Examining the brand trust and willingness to subscribe to third-party add-on services in over-the-top platforms: a brand trust transfer perspective

Abstract

PurposeBased on trust transfer theory, this study explores trust transfer between two brands in the over-the-top (OTT) context. Specifically, it examines the effect of (1) the hosting OTT platform brand trust and (2) users' trust disposition on the brand trust of add-on services. Further, the study investigates their impact on the willingness to subscribe to add-on services.Design/methodology/approachUsing purposive sampling, data were collected using an online survey from OTT users (n = 322). The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) through the software SmartPLS.FindingsThe study exhibited that users' brand trust in the hosting OTT platform brand results in users trusting the brand of add-on services hosted on the platform. The study explains this finding of “brand trust transfer” with the help of the trust transfer theory. It also clarified that the brand trust transfer process is not moderated by trust disposition and is not influenced by gender, experience and income. Finally, the study showed that brand trust in the hosting platform does not directly affect users' willingness to subscribe to add-on services but indirectly through brand trust in add-on services.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates the trust transfer between two brands. The context is two brands operating in the same competitive space (OTT services), with the established brand hosting the services of the other less-known brand. This study pioneers the investigation of the source-target entity pair operating in the same competitive space, contending that brand trust transfer may also occur between brands in other contexts (like financial services). The study is also unprecedented in elucidating the effect of brand trust in the hosting platform, users' trust disposition and brand trust in add-on services on users' willingness to subscribe to the add-on service.