The Meaning of VOD: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of VOD? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation VOD, including its definition, usage, example sentences, and more!

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What does the acronym VOD stand for?

According to Dictionary and Da Cast, VOD most often stands for video on demand. This can refer to an interactive television system that allows a viewer to select the content that they want to watch whenever they want to watch it. This could range from services that are offered through a cable provider to online streaming services like Netflix and Hulu to sites like YouTube and Twitch. This is a way of watching content from video libraries without the transitional playback. This way, viewers can access it at their leisure. This has become much more common in the modern day than going to see a movie in a movie theatre or watching television shows in real-time on cable or network television. Since many people have differing schedules, they might prefer to watch a program on a VOD service rather than in real-time. People also enjoy binge watching. This is not possible with transitional television, but is possible when watching a television show on video on demand platforms. Many different streaming services have become increasingly popular over the years, such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney+, and more. Consumers enjoy the flexibility that VOD platforms provide. Often, people who live stream when they play videogames on Twitch will later upload their streams to allow their viewers to watch it on VOD at a later date. This ensures that even if members of their audience were not available to watch live, they can still receive views and the fans can still access content. Try using this word of the day or other new words in a sentence today! 

According to The Free Dictionary, the term VOD can stand for much more than just video on demand. This acronym has many other potential definitions. While these other definitions are still valid, they are less common than video on demand and should therefore be used sparingly. If you do decide to use one of these alternate meanings, make sure that you provide the reader with the proper context so that they can infer the correct intended meaning. This should be standard practice with any acronym that has more than one potential definition.

  • Voice of Democracy (student speech competition)
  • Video of the Day (entertainment)
  • Vehicle Office D
  • Virtual Optical Device
  • Virtual Optical Drive
  • Verification of Deposit
  • Voice-Operated Device
  • Valley of Death (Asheron’s Call game)
  • Vpx Operational Dashboard
  • Voice Over Data
  • Verification of Death
  • Vector of Differentiation
  • Velocity of Detonation (high explosives)
  • Voice on Demand
  • Volume of Distribution
  • Visus Oculi Dextri (Latin: Vision – Right Eye)
  • Video on Desktop
  • Value of the Dollar (finance)
  • Vicar of Dibley (TV show)
  • Vehicle Operations – Program D
  • Voice Output Device (communication)
  • Very Old Data
  • Voice Of the Diabetic
  • Veno-Occlusive Disease
  • Voice and Data
  • Vacuum Oxygen Decarbonization
  • Vertical Onboard Delivery (US DoD)
  • Vision of Disorder (band)
  • Vertical Obstruction Data
  • Van of Death (fast-food trailer in Cambridge, UK)

How can the abbreviation VOD be used in a sentence?

The term VOD can be used to refer to many different types of video on demand services. In this example, Larry and Sam are trying to figure out what to do with their Friday night.

Larry: Do you want to go see a movie?

Sam: I don’t really want to get ready and go out again. I already changed out of my work clothes and took my makeup off. Why don’t we order delivery and watch something on VOD?

Larry: Sounds good to me!

What are the different types of VOD?

According to Vimeo, there are a few different types of monetized video on demand services. The first of the VOD systems is the business model SVOD, which stands for subscription video on demand. These are services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, Roku, Apple TV, and Disney+ that have a library of video content that people can stream over and over again, and that charge a monthly fee. These are usually available both on the web and on iOS and Android apps. These platforms usually contain video servers with multiple sub-categories of different genres. Some of this content might be licensed temporarily, while others are original content that can only be accessed by subscribers. This monetization strategy is based on recurring revenue. 

TVOD stands for transactional video on demand. This refers to buying or renting a piece of content. For example, if you buy or rent a movie from TVOD services like  iTunes, this is considered transactional video on demand. You make a one-time purchase and receive broadcasts of content in return. Sometimes, the platform that you purchase the content from will be free, such as iTunes. Other times, SVOD platforms will release certain special premieres or premium content for an additional one time fee, such as Disney+ with Raya and the Last Dragon and Mulan.

Finally, there is AVOD, which stands for advertising based video on demand. The most popular example of an AVOD is YouTube, which is the opposite of subscription video. On many YouTube videos, creators will implement midroll ads or ads at the beginning or end of a video via the creator dashboard. This way, they receive revenue through the advertisers while the audience does not have to pay anything. This could make content available to a wider audience since people can watch the content for free, and can allow on demand content of past broadcasts to make money by viewing ads multiple times. There are many different ways that people can make money from VOD content, and that must be decided by the creator. 

Overall, the term VOD most often stands for video on demand. This term is used to refer to media content that can be watched whenever it is convenient to the viewer. This can range from cable services that offer certain television shows and movies on demand to streaming services to Netflix and Hulu, to other content services such as YouTube or Twitch. Often online streamers will upload their live streams at a later date so that their audience can watch in VOD. The acronym VOD also has numerous other alternate meanings.  

Sources:

  1. https://www.dictionary.com/browse/vod
  2. https://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/VOD
  3. https://vimeo.com/blog/post/how-to-sell-video-on-demand/#:~:text=VOD%20stands%20for%20video%20on%20demand.