VOD

Video on Demand

VOD stands for Video on Demand. This refers to any video service that offers videos, TV or movies available at a viewer’s convenience. With VOD, viewers can choose what to watch, when they want. Popular examples of Video on Demand businesses include Netflix, Disney+, Hulu and many more online streaming services.

Video on Demand is different from what we call “linear” programming. Linear video means video that’s played continuously, like traditional cable TV. In addition to cable, some more modern ad-supported networks like PlutoTV or Tubi.

Almost all of today’s most popular streaming services are Video on Demand. This includes Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max and thousands more. Any video library that allows users to select the show or movie they want to watch is Video on Demand.

Most VOD services are also OTT (meaning over-the-top). OTT refers to video streaming that occurs over the internet, rather than cable, satellite or other media. Sometimes people use VOD and OTT interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. Some OTT networks are linear, like PlutoTV or Tubi which we mentioned earlier are linear. And some VOD networks are not OTT, such as cable On Demand libraries.