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Video on demand:how does it work?

Video on demand:how does it work?

Nearly 787 million videos on demand were viewed in December 2020 according to data published by the Ministry of Culture. This is a different way, compared to conventional television programs in particular, to watch your favorite films, series, documentaries, shows, etc., since with video on demand they can be viewed at any time. any time of his choice, and it can be interrupted and resumed according to his availability and his desires! Many providers, and in particular specialized online platforms, provide simple and very easy access to videos on demand. Explanations.

Video on demand:what are we talking about?

Video on demand, more commonly called "VOD" (that is to say in English "Video on Demand") represents all the services available through the Internet that allow access to catalogs of videos that it is possible to watch at any time of your choice.

These catalogs of videos on demand offer all kinds of audiovisual products such as videos of films, series, documentaries, shows, etc.

A video on demand can be viewed using different means of communication as long as they are connected to the Internet:computer, tablet, smartphone, or television connected to a box.

The video on demand service has many advantages. It allows you to watch your favorite movie or series without being interrupted by commercial breaks like programs broadcast live on TV. Plus, if you have an unexpected visit while watching your video on demand, you have the ability to pause it and resume it when you're available again.

How to access and use a video on demand service?

Many providers now offer online platforms where you can easily find videos on demand that match your tastes and desires.

A pioneer in this field, the best known of them is undoubtedly the American giant Netflix, which offers a very wide and very diverse range of videos on demand. But most of the major French television channels now also offer this service.

In general, to have access to the videos on demand offered by all these service providers, it is necessary to take out a paid monthly subscription from them, but which does not commit you to the duration, that is to say that you can stop it on each anniversary date. Most also offer a one-month free trial that can get you started with video-on-demand services.

However, some platforms, and in particular those attached to television channels, allow you, without necessarily having to take out a subscription, to rent a video on demand for a limited period (often from 24 to 48 hours) and for a low sum (generally between 3 and 10 euros), which gives you the possibility of watching your video in several times, or even several times during this period, and also to share it with your family. If you want to keep a video that you have watched and liked, you can often even buy it.

In concrete terms, how does video on demand work?

Using a video on demand service is very easy. Once you have chosen a platform that offers video catalogs, you must connect to it by creating your account or by accessing your personal space, if you already have one, using your identifiers (most often your email address and password).

It's even easier to access a video on demand service on your television if it is connected to an Internet service provider (ISP) via a box. Almost all ISPs offer one or more channels where it is possible to find and watch videos on demand. In this case, as when you search for any television channel, you just have to select those specialized in videos on demand and then follow the instructions that appear on the screen.

One of the advantages of going through a video on demand platform offered by your Internet provider is that you do not have to enter your bank details to use this service. What you'll pay to watch limited-time rental videos on demand will indeed appear on your next monthly billing statement from your ISP.

Video on demand platforms are very convenient to use. For example, you can search for a video using an internal search engine, specifying the name of an actor or actress, a subject that interests you, the title of a film, etc. Then just click on the video on demand of your choice, make the payment if necessary, and all you have to do is sit back and watch your video in peace.