Video on Demand: What, Why and How?

Video on Demand or VOD is the latest buzzword on the entertainment front. If you're the kind who gets intimidated by such geeky acronyms then here's a simple explanation about video on demand. Read on to find what is video on demand and why is it relevant for you?

So what is VOD all about?

Video on Demand is a feature where in the cable or broadcast companies provide thousands of programs in video format as seen on a regular TV as well as in high definition to their consumers. The difference between a regular broadcast and VOD is that in a regular broadcast, the broadcaster dictates the timings whereas in VOD, the viewer that is you dictates when she wants to view a particular program. Hence the name “Video on Demand”. You place the demand, while the provider provides you the content. It's that simple really. It gives you freedom from television schedules as well as missed telecasts. You no longer have to rush back home to the TV  at a fixed time to watch your favorite program and neither do you have to set the VCR to record and hope that it didn’t reset itself or the tape is too worn for a good recording.

If it's that simple, can I use my existing set top box and TV?

Unfortunately, no. For VOD to work properly, you'll have to invest in a new set top box as well as inform your cable company about your switch. There are many ways in which VOD works. It's best to ask your cable company what way they provide VOD and go for their set top box as that is guaranteed to work with their VOD infrastructure. Usually, most companies provide you with a set top box that is essentially a personal video recorder quite like a digital VCR. It has a hard drive and a decently powered graphics engine. When you choose to watch a program being telecast live or now, it just starts streaming it over the cable to you. The recorder is recording it in the background and it plays a couple of seconds behind the actual streaming. This is known as near VOD or NVOD. If you want to see a show a couple of hours from now, it goes ahead and pre-downloads it to the set top box so that it's available when you want to see it later. Usually, this method is used by direct VOD providers where the interactivity is restricted. Usually new content replaces content from a few days back thus reusing the space.