Difference Between Over the Top (OTT) and Video On Demand (VOD)

Let’s go back to the confusing definitions and see if we can make them any easier to understand. OTT refers to any content that is provided over the internet, instead of the traditional satellite or cable. While, VOD refers to any type of content that viewers can choose to play without time constraints, not taking into consideration the medium through which the content is provided. This is where the lines get blurred, because the provided content could be OTT, VOD and these days more commonly both.

Something that is considered as pure OTT content can include any type of content that is provided over the internet but live such as Live-streaming sports or news. VOD content is a massive category that includes a lot different features, but something that is pure VOD and doesn’t include OTT could be a cable set-up box that allows you to record and watch content at a later time. However, in today’s world a majority of the content usually falls under the category of both OTT and VOD. These include companies such as Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and anything else that viewers consume on their phones or their smart TVs.

This is why it is very confusing to understand the different between OTT and VOD since these days they often go hand-in-hand. A majority of the content that we receive and watch today commonly fall under OTT and VOD because we access it through the internet and choose to play it at a time that is most convenient to us. However, if you are someone who still watches live television, then you should remember that that falls under neither OTT nor VOD.

The main thing you need to remember is the way the content is transmitted and if you have a choice to play the content at a desired time rather than a pre-selected time. This can help you categorize depending on whether it is OTT or VOD.

Comparison between Over the Top (OTT) and Video On Demand (VOD):

Reference: Uscreen, Wikipedia (OTT and VOD), ZypMedia, V-Net Image Courtesy: acreo.se, myzol.co.zw

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