An Intro to Video on Demand (VOD)
Video on Demand (VOD) services, typically offered by cable and telecom carriers, allow customers to play movies, TV shows, or any kind of video when they want to see it. Many cable networks, both basic and premium, offer VOD channels which allow customers to play shows or movies that have already been broadcast on their networks. Some VOD services also allow customers to download video to a digital video recorder (DVR), computer, or portable media player. Pay-Per-View (PPV) is another well known variety of VOD in which customers must pay an additional fee to view a movie or a live event before they are granted access to see it.
If you subscribe to basic cable and premium channels, like HBO or Showtime, many cable companies and telecom carriers will offer free or low cost VOD channels that carry shows that were previously broadcast on the corresponding cable and premium channels. If you miss an episode of your favorite cable show, within a few days of the original airing, that episode will be available via VOD. Please note that not all shows aired on every network will appear on VOD. Cable providers like Time Warner and Comcast are adding new VOD channels constantly, so expect an ever expanding list of VOD offerings.
Due to the popularity of VOD services, some web-based companies like Amazon and Netflix have joined the fray in the VOD market. Amazon allows you to watch video instantly from their web site without waiting for it to download to your PC. The episodes generally cost less than $2/each, and that is great if you only watch the occasional movie or TV show, but it can become quite expensive if you watch a lot of movies or TV episodes. Netflix has added streaming video functionality for existing customers so they can watch movies on their PCs instead of waiting for them to come in the mail. These are excellent VOD options if you like watching a wide range of shows that are not readily available for free online.
Most of the major TV networks have started offering free VOD from their web sites. You can watch the newest episodes of House on Fox, Heroes on NBC , or Supernatural on The CW any time you want to. The major networks may not keep too many past episodes on their web sites, and they will be punctuated by advertisements that you may not be able to fast forward through since the episodes are offered for free. This is a very cost effective method for catching up on your favorite shows quickly, but you may not have access to the shows you want to watch for very long.
There are new VOD services cropping up every day, and there are more and more home entertainment devices, including cable set-top boxes, DVRs, and TiVO that support VOD. As internet based video, including IPTV , becomes more popular, you can expect more TV shows, movies, and sporting events to be delivered to internet connected devices. You should also expect that more classic movies and TV shows will be available via various VOD services as they become available in digital formats. For many people, VOD is already beginning to replace cable programming, so expect it to be a major contender for your home entertainment dollars.
