Time-Shift TV
Subscribers now expect any and all of their favorite shows available whenever they want it. They want to pause live TV, start a program over if they missed the beginning, record something that happened in the past, or expect the program that just ended to be instantly available via video on demand (VOD). They expect all five seasons of their favorite series at their fingertips for a binge-watching weekend, and hope to find an older film as easily as the latest blockbuster.
Time-shifting your video allows you to watch at your leisure. VCRs started the trend in 1980s, but the popularity of the likes of Netflix and Hulu has prompted an explosion in content on demand. While viewers still watch a good deal of live TV, the majority of all TV viewing is now delayed. And of that delayed time, 53% of the viewing is done on a set-top box (STB) with a DVR or pay TV operator VOD. While sports and some reality shows are preferred in real time, most programming is watched sometime after it airs. This is impacting how operators monetize this content, and is even creating a longer runway for new shows’ viability.
Not your father’s VCR
On-demand/nonlinear viewing has morphed. In addition to DVR and Video on Demand, a variety of time-shifted options are gaining popularity to support the multitude of reasons people choose to delay viewing. In addition to the technical issues involved, these options all require careful examination of regional copyright laws in an effort to stay in compliance.
Catch-up TV: This allows subscribers to replay a show broadcast in the past. It can be complex to implement, especially matching VOD content to the electronic program guide (EPG). Storage must be expansive and elastic and there must be superior performance to convert on the fly.
Pause Live TV: This allows the subscriber to pause their live program and return to the show later. Very often there are particular legal considerations for how long you can pause.
Infinite Archive: The infinite archive records all channels and keeps all the recorded programs available for all the subscribers as long as required. This allows subscribers to “record in the past.”
Start-over /Restart TV: This feature allows a subscriber to replay a live broadcast already underway and to switch back to a real-time broadcast feed. Dynamic ad insertion is not always an option as there is usually a need to comply with live content and advertising agreements.
