What does Video on Demand (VOD) mean?
Video on Demand (VOD) is a digital media distribution system that allows viewers to access video content — films, television shows, and other programming — at any time of their choosing, rather than at a scheduled broadcast time. VOD platforms can be subscription-based (SVOD), transactional/rental (TVOD), or free with advertising (AVOD), giving both consumers and distributors flexible options for content delivery. For actors, VOD represents a major and growing category of distribution that generates specific residual payments under union agreements.
Example:A parent recording an audition self-tape uploaded it to a VOD-based casting platform so the casting director could view it on their own schedule rather than attending a live audition.
Example: Netflix and Disney+ operate as subscription VOD services, giving subscribers unlimited access to their content libraries for a monthly fee — and generating residual payments for actors whose work is streamed on those platforms.
Did you know?
The first commercial VOD service launched in Hong Kong in 1990. Today, global VOD revenue exceeds $100 billion annually, having largely surpassed traditional broadcast TV in many demographics. The shift to VOD has also changed actor residual structures significantly — a topic that was central to the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
You can also find “Video on Demand (VOD)” and related terms in this category: Online and Digital Media.
