing only available for Enterprise Plan. Coefficient-based billing (e.g., 1h source transcoded to multiple renditions = 366 billable minutes).
- Live Event Transcoding: Billed per streaming hour for live events up to HD 1080p. Live Channel Transcoding billed per month for reserved 24/7 live stream channels.
- Live Stream Packaging: Transforms streams into HLS or MPEG-DASH protocols; billed per streaming hour only for non-transcoded streams.
- DRM Licenses: Studio-grade DRM billed per 1,000 activated DRM-protected playback sessions.
- Geolocation Checks & Proxy/VPN Detection: Verify viewer country and detect VPN/proxy use; billed per 1,000 checks for content protection and geo-restrictions.
- Enterprise Custom Plans: Individualized contracts with custom pricing and usage terms. Typically offered when deal volume significantly exceeds Pre-Paid Plan limits. May include managed services.
- Migration & Professional Services: Migration support for Azure Media Services customers including personalized migration plans, data transfer assistance, integration support, and technical training.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Small plan for individuals and small enterprises — 400 GB CDN, 4,000 plays, 4h live events, 200 GB storage, 80 min transcoding |
| Subscription | Monthly | Medium plan — 2,000 GB CDN, 20,000 plays, 20h live events, 1,000 GB storage, 400 min transcoding |
| Subscription | Monthly | Large plan for large enterprises — 10,000 GB CDN, 100,000 plays, 100h live events, 5,000 GB storage, 2,000 min transcoding |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Trial Plan — free limited-time access with limited volumes |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Enterprise Plan — custom pricing, volumes, and usage terms per individual contract |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Backscreen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Backscreen provides a cross-generation OTT (over-the-top) video streaming platform consisting of four core products: Backscreen App (cross-gen OTT multiscreen platform with Gen Z mode and traditional TV UI), Backscreen Webplay (online video platform for web publishers), Backscreen Media (media asset manager unifying OTT, FAST, live, and web delivery), and Backscreen Stream (SaaS for transcoding, DRM, and global CDN delivery). The platform serves broadcasters, telecom operators, OTT service providers, and web publishers with full-stack video infrastructure including transcoding, DRM, geo-blocking, ad monetization (AVOD/SVOD/TVOD), and analytics.
Product overview
Backscreen is a cross-generation OTT technology provider offering a unified platform portfolio for broadcasters, telcos, and OTT service providers. The portfolio consists of four core modules: Backscreen App (cross-gen OTT multiscreen platform for end viewers), Backscreen Media (Media Asset Manager unifying OTT, FAST, and live delivery), Backscreen Stream (SaaS for video processing and global delivery), and Backscreen Webplay (online video platform for web portal video management). These products are managed through Backscreen Admin, a cloud-based media asset management and streaming platform. The platform supports the full video workflow from content ingestion and transcoding through to playback, analytics, and monetization across all devices.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Backscreen App: Cross-gen OTT multiscreen platform covering the whole audience with flexible UX modes for different generations.
- Backscreen Media
- Backscreen Stream
- Backscreen Webplay
Quantifiable outcome
- 70% less effort managing content
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use Backscreen
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Backscreen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability4 records
Feature16 records
Backscreen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic and minor.
- NPAW (Nice People at Work)coreNPAW Suite is integrated with Backscreen App, providing in-depth audience analytics, playback quality monitoring, and content performance insights. Backscreen customers access NPAW's multi-tenant video analytics directly through their own child accounts for real-time audience behavior tracking.
- VesetstrategicVeset, a company specializing in cloud solutions for managing linear TV channels, partnered with Backscreen to create educational TV channels and OTT portal for the Latvian Ministry of Education during COVID-19. Veset provided playout technologies while Backscreen contributed cloud, network, and CDN capacities. Channels launched in just 2 weeks.
- THEOplayercoreTHEOplayer is integrated as the video playback engine in Backscreen App and Backscreen Webplay. It supports a wide range of devices with low latency, smooth ad transitions, and an extensive feature set, enabling cross-device streaming across web, mobile, and connected TV.
- AkamaicoreAkamai powers Backscreen Stream SaaS as the global CDN provider, delivering best-in-class video streaming globally. Supports Multi-CDN scenarios for redundancy and performance optimization.
- ScalstrmcoreScalstrm's Origin platform drives Backscreen Stream. Built for scale using cloud-based tile recordings, it serves as the backbone for streaming services with high performance origin handling.
- DidomicorePartnership integrates Backscreen's cross-generation OTT platform with Didomi's consent and preference management technology. Enables consistent consent handling across web, mobile apps, and connected TV; compliant with IAB TCF 2.3 standard and certified by Google.
- Sportacentrs.comminorMajor sports broadcaster in Latvia that allocated part of its free-to-air DVB-T air-time to re-transmit the new educational TV channels and provided filming crews to shoot class videos.
- Re:TVminorRegional TV channel in Latvia that allocated part of its free-to-air DVB-T air-time to re-transmit educational TV channels and provided filming crews for content creation.
- Google Ad ManagercoreGoogle Ad Manager is supported by Backscreen platforms for ad monetization, enabling scalable and data-driven advertising across live and on-demand content with dynamic ad insertion.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Backscreen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bitmovin: Video encoding and player technology provider used by broadcasters and OTT services — overlaps directly with Backscreen's transcoding, packaging, and player integration capabilities.
- Uscreen: White-label OTT and video monetization platform targeting content creators and media brands — overlaps with Backscreen Webplay's SMB/publisher positioning and subscription/AVOD monetization.
- Dacast: Live and VOD streaming platform with subscription tiers, monetization, and white-label apps — directly comparable to Backscreen's self-serve SMB pricing tiers and small-broadcaster use case.
- Mux: Developer-focused video API and streaming infrastructure platform used by media companies to deliver VOD and live — competes with Backscreen Stream on transcoding, DRM, and CDN orchestration for technical buyers.
- Kaltura: Video experience platform with OTT, CMS, monetization, and APIs for broadcasters, telcos, and enterprises — the most structurally similar competitor to Backscreen's full-stack, multi-product portfolio.
- JW Player (JWP): Video player and OTT monetization platform widely used by broadcasters and publishers — competes head-to-head with Backscreen App and Backscreen Stream in video playback and ad-supported streaming.
- Vimeo OTT: White-label OTT platform for creators and media companies to launch subscription and ad-supported streaming services — comparable to Backscreen App/Webplay positioning for SMB and mid-market video publishers.
- Brightcove: Public B2B video cloud platform offering OTT publishing, monetization, and live streaming for broadcasters and media companies — directly overlaps with Backscreen's App, Media, and Stream products across the same enterprise buyer segment.
Regional players
- Zattoo: European OTT/streaming aggregator operating primarily in DACH and Northern Europe — regional competitor to Backscreen's broadcaster/TV-operator segment with comparable EMEA broadcaster customers but different geographic concentration.
Broad incumbents
- Akamai Media Services: Global CDN and cloud-delivery incumbent that powers Backscreen Stream's CDN layer and also offers competing media-services solutions — relevant as both a key infrastructure partner and a broader-portfolio incumbent in the same delivery space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Backscreen social profiles
Digital presenceBackscreen compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Backscreen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Backscreen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Backscreen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Backscreen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Backscreen
What does Backscreen do?
Backscreen provides a cross-generation OTT (over-the-top) video streaming platform consisting of four core products: Backscreen App (cross-gen OTT multiscreen platform with Gen Z mode and traditional TV UI), Backscreen Webplay (online video platform for web publishers), Backscreen Media (media asset manager unifying OTT, FAST, live, and web delivery), and Backscreen Stream (SaaS for transcoding, DRM, and global CDN delivery). The platform serves broadcasters, telecom operators, OTT service providers, and web publishers with full-stack video infrastructure including transcoding, DRM, geo-blocking, ad monetization (AVOD/SVOD/TVOD), and analytics.
Is Backscreen a public or private company?
Backscreen is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Backscreen founded?
Backscreen was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Backscreen based?
Backscreen is headquartered in Riga, Latvia, in the Europe region.
How does Backscreen make money?
Eleven revenue lines are on record. Subscription Plans (Pre-Paid) is the primary driver. The others are CDN Traffic (overage), media Storage (overage), media Plays (overage), media Transcoding, live Event Transcoding, live Stream Packaging, DRM Licenses, geolocation Checks & Proxy/VPN Detection, enterprise Custom Plans and migration & Professional Services.
Who are Backscreen's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bitmovin, Uscreen, Dacast, Mux, Kaltura, JW Player (JWP), Vimeo OTT and Brightcove. Zattoo is listed as a regional player. Akamai Media Services is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Backscreen have an API?
Yes. Backscreen Webplay API is a RESTful API interface providing functions to work with the Backscreen Webplay platform from external application code. It allows customers to integrate workflows with their own or third-party services and systems. The API supports notifications via MQTT, webhooks, emails, and Slack. JavaScript Embed Code is available as a customizable embeddable code with a player. API documentation is available at https://api.backscreen.com/api/v5/docs#/. A REST API is available for content management, automation, and portal integration. Developer documentation is at api.backscreen.com/api/v5/docs#.
What industry is Backscreen in?
Backscreen's product category is OTT Video Streaming Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHAJAK, Live Streaming & Low-Latency OTT Orchestration (LL-HLS, DASH, WebRTC), with a secondary code of MPAHAJAC, Billing, Payments & Subscription Management. Its NAICS code is 51621 and its SIC code is 7829.