17 December 2024
Last modified: 16 March, 2023
Subscription-based Video on Demand (SVOD) is the term used for streaming services that offer viewers access to content online and on-demand (via connected TV, set-top box, mobile devices, or PCs) in return for a regular subscription fee.
In the SVOD monetisation model, the platform generates its revenue from the subscription fees, and the content is offered ad-free. Viewers have access to a catalogue of content including platform-exclusive original commissions and third-party-acquired content. Viewers pay a recurring flat rate, and subscriptions are automatically renewed until the viewer opts out. As viewers are often not tied into long-term contracts, the SVOD market is highly competitive, and platforms will use a variety of methods to attract and retain subscribers. These include exclusive content, niche-specific content, free trials, aggressive pricing, or tiered subscription levels. Some offer hybrid models combining SVOD with Advertiser-funded Video on Demand (AVOD), where viewers can sign up for a lower-priced subscription tier that features ads, or Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD), where viewers pay an additional fee for certain content. Examples of SVOD services include Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+, DAZN, Hulu, Disney+, HBO Max, and Paramount+.