Live, catch-up and VOD
| Live TV | Catch-up | VOD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Channels as they air | Recent programmes from live channels | A library of films and series |
| How you find it | Channel list and guide | Going back in the TV guide | Films and series sections |
| Start from the beginning | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pause, rewind, skip | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Behind the scenes | Continuous streams | The provider’s archive | Stored files |
See IPTV catch-up explained for how the archive works.
How VOD works behind the scenes
On Xtream Codes-style servers, films and series are separate parts of the service from live TV. Apps fetch them with their own requests, such as get_vod_streams for films and get_series and get_series_info for series, seasons and episodes. Each film or episode is a stored file, and its address uses the file’s own container format, such as MP4 or MKV, rather than a live stream format. See the Xtream Codes API explained.
That has practical effects:
- Skipping ahead fetches a new part of the file, so a slow connection shows up as waiting after each skip.
- Films often carry surround sound, such as Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus or DTS, and sometimes several audio and subtitle tracks.
- 4K films commonly use H.265 (HEVC), which older devices may not decode.
When VOD won’t play
Live channels working while films fail is a common pattern, because the formats differ. The usual fixes are refreshing the films and series lists, switching the player engine, choosing another audio track, or checking your device decodes the film’s formats. See films and series not playing.
VOD and the TV Licence
GOV.UK says you don’t need a TV Licence to watch on-demand programmes on services other than BBC iPlayer, as long as you don’t also watch or record live TV on any channel. See do you need a TV Licence for IPTV.