Like the rest of the world, people in Qatar frequently mix up VOD with OTT platforms. However, there are several similarities and differences between the two platforms.
A perfect example of both services intertwined is Hotstar — the best of both worlds.
Disney+ Hotstar offers a suitable platform for watching unlimited dramas, live streaming, top movies, series, and much more.
But there is a catch; to stream Hotstar in Qatar, you must pair your service with a reliable VPN because the streaming platform only allows access from India.
And a VPN can mask your digital footprint and activities and assign you an Indian IP.
With that all out of the way, read on as we distinguish between VOD and OTT platforms.
What is an OTT Platform?
The modern method of consuming video content involves using an OTT, or over-the-top, platform to stream movies online.
You don’t need to download or save the video files for playback here, in contrast to more conventional ways of content acquisition.
The perfect example of this service is Disney+Hotstar, which allows you to instantly get information from the internet and stream it to your TV or any other device.
When you watch a movie or a series on Disney+ Hotstar, you don’t download the content; instead, you stream the entire thing from beginning to end. OTT systems are designed for live streaming and material that may be accessed online without downloading.
What is VOD?
“Video on demand” (VOD) refers to various things. It consists of all user-requested on-demand video material.
These can include premium films, TV show archives, or sporting events on Disney+Hotstar. Before the advent of VOD, viewers had to turn on their TVs and check each channel to see what programs were now airing.
By enabling users to download video content and watch it whenever they choose, VOD altered this. Both free and paid content is available through VOD services, which various devices, including PCs, cellphones, and smart TVs, can access.
Variety of VOD (SVOD, TVOD, AVOD)
Three versions of VOD are available nowadays; therefore, let’s discuss them.
SVOD
The most common VOD format is Subscription Video On Demand. According to their subscription pack, SVOD users must pay a specific amount to access a library of video content on Disney+Hotstar. The majority of SVOD service providers offer a variety of bundles at various pricing points to suit the needs of their clients.
These packages vary in terms of the quantity and quality of the video content that is offered. Basically, the higher the price, the more quality content will be at your disposal.
These subscriptions don’t require pay-per-view and let consumers watch as much stuff as they like. The best example, in this case, would be paid subscription services like Disney+Hotstar, where consumers have access to channels rather than specific videos.
TVOD
SVOD is the complete opposite of transactional video on demand. In this case, consumers do not pay to access all of a service provider’s content. Instead, people only pay for the content they want to watch.
Here, you can buy a film or television show without purchasing a DVD. After making a Hotstar purchase, you can watch the content anytime on Hotstar and as much as you choose. Users can also pick how they wish to see content they have purchased in VODs.
You can buy the movie, download it, and keep it with you forever if you enjoy building up your movie collection or want to always keep the video with you.
AVOD
Ad-supported Video on Demand is the most promising VOD service because, unlike other kinds, customers don’t have to pay anything.
Users of Disney+Hotstar are free to access and view the content whenever they please, and the service providers make money by the number of adverts viewed by streamers.
A brand that pays the service provider to display its adverts to consumers will always show an ad or two whenever a user tries to access a new video.
You may access all of the content on Disney+Hostar using this way without worrying about paying for it. You can’t pick which advertisements you watch because you don’t pay for the stuff you access
How Do OTT and VOD Vary From One Another?
As mentioned, OTT services allow consumers to receive live video content on Disney+Hotstar over the internet instead of cable or satellite. However, VOD makes use of each of these platforms according to the provider’s preference.
Conversely, VODs comprise downloaded and previously recorded content from Disney+Hotstar. You could compile a library of content you bought, rented, or recorded from your VOD service. Furthermore, an OTT platform gives its customers access to podcasts, other audio broadcasts, and video content.
The main distinction between the two is how they transfer data. VOD employs cable and satellite in addition to the internet, while OTT can only transmit over the internet.
Conclusion
All in all, OTT platforms were created for live streaming and material that may be accessed online without downloading.
In contrast to being limited by a regular broadcast schedule, VOD is a system that enables viewers to choose and watch video content anytime.
The most remarkable example of both services is Disney+Hotstar, where you can watch the content live and later.
