BVOD
(Broadcaster Video on Demand)

The way people watch TV has changed a lot in recent years. Instead of waiting for their favorite show to air at a specific time, people now want to watch whenever they want. This is where BVOD comes in. This guide will help you understand what BVOD is and why it matters.

What is BVOD?

BVOD stands for Broadcaster Video on Demand. It's a way to watch TV shows, news, and sports from regular TV networks online whenever you want. Think of it as the streaming service from your local TV channels.

Traditional TV channels like BBC, ITV, ABC, or NBC have created their own streaming platforms. These platforms let you watch their content on your phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV instead of only on your regular TV at a set time.

The big difference between BVOD and regular streaming services like Netflix is that BVOD comes from actual TV broadcasters. These are the same companies that have been making TV shows for many years. They now offer their content both on regular TV and online.

How BVOD Works

When a TV network makes a show, they first broadcast it on regular TV at a scheduled time. But they also upload it to their streaming platform. This means if you miss the show when it airs, you can watch it later on the BVOD platform.

Some BVOD platforms also let you watch live TV through the internet. So you get both options: watch shows live as they air or watch them later when it's more convenient for you.

Most BVOD services are free to use. Instead of paying a monthly fee like you do with Netflix, you watch ads during the shows. These ads help pay for the service and keep it free for viewers.

Popular BVOD Platforms

Different countries have different BVOD platforms. In the UK, you'll find BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 Streaming, and My5. In Australia, there's 7plus, 9Now, and ABC iView. Canada has CTV, and other countries have their own versions too.

BBC iPlayer is one of the oldest and most well-known BVOD platforms. It started in 2007 and lets people in the UK watch BBC shows for free. Unlike other BVOD platforms, iPlayer doesn't show ads because BBC is a public broadcaster funded by TV licenses.

In Australia, platforms like 7plus and 9Now have become very popular, especially for watching sports. People use these services to watch football matches, cricket games, and other sporting events they might have missed.

Each platform usually has thousands of hours of content. You can find old shows from years ago, recent episodes that just aired, and sometimes exclusive content that's only available online.

Types of Content on BVOD

BVOD platforms offer many different types of shows. You can find TV series, reality shows, documentaries, news programs, and movies. Many platforms also show sports events live and let you watch replays later.

The content on BVOD is professionally made by TV networks. This is different from platforms like YouTube where anyone can upload videos. BVOD content has the same high quality you expect from regular TV.

Some BVOD platforms are now making shows that only appear online. These are called "digital exclusives" and they're trying to attract people who prefer streaming over regular TV.

Why People Like BVOD

The main reason people like BVOD is flexibility. You can watch what you want, when you want, on any device you want. If you're commuting on a train, you can watch on your phone. If you're at home, you can watch on your TV.

You can pause shows and come back to them later. You can rewind if you missed something. You can watch multiple episodes in a row if you want to binge-watch a series.

BVOD is also free. While some streaming services charge monthly fees, most BVOD platforms just show ads during the content. For many people, watching a few ads is worth it to get free access to high-quality shows.

Another big advantage is sports. Many BVOD platforms show live sports and let you watch replays. This is great for sports fans who can't always watch games when they're happening live.

BVOD Advertising

For companies that want to advertise, BVOD is very attractive. Unlike regular TV where ads are shown to everyone watching, BVOD allows advertisers to show specific ads to specific people.

BVOD platforms collect information about what people watch and when they watch it. This data helps advertisers show their ads to the right audience. For example, if someone watches a lot of cooking shows, they might see ads for kitchen products.

The ads on BVOD are often better than ads on social media. Research shows that people remember BVOD ads more than ads on YouTube or Facebook. One study found that BVOD ads work 1.3 times better than YouTube ads and 4.7 times better than Facebook ads.

Most BVOD ads can't be skipped. This means advertisers know that viewers will actually see their message. Some ads are also interactive, letting viewers click to learn more or visit a website.

BVOD vs Other Types of Video

BVOD is part of a bigger family of video streaming options. There's also SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand), which includes services like Netflix and Disney+ where you pay a monthly fee and don't see ads.

There's AVOD (Advertising Video on Demand), which includes platforms like YouTube that show ads but are free to use. BVOD is actually a type of AVOD, but the key difference is that BVOD content comes from traditional TV broadcasters.

TVOD (Transactional Video on Demand) is another type where you pay for individual movies or shows, like renting a movie on iTunes. Each type has its own benefits depending on what viewers want.

The Growth of BVOD

BVOD has grown very quickly in recent years, especially during the pandemic when people were staying home more. In Australia, BVOD viewing grew by about 40% in 2020 and kept growing after that.

In the UK, more than 80% of homes now have internet-connected TVs, making it easy for people to access BVOD. In 2023, BVOD viewing in the UK grew by 23% compared to the previous year.

Traditional TV broadcasters are investing heavily in their BVOD platforms because they see this is where viewers are going. They're making better apps, creating exclusive content, and improving the viewing experience.

The amount of time people spend watching BVOD keeps increasing. In the UK, people now watch an average of 25 minutes of BVOD per day, which is more than the time they spend watching recorded TV shows.

Benefits for Different Users

For viewers, BVOD means more control over their entertainment. They're not tied to TV schedules anymore. They can watch their favorite shows during lunch breaks, while traveling, or late at night when traditional TV might not have good programs.

For TV broadcasters, BVOD helps them stay relevant as viewing habits change. It lets them reach younger audiences who might never watch traditional TV. It also gives them valuable data about what people like to watch.

For advertisers, BVOD offers better targeting and measurement than traditional TV advertising. They can see exactly how many people watched their ads and can adjust their campaigns based on real data.

The Future of BVOD

BVOD is expected to keep growing in the coming years. More people are cutting their cable TV subscriptions and relying only on streaming services. BVOD fills an important gap by offering quality content from trusted broadcasters for free.

TV networks are improving their BVOD platforms with better features. Some are adding artificial intelligence to recommend shows based on what you like to watch. Others are making it easier to find live sports or breaking news.

The line between traditional TV and BVOD is getting blurrier. Some broadcasters are releasing shows on their BVOD platforms first, even before they air on regular TV. This "digital-first" strategy shows how important BVOD has become.

As internet speeds get faster and more devices become connected, BVOD will become even easier to use. The quality of streaming will improve, and more features will be added to make the viewing experience better.