diff --git a/src/common/utils/external-stream-redirect-helper.js b/src/common/utils/external-stream-redirect-helper.js
index aab5ee6f6..5eb93da41 100644
--- a/src/common/utils/external-stream-redirect-helper.js
+++ b/src/common/utils/external-stream-redirect-helper.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 // @flow
-import {Utils} from '@playkit-js/playkit-js';
 
 /**
  * JSONP handler function, returns the direct manifest uri.
@@ -36,26 +35,4 @@ function getDirectManifestUri(data: Object, uri: string): string {
   }
   return uri;
 }
-
-/**
- * Add external stream redirect configuration to the general config.
- * @private
- * @param {KPOptionsObject} options - kaltura player options.
- * @returns {void}
- */
-function configureExternalStreamRedirect(options: KPOptionsObject): void {
-  let sourceOptions = Utils.Object.getPropertyPath(options, 'sources.options');
-  if (!sourceOptions) {
-    Utils.Object.mergeDeep(options, {
-      sources: {
-        options: {}
-      }
-    });
-    sourceOptions = options.sources && options.sources.options;
-  }
-  if (sourceOptions && typeof sourceOptions.redirectExternalStreamsHandler !== 'function') {
-    sourceOptions.redirectExternalStreamsHandler = getDirectManifestUri;
-  }
-}
-
-export {configureExternalStreamRedirect};
+export {getDirectManifestUri};
diff --git a/src/common/utils/setup-helpers.js b/src/common/utils/setup-helpers.js
index 1d10500d7..943074421 100644
--- a/src/common/utils/setup-helpers.js
+++ b/src/common/utils/setup-helpers.js
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import {
 } from '@playkit-js/playkit-js';
 import {ValidationErrorType} from './validation-error';
 import StorageManager from '../storage/storage-manager';
-import {configureExternalStreamRedirect} from './external-stream-redirect-helper';
 import {RemotePlayerManager} from '../cast/remote-player-manager';
 import {RemoteControl} from '../cast/remote-control';
 import {KalturaPlayer} from '../../kaltura-player';
@@ -299,7 +298,6 @@ function getDefaultOptions(options: PartialKPOptionsObject): KPOptionsObject {
   configureIMADefaultOptions(defaultOptions);
   configureDAIDefaultOptions(defaultOptions);
   configureBumperDefaultOptions(defaultOptions);
-  configureExternalStreamRedirect(defaultOptions);
   maybeSetFullScreenConfig(defaultOptions);
   maybeSetCapabilitiesForIos(defaultOptions);
   return defaultOptions;
diff --git a/src/kaltura-player.js b/src/kaltura-player.js
index 0990df6a9..6a7abff1c 100644
--- a/src/kaltura-player.js
+++ b/src/kaltura-player.js
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import {RemoteSession} from './common/cast/remote-session';
 import {ControllerProvider, AdsController} from './common/controllers';
 import {BasePlugin} from './common/plugins';
 import {PluginManager} from './common/plugins';
+import {getDefaultRedirectOptions} from 'player-defaults';
 import {
   Error,
   EventManager,
@@ -106,6 +107,7 @@ class KalturaPlayer extends FakeEventTarget {
             }
             mediaConfig.sources = Utils.Object.mergeDeep(mediaConfig.sources, mediaOptions);
           }
+          this.configure(getDefaultRedirectOptions(this.config, mediaConfig));
           this.setMedia(mediaConfig);
         },
         e =>
diff --git a/src/ott/player-defaults.js b/src/ott/player-defaults.js
index 05bea3563..81d94f2f8 100644
--- a/src/ott/player-defaults.js
+++ b/src/ott/player-defaults.js
@@ -27,3 +27,12 @@ export function setDefaultAnalyticsPlugin(options: KPOptionsObject): void {
     });
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * get the default config for forcing external stream redirect.
+ * @public
+ * @returns {Object} - config object
+ */
+export function getDefaultRedirectOptions(): Object {
+  return {};
+}
diff --git a/src/ovp/player-defaults.js b/src/ovp/player-defaults.js
index a80a55efa..76170a85c 100644
--- a/src/ovp/player-defaults.js
+++ b/src/ovp/player-defaults.js
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 // @flow
-import {Utils} from '@playkit-js/playkit-js';
+import {Env, Utils, MediaType} from '@playkit-js/playkit-js';
+import {getDirectManifestUri} from '../common/utils/external-stream-redirect-helper';
 
 /**
  * Sets the default analytics plugin for the ovp player.
@@ -17,3 +18,39 @@ export function setDefaultAnalyticsPlugin(options: KPOptionsObject): void {
     });
   }
 }
+
+/**
+ * get the default config for forcing external stream redirect.
+ * @public
+ * @param {KPOptionsObject} playerOptions - The player config.
+ * @param {KPOptionsObject} mediaOptions - The media config.
+ * @returns {Object} - config object
+ */
+export function getDefaultRedirectOptions(playerOptions: KPOptionsObject, mediaOptions: KPOptionsObject = {}): Object {
+  const configObj = {};
+  if (mediaOptions.sources && mediaOptions.sources.type === MediaType.LIVE && (Env.browser.name === 'IE' || Env.device.model === 'Chromecast')) {
+    const playerForceRedirectExternalStreams = Utils.Object.getPropertyPath(playerOptions, 'sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams');
+    const mediaForceRedirectExternalStreams = Utils.Object.getPropertyPath(mediaOptions, 'sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams');
+    if (typeof playerForceRedirectExternalStreams !== 'boolean' && typeof mediaForceRedirectExternalStreams !== 'boolean') {
+      Utils.Object.mergeDeep(configObj, {
+        sources: {
+          options: {
+            forceRedirectExternalStreams: true
+          }
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  }
+  const playerRedirectExternalStreamsHandler = Utils.Object.getPropertyPath(playerOptions, 'sources.options.redirectExternalStreamsHandler');
+  const mediaRedirectExternalStreamsHandler = Utils.Object.getPropertyPath(mediaOptions, 'sources.options.redirectExternalStreamsHandler');
+  if (typeof playerRedirectExternalStreamsHandler !== 'function' && typeof mediaRedirectExternalStreamsHandler !== 'function') {
+    Utils.Object.mergeDeep(configObj, {
+      sources: {
+        options: {
+          redirectExternalStreamsHandler: getDirectManifestUri
+        }
+      }
+    });
+  }
+  return configObj;
+}
diff --git a/test/src/ovp/player-defaults.spec.js b/test/src/ovp/player-defaults.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cd6fc8901
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/src/ovp/player-defaults.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import {getDefaultRedirectOptions} from './../../../src/ovp/player-defaults';
+import {Env, MediaType} from '@playkit-js/playkit-js';
+
+describe('getDefaultRedirectOptions', function () {
+  let sandbox;
+  beforeEach(function () {
+    sandbox = sinon.createSandbox();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(function () {
+    sandbox.restore();
+  });
+  describe('forceRedirectExternalStreams', function () {
+    it('should return void for vod on ie11', function () {
+      sandbox.stub(Env, 'browser').get(() => ({name: 'IE'}));
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({}, {sources: {type: MediaType.VOD}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return void for vod on chromecast', function () {
+      sandbox.stub(Env, 'device').get(() => ({model: 'Chromecast'}));
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({}, {sources: {type: MediaType.VOD}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return void for live chrome', function () {
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({}, {sources: {type: MediaType.LIVE}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return true for live on ie11', function () {
+      sandbox.stub(Env, 'browser').get(() => ({name: 'IE'}));
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({}, {sources: {type: MediaType.LIVE}});
+      defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams.should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return true for live on chromecast', function () {
+      sandbox.stub(Env, 'device').get(() => ({model: 'Chromecast'}));
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({}, {sources: {type: MediaType.LIVE}});
+      defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams.should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return void for live on ie11 if already configured on player config', function () {
+      sandbox.stub(Env, 'browser').get(() => ({name: 'IE'}));
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({sources: {options: {forceRedirectExternalStreams: false}}}, {sources: {type: MediaType.LIVE}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return void for live on ie11 if already configured on media config', function () {
+      sandbox.stub(Env, 'browser').get(() => ({name: 'IE'}));
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({}, {sources: {type: MediaType.LIVE, options: {forceRedirectExternalStreams: false}}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return void for live on chromecast if already configured on player config', function () {
+      sandbox.stub(Env, 'device').get(() => ({model: 'Chromecast'}));
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({sources: {options: {forceRedirectExternalStreams: false}}}, {sources: {type: MediaType.LIVE}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return void for live on chromecast if already configured on media config', function () {
+      sandbox.stub(Env, 'device').get(() => ({model: 'Chromecast'}));
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({}, {sources: {type: MediaType.LIVE, options: {forceRedirectExternalStreams: false}}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources.options.forceRedirectExternalStreams === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('redirectExternalStreamsHandler', function () {
+    it('should return the default', function () {
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({});
+      (typeof defaultConfig.sources.options.redirectExternalStreamsHandler === 'function').should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return void if already configured on player config', function () {
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({sources: {options: {redirectExternalStreamsHandler: () => {}}}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('should return void if already configured on media config', function () {
+      const defaultConfig = getDefaultRedirectOptions({}, {sources: {options: {redirectExternalStreamsHandler: () => {}}}});
+      (defaultConfig.sources === undefined).should.be.true;
+    });
+  });
+});