PVOD
PVOD (premium video on demand) is a form of transactional video where viewers pay a higher price to watch new movies or shows early, often while they are still in cinemas or soon after. It is usually a rental for a set period at a premium price. Studios use PVOD to earn more from new releases.
Why it matters
PVOD lets studios earn from new releases at home while interest is highest, instead of waiting months. Premium prices make each rental valuable, so studios demand strong protection against piracy before releasing early. A distributor can meet that studio requirement on FastPix with DRM-protected playback through the DRM API, billed at $99/month plus a fee per license issued.
How much does PVOD cost?
PVOD rentals in the US have often been priced around $19.99 or more for a 48-hour window. For example, Universal set a suggested price of $19.99 for 48-hour home rentals of its new films in 2020. Prices vary by studio, title and store.
Why do studios release movies on PVOD?
Studios release movies on PVOD to earn from viewers who will not go to a cinema and to capture interest while marketing is still fresh. It also helps when cinema runs are short or disrupted. The premium price reflects early access.
Where it's used
Film studios rent new movies at a premium on OTT services and digital stores weeks after cinema release, so fans can watch big releases at home early.
Where it usually goes wrong, and how FastPix handles it
Studios usually require strong content protection for early releases, and a plain video link that can be shared or downloaded puts high-value titles at risk.
Each early-release title can sit behind FastPix's DRM API and token-gated playback, so only renters with a valid token can start it. That gives a distributor the protection studios ask for before they hand over an early release.
By the numbers
- In 2020, Universal set a 48-hour rental window and a suggested US price of $19.99 for its films released to homes early. (Comcast NBCUniversal moves to make current movies available at home (NBCUniversal))
