Content · 5 min read
VOD and replay on IPTV: what the rights allow
Live TV, replay and video on demand are not covered by the same licences. Live follows the channel's broadcast, replay depends on a window negotiated programme by programme, and VOD rests on a separate contract. That is why something you could watch yesterday may no longer be available today.
What is the difference between live, replay and VOD?
| Mode | What it is | How long it is available | What determines it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live | The channel's stream in real time | Permanent as long as the channel broadcasts | The channel's broadcast contract |
| Replay | A programme already aired, available to watch again | Limited window, often 7 days | Rights negotiated programme by programme |
| VOD | A catalogue you can browse at any time | Variable, subject to review | A contract separate from live |
These three modes sit side by side in the same app, which makes them look like one uniform whole. Technically, they are three different regimes.
Why does a programme disappear from replay?
Because the rights window has closed. A rights holder grants a replay period — seven days in most cases — after which the programme must be removed. This removal is not a fault: it is the contract being carried out as normal. If a replay you were counting on has gone, the live schedule in the programme guide is the place to check whether the programme will be aired again.
The limit: this window is not the same for every channel, nor for every programme on the same channel. A news bulletin and a film almost never have the same duration.
Which framework applies to the catalogue on offer?
The catalogue is limited to content for which exploitation rights have been obtained, or which is royalty-free. No unauthorised retransmission of third-party premium packages is offered, and no code generator is distributed. When an authorisation ends, the content concerned leaves every plan at the same time: no plan level keeps access to a programme whose rights have expired. The reporting procedure for rights holders is set out on the content and broadcast rights page.
How can you tell what is actually included?
The make-up of the catalogue is published on the channel catalogue page, and the built-in programme guide shows in real time what can be replayed, as explained on the technical features page. The catalogue varies between Lite, Standard, Premium and VIP: the number of channels and HD/4K access should therefore be checked on the plans page before ordering. VOD and replay availability can change when their rights windows expire; the list shown in the app at the time of activation remains the working reference.
This article expands on a point summarised on the content and broadcast rights page.
Two follow-up questions
These two answers complete the article and do not appear in the general FAQ.
Can you download a programme to watch offline?
No. The service works by continuous streaming. Downloading a programme would fall outside the rights obtained, which cover broadcasting and not copying.
Is the VOD catalogue the same all year round?
No. It changes with the contracts: titles come in, others leave when their window ends. A title that has been removed can return if the right is renewed.
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