Today’s viewers have an abundance of content at their fingertips. And with the rise of digital video, they can watch as much premium video as they want whenever they want. Video on demand (VOD) has changed the way we consume TV shows, movies and other content.

Rather than keeping up with new episodes weekly, people now cherry-pick what they watch when they want to tune in. Content creators need to keep pace with VOD trends in order to reach viewers who prefer watching videos on demand rather than from a linear channel.

If you run a non-linear business that produces content for broadcast or cable networks, then you need to understand how VOD is changing your content production process sooner rather than later.

What is Video on Demand?

Video on Demand (VoD) refers to a technology that allows users to access and watch digital video content on their own schedule, rather than being limited to a pre-determined broadcast schedule. With Video on Demand, users can choose what they want to watch, when they want to watch it, and on what device they want to watch it on.

VoD can be delivered over the internet, cable TV, or satellite TV. VoD services typically offer a large library of movies, TV shows, and other video content, which users can browse and select from using a user interface. Some VoD services offer free content, while others require a subscription or per-view fees.

VoD has revolutionized the way people consume video content, making it more convenient and accessible than ever before. With Video on Demand, users can watch their favorite movies and TV shows whenever they want, and can even pause, rewind, and fast-forward through the content to suit their preferences.

Why is Video on Demand So Important?

The world is moving from a linear model of broadcast and cable content delivery to a more “a la carte” model. This means that viewers are increasingly demanding the ability to choose what types of content they watch from an ever-increasing array of sources.

At the same time, there is a growing preference for watching content on demand, especially on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. These two trends are driving more and more people to watch video content on demand.

This has significant implications for both brands and content producers. Brands will need to keep pace with changes in how consumers prefer to interact with their content in order to keep their relevancy rating up. And content producers will need to produce content that is optimized for on-demand viewing in order to appeal to viewers who are watching their videos on demand.

Benefits of Video on Demand

Video on demand (VOD) refers to a video streaming service that allows users to access video content at any time and from any location. Here are some benefits of video on demand:

Convenience: One of the most significant benefits of VOD is that it provides users with the flexibility to watch their favorite videos or shows at any time, from any location, on any device.

Choice: VOD services typically offer a wide range of content, including movies, TV shows, documentaries, and more. Users can choose what they want to watch, when they want to watch it, and how they want to watch it.

Cost-effective: VOD services are usually more cost-effective than traditional cable or satellite TV services, and users can often pay only for the content they want to watch, rather than paying for an entire package.

Ad-free: Many VOD services offer ad-free viewing, which means users can watch their favorite content without interruptions or distractions.

Flexibility: VOD services are flexible and can be customized to meet the needs of different users. For example, some services offer a "pause and play" feature, allowing users to pause a video and resume watching it at a later time.

Accessibility: VOD services can be accessed from a variety of devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs, making it easy for users to access their favorite content from anywhere.

Variety: With a VOD platform, users can access a variety of content from different genres and languages, giving them a broader range of choices and options.

Overall, video on demand offers a convenient, flexible, and cost-effective way for users to access their favorite video content, making it an increasingly popular alternative to traditional cable or satellite TV services.

How VOD is Changing Content Production

VOD is changing the way content is produced. For example, traditional TV shows are being produced in smaller batches and digitally distributed. This has led to the phenomenon of “binge watching,” in which viewers watch multiple episodes of a TV show relatively close to each other.

To maximize the impact of such content, brands are increasingly producing content in short videos that people can easily scroll through on their phones. This allows the brands to connect with their target audience without losing them with a 30-second ad.

The rise of VOD has also led to the proliferation of video-based social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and more. Each of these channels is optimised for short video content and drives massive traffic. The result of all this is that more and more people are relying on video content to entertain them, inform them, and drive sales

How to Use VOD in Your Content Strategy

As the need for VOD increases, the demand for VOD solutions will also increase. This will help content producers and brands easily create, distribute and consume their content. The most important thing to remember here is that all your VOD solutions should be designed for the different needs of VOD viewers.

For example, a linear TV channel is optimised for one-time viewing, but an on-demand service is optimised for continuous viewing. Furthermore, every VOD solution should have a variety of content options so that viewers can choose what they want to watch. Some popular VOD solutions include TV streaming services, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV and more.

VOD Considerations for Non-linear Businesses

For businesses who produce video content, VOD can help you reach the right audience at the right time. VOD solutions help you produce content that is easily viewable on any device, on-demand, and is optimized for social media channels.

By using different VOD solutions, you can also make sure your content is viewable on different platforms—from TVs to smartphones. This way, you can reach a larger audience and make sure that they are able to view your content.

Some of the best VOD solutions for non-linear businesses include Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, Sling TV, DirecTV Now, YouTube TV and more.