--- title: "What Is Catch-Up TV? Definition and Examples | RentAnOTT" description: "Catch-up TV lets viewers watch programs on demand for a limited time after they aired on a channel. See how it works and what rights it needs." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/catch-up-tv" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/catch-up-tv.md" category: "Live & linear" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is catch-up TV? Catch-up TV is a service that makes programs available on demand for a limited period after they were shown on a linear channel, commonly 7 to 30 days. It lets viewers watch what they missed without recording it. ## How catch-up TV works There are two ways to produce it. The channel's stream can be recorded continuously and cut into programs using the schedule, so each program appears as an on-demand item minutes after it ends. Or the original program files can be published to the catalog on a schedule that follows the broadcast. Either way, each item carries an expiry date and disappears when its catch-up period ends. ## Catch-up and related features - Catch-up: watch a past program on demand for a limited period - Start-over: restart a program that is currently on air from its beginning - Time-shift or pause live: rewind within the live stream itself - Cloud DVR: recordings the viewer chooses to make, stored by the service ## Rights and limits Catch-up is a right that has to be granted. Broadcast licenses often allow it for some programs and not others, and for different periods, so a catch-up service needs per-program rules. Sport, films and acquired series are the usual exceptions. Advertising differs too. The broadcast ads in the recording are typically replaced with ads chosen at the time of viewing. ## Catch-up TV on RentAnOTT RentAnOTT carries live channels and an on-demand catalog in the same apps, with availability windows per title in the CMS. Ask us on a demo how programs from your channel would be published for catch-up. [See features](https://www.rentanott.com/features). ## Related terms - [Live-to-VOD](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/live-to-vod) — Live-to-VOD is converting a live stream into an on-demand video, either while the event is still running or as soon as it ends, so that viewers who missed it or joined late can watch from the start. - [EPG](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/epg) — An EPG (electronic program guide) is the on-screen schedule for linear channels. It shows what is playing now and what is coming up on each channel, usually as a grid of channels against time, and lets the viewer tune to a program from it. - [Linear channel](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/linear-channel) — A linear channel is a continuous stream of programs played in a fixed schedule, like a traditional television channel. Viewers join whatever is on at that moment rather than choosing a title to start. - [BVOD](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/bvod) — BVOD (broadcaster video on demand) is a streaming service operated by a television broadcaster. It carries the broadcaster's programs on demand, usually with live streams of its channels, and is most often free and funded by advertising. - [Release window](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/release-window) — A release window is a period during which a title is available through one distribution channel or business model before it moves to the next. Windowing is the practice of ordering those periods so that each audience pays the most it is willing to. - [Dynamic ad insertion](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/dynamic-ad-insertion) — Dynamic ad insertion (DAI) is choosing which ads to show at the moment a viewer reaches an ad break, individually for that viewer, instead of permanently embedding the same ads in the video file for everyone. ## Further reading - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing) - [IP boxes and IPTV explained](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/ip-box-iptv) - [How to start a streaming service](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/how-to-start-a-streaming-service) ## Frequently asked questions ### How long are programs available on catch-up? Seven days was the original standard; many services now offer 30 days or more where their rights allow. ### Is catch-up TV the same as VOD? It is a kind of VOD, limited to programs that recently aired on a channel and available only for a set period. ### Is catch-up the same as a DVR? No. With catch-up the service decides what is available. With a DVR the viewer chooses what to record and keep. All 163 terms: [Streaming and OTT glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary). ## Book a demo Tell RentAnOTT what you are launching. The team walks through the platform and maps the path to go-live around your catalog, markets and revenue model. Book a demo: https://www.rentanott.com/contact ## More from RentAnOTT - [Home](https://www.rentanott.com/index.md) — What RentAnOTT is, what every plan includes, and how launch works - [Features](https://www.rentanott.com/features.md) — Every core feature and optional add-on - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing.md) — Platform tiers, apps, add-ons, usage rates and example bills in INR and USD - [Free tools](https://www.rentanott.com/tools.md) — OTT app builder and calculators for streaming revenue, bandwidth, bitrate and pricing - [Insights](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs.md) — All streaming business articles - [Glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary.md) — Definitions of streaming and OTT terms - [Book a demo](https://www.rentanott.com/contact.md) — Talk to RentAnOTT about your launch Full site in one file: https://www.rentanott.com/llms-full.txt