What is NVOD or Near Video-On-Demand?
NVOD, which stands for “near video-on-demand,” refers to a kind of video distribution that gives users access to pay-per-view or other limited broadcast video channel options. NVOD channels are used by pay-per-view services to give a video on demand to customers at predetermined times. Videos are often aired at irregular intervals (say, every 20 minutes) over many channels so that viewers may select the best moment to begin watching.
Thus, NVOD is analogous to how movie theatres schedule showings. Each video is shown several times throughout the day and week, so you may pick the one that best suits your schedule.
The concept of “near video-on-demand” is used in the context of digital TV transmission, with the idea being that viewers are never more than 20 minutes away from seeing a movie. Offering customers a variety of showtime options increase ticket sales.
What sets NVOD apart from VOD, exactly?
With video-on-demand (VOD), users may watch videos whenever they want. However, with near video-on-demand, viewers must be in front of their displays at the exact moment they want to watch a movie because the schedule is set in advance.
The interactivity of VOD is comparable to that of live streaming. Viewers may interact with the content on VOD by leaving comments and asking questions. That functionality is currently unavailable on NVOD.
VOD includes a wide range of services, including NVOD, PPV, OTT streaming, and others.
Which Firms Provide NVOD Services?
DirectTV and Dish Network, both headquartered in the United States, were the only two companies still providing NVOD services by the year 2020. Companies like this focus on reaching viewers in locations without access to high-speed Internet. As a result, its customers can watch high-definition programming even if they don’t have access to the web.
In nations without a significant broadband Internet connection, like the Maldives, traditional video on-demand services like cable and satellite TV continue to dominate the market.
Is There a Difference Between NVOD and OTT Streaming?
With over-the-top (OTT) streaming, for instance, customers may access a library of previously curated videos whenever they like within a given time frame, such as a month. Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ are all examples of over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms that allow users to watch TV shows and movies whenever they want. After a month or two, the platform rotates out all of the previously accessible movies and replaces them with brand new ones.
Even without a connection to the Internet, near video-on-demand is a viable option. Over-the-top (OTT) video streaming services cannot. On the other hand, NVOD content is often made accessible to OTT streaming services at a much later period.
Is there a difference between NVOD and PPV?
Unlike PPV material, which requires a one-time payment to view, subscribers only pay once for NVOD services. Viewers often pay an additional price if the PPV film is made accessible on an NVOD channel.
How may VOD evolve in the future?
VOD material will continue to be accessible for as long as new television shows and movies are being made. The revenue from the video-on-demand industry is expected to reach US$82.77 billion in 2022. Companies like Alphabet, Amazon, Hulu, AT&T, Netflix, Apple, Comcast, Facebook, Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, and Verizon Communications will likely dominate the market.
Could NVOD Last?
Due to improvements in broadband Internet technology, an increasing number of viewers now satisfy their video-on-demand (VOD) requirements via over-the-top (OTT) streaming from NVOD providers. Because of this, the United States now has only two remaining service providers. This may be one reason why over-the-top (OTT) streaming services have emerged as the most popular VOD providers.
As much as we’d like to say that near video-on-demand isn’t responsible for the way we watch videos today, we have to concede that it was important. It’s possible that the premise of services like Netflix, AppleTV, and Disney+ would seem foreign to us if cable and satellite TV providers hadn’t begun offering VOD, including NVOD.
