Nowadays, everything can be found online when it comes to entertainment. Video and TV entertainment have been the lifeblood of many people who have been isolated during the pandemic. That’s why it’s crucial for marketers and advertisers to get on board with large streamers like Netflix and YouTube. Video-on-demand means that you can stream the content without a broadcaster scheduling it. It’s a bit different from OTT. But don’t worry, we can help you understand the difference. That way if you want to use them for advertisements, you will know exactly what you are doing.
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What is video-on-demand (VOD)?
When you visit platforms like YouTube, you will find that the videos are completely free to play. Instead of being scheduled by a broadcaster, you will be able to scroll through a range of content and different channels. You will then be able to play the videos that you choose without delay. Although you may have a few advertisements play before the content starts, you will have control over what you watch and when.
Most of the time, video-on-demand refers to videos online, however, it can be streamed to devices like tablets and mobile phones. Keep in mind that videos on demand are not related to living streams. They have to be pre-recorded. Sometimes you can even have AVOD, also known as “ad-supported video-on-demand”. These are videos that may contain advertisements before or after the content is played. Marketers can use these types of videos to bring awareness to their products. If you are interested in doing this, you can see specialists to help. For instance, there are AVOD services by Finecast.
What sort of VODs are there?
When you look into VODs, you may find that there are many different types for you to choose from. Originally, VOD may have been through cable services where viewers could pause videos and may even have been able to record them. However, times have moved on since then. As we have mentioned, AVOD is one version of the services available. However, there are others that are available for viewers to enjoy. This includes SVOD, “subscription video on demand”. This is where customers need to pay for access to a video library. There is also TVOD, “transactional video on demand,” where the customer will only pay for what they want to watch.
Is it the same as OTT services?
OTT stands for “over the top”. This means you can stream movies directly through the internet. You don’t have to download them. Instead, you simply watch them online. However, quite a lot of them will need you to pay for a subscription service or have a “pay per play” system. This means clients will either need to pay for the videos they watch, or they may need to sign up for a subscription.
The difference between OTT and VOD is that OTT provides a more efficient platform to stream content. It has better playback and may have a higher quality of video streaming. Essentially, VOD was the thing that inspired OTT.