Video on Demand

What Does Video on Demand Mean?

Video on demand (VoD) is a system that allows users to select and watch video content of their choice on their TVs or computers. Video on demand is one of the dynamic features offered by Internet Protocol TV. VoD provides users with a menu of available videos from which to choose. The video data is transmitted via Real-Time Streaming Protocol.

Techopedia Explains Video on Demand

Video on demand allows viewers to request immediate access to video content on their PCs or TVs. VoD provides a wide selection of video programming including sports, entertainment, educational programs and feature films. In general, TV is based on broadcast technology, while VoD is provided as a unicast transmission. VoD is also very commonly used for videoconferencing. Although VoD is very popular, it is not widely used due to the bandwidth limitations of current networks.

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Margaret Rouse

Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.

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