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The way we watch TV has changed—and so has the way brands advertise. In 2025, Broadcaster Video On Demand (BVOD) is redefining how advertisers connect with engaged, premium audiences across screens. Built by traditional broadcasters and powered by digital tech, BVOD blends the credibility of television with the targeting precision of online platforms.
Broadcaster Video On Demand (BVOD) has emerged as a powerful platform, bridging the gap between traditional TV and digital streaming. With the rise of connected TVs, smart devices, and on-the-go content consumption, BVOD advertising has become a key part of the modern marketer’s playbook, especially in 2025.
In this blog, we’ll explore what BVOD is, how it differs from other video platforms, and why BVOD advertising is delivering unmatched benefits for brands and broadcasters alike.
What is BVOD?
BVOD (Broadcaster Video On Demand) refers to video content that is streamed on-demand from traditional TV broadcasters via their digital platforms. This includes catch-up services, exclusive digital-first shows, and full episodes that users can access anytime, often for free and with ads.
Unlike subscription-based services like Netflix or Disney+, BVOD platforms are generally ad-funded and directly connected to trusted TV networks. Examples of BVOD services include:
BBC iPlayer (UK)
7plus, 9Now, 10 Play (Australia)
ITVX (UK)
Zee5, Sony LIV (India)
My5 (UK)
Hulu (Free tier) (US, legacy)
MBC Shahid (MENA)
BVOD vs. AVOD, SVOD & FAST: What's the Difference?
To understand BVOD’s value, let’s compare it to other common streaming models:
Model
Stands For
Key Features
BVOD
Broadcaster Video On Demand
Free or ad-supported, from traditional TV broadcasters
AVOD
Ad-Supported Video On Demand
Free access funded by advertisements, e.g., YouTube
Linear channels streamed online for free, e.g., Pluto TV
Key takeaway: BVOD combines the trusted environment of television with the flexibility and targeting capabilities of digital, making it ideal for advertisers who want quality audiences with high engagement.
Why BVOD Advertising is Booming in 2025
1. Premium, Brand-Safe Environment
BVOD platforms are backed by reputable broadcasters. This ensures a trusted, brand-safe environment for advertising, free from the user-generated content concerns of platforms like YouTube. Brands get to align with professionally produced, high-quality content.
2. Highly Engaged Audiences
Audiences on BVOD are intentional viewers. They actively choose what to watch, making completion rates and viewer attention spans significantly higher than other platforms. This translates into more impactful advertising.
In 2025, average ad completion rates on BVOD platforms exceed 92%, compared to just 68% on open web video.
3. Advanced Targeting Capabilities
Modern BVOD platforms now support programmatic advertising, powered by first-party data and geolocation. Brands can target viewers based on:
Demographics (age, gender, location)
Viewing behavior and genre preference
Household-level data and device usage
This ensures more relevant ads, reducing waste and improving ROI.
4. Cross-Device & Cross-Platform Reach
From smart TVs and laptops to mobile phones and tablets, BVOD reaches audiences across every screen. Advertisers can deliver campaigns seamlessly and measure performance with greater transparency.
5. Measurable ROI with Precise Analytics
With real-time analytics, impression tracking, and audience segmentation, BVOD offers insights similar to digital marketing something traditional TV simply can’t provide. Advertisers in 2025 are leveraging this data to optimize campaigns continuously.
BVOD in 2025: Trends and Innovations
Programmatic BVOD is Mainstream
With programmatic ad-buying infrastructure maturing, over 60% of BVOD ads are now transacted programmatically, allowing for real-time bidding, dynamic creatives, and automated delivery.
Addressable Advertising
More broadcasters are now enabling household-level addressable advertising—letting brands tailor their ads to specific viewer segments within the same program.
Localized Content, Global Reach
International broadcasters are investing in localized BVOD platforms that serve multilingual content, expanding their ad reach beyond borders.
BVOD & Retail Media Partnerships
Some broadcasters have begun partnering with eCommerce platforms, using data-sharing to enable retail-focused BVOD ad campaigns with direct attribution.
How Vodlix Supports BVOD Platforms
At Vodlix, we empower broadcasters and media companies to launch, scale, and monetize BVOD platforms with our end-to-end OTT solution.
Key features of Vodlix for BVOD:
Ad Management System: Monetize with dynamic ad insertion (DAI), server-side ad insertion (SSAI), and programmatic integrations.
User Profiles & Segmentation: Leverage detailed analytics and behavior tracking to target your audience effectively.
Multi-Screen Delivery: Stream across smart TVs, mobile apps, and web with a seamless experience.
Localized Experience: Multilingual interface and subtitles to cater to regional audiences.
Advanced Analytics: Get actionable insights on viewer behavior, ad performance, and content engagement.
Whether you’re a broadcaster launching a digital extension or a media brand expanding into VOD, Vodlix offers the tools to make BVOD work for you.
Final Thoughts
In 2025, BVOD is not just a “TV catch-up” platform—it’s a premium, measurable, and scalable advertising channel. As audiences continue to shift toward on-demand viewing, broadcasters and brands alike are realizing the immense potential of BVOD to deliver engaging experiences and tangible results.
With platforms like Vodlix, the transition to BVOD is seamless, scalable, and ready for the future.
Ready to launch or scale your BVOD platform? Explore ourOTT features or book a free demo with the Vodlix team.
FAQs
1. What exactly is BVOD (Broadcaster Video On Demand)?
BVOD refers to video content produced or owned by traditional TV broadcasters that is made available online on-demand. It typically includes catch-up shows, episodes, and sometimes exclusive digital content. Unlike subscription-only services, BVOD is often free for users and monetized via ads.
2. How does BVOD differ from AVOD, SVOD, and FAST?
AVOD (Ad-Supported Video On Demand) includes any free, ad-funded video content regardless of who produces it. BVOD is a subset of AVOD where the content comes from traditional broadcasters.
SVOD (Subscription Video On Demand) charges users a recurring fee for ad-free access. BVOD typically does not.
FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television) usually refers to linear-style channels streamed for free with ads; BVOD is more about on-demand content from broadcasters.
3. What are the benefits of advertising on BVOD platforms?
Brand-safe environments due to broadcaster-vetted content.
Highly engaged viewers who intentionally choose content, often resulting in higher ad completion rates.
Precise targeting using first-party data, geolocation, genre preferences, etc.
Measurable ROI via real-time analytics and the ability to optimize campaigns.
4. Is BVOD free for users or are there costs?
Most BVOD services are free (ad-supported) for users. Some may also offer premium, subscription-based or ad-free tiers. The core of BVOD is that users can access broadcaster content without paying subscription fees in many cases.
5. On what devices and platforms can viewers access BVOD content?
Viewers can access BVOD on a variety of devices: smart TVs, connected TVs, mobile apps, tablets, web browsers, etc. The flexibility allows audiences to stream content across screens.
6. What features should a BVOD platform have to deliver good performance?
Essential features include dynamic or server-side ad insertion, first-party data for targeting, solid analytics (viewership, engagement, ad performance), cross-device and cross-platform delivery, multilingual/localization support when relevant, and brand safety controls.
7. Can existing traditional broadcasters transform their services into BVOD platforms?
Yes. Broadcasters can extend their linear TV services by offering catch-up content, exclusive digital shows, apps & websites, integrate ad-insertion technology, and leverage their content library. Vodlix, for example, supports BVOD-ready infrastructure for broadcasters.
Addressable advertising (ads tailored at household or device level).
Localised content and global expansion from broadcasters.
Partnerships (e.g. retail media, data clean rooms) to improve targeting and reach.
9. How does BVOD help with brand safety compared to other digital video ad channels?
Because BVOD content originates from established broadcasters (with editorial oversight, licensing requirements, regulated programming), advertisers using BVOD can avoid many of the risks associated with user-generated content platforms (misinformation, inappropriate content) and ensure their ads appear in a quality, trusted environment.
10. Why is BVOD increasingly important for advertisers and broadcasters in modern OTT strategy?
As viewership shifts from linear TV to on-demand streaming, BVOD offers a way to combine the credibility and audience loyalty of traditional broadcasters with the flexibility, targeting, and analytics of digital platforms. It helps broadcasters retain relevance and helps advertisers reach engaged audiences more effectively.
Usama Nisar
Product marketer specialized in telling the stories of Vodlix's latest offerings.
