--- title: "What Is PVOD? Premium Video on Demand Explained | RentAnOTT" description: "PVOD is a higher-priced early rental of a new release, sold before it reaches subscription catalogs. See how the window works and when to use it." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/pvod" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/pvod.md" category: "Monetization" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is PVOD? PVOD (premium video on demand) is a one-time rental or purchase of a new release at a premium price, offered early, while or shortly after the title is in cinemas and before it reaches subscription or ad-supported catalogs. ## How PVOD works A new film or special is made available at home for a limited early window. The viewer pays a one-time price well above a normal rental and usually gets 48 hours to finish once they press play. When the premium window closes, the title drops to a standard rental or purchase price, and later moves into a subscription or free ad-supported catalog. ## PVOD vs TVOD PVOD is a kind of TVOD. Both charge once for a single title. What makes a rental premium is timing and price: it is the first chance to watch at home, so it is priced for a household rather than a single viewer. ## When PVOD is the right model - You have a new release with marketing behind it and an audience waiting for it - You want to earn from the most eager viewers before the title joins a subscription - A theatrical run is short, limited to some regions or not planned at all - A rights holder wants per-transaction reporting for the first window ## PVOD on RentAnOTT PVOD premieres are a $59/month add-on on RentAnOTT, with premium windows, flexible pricing and access rules. Standard rentals and purchases are included on every plan. [See pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing). ## Related terms - [TVOD](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/tvod) — TVOD (transactional video on demand) is a streaming model where viewers pay once for a single title or event, either renting it for a limited time or buying it to keep. - [SVOD](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/svod) — SVOD (subscription video on demand) is a streaming model where viewers pay a recurring fee, usually monthly or yearly, for unlimited access to a catalog of on-demand video. - [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. - [Electronic sell-through](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/electronic-sell-through) — Electronic sell-through (EST) is a one-time payment that gives a viewer permanent access to a digital title, such as a film, a season or a single episode. It is the digital equivalent of buying a disc. - [Pay-per-view](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/pay-per-view) — Pay-per-view (PPV) is a model where a viewer pays once to watch a single program, most often a live event such as a fight, a match or a concert, rather than subscribing to a channel or catalog. ## Further reading - [What is PVOD streaming?](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/what-is-pvod-streaming) - [Electronic sell-through explained](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/electronic-sell-through) - [OTT revenue calculator](https://www.rentanott.com/tools/ott-revenue-calculator) ## Frequently asked questions ### What does PVOD stand for? PVOD stands for premium video on demand. ### How much does a PVOD rental cost? There is no fixed price. A premium rental is usually priced several times above a standard rental, because it replaces a cinema trip for a whole household. Set it against your normal rental price and the size of the audience waiting for the title. ### Can subscribers be charged for a PVOD title? Yes. A premium premiere is normally sold to everyone, subscribers included, and joins the subscription catalog only after the premium window ends. 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