Pay per view

Also called: ppv or video on demand(vod)

Pay per view is a billing model where the TV viewer or reader only pays for what he has actually purchased. There are no fixed subscription fees and there is (usually) no advertising present.

Video on demand

Pay per view is booming since the rise of the Internet and digital television. Through services like Netflix, it is possible to watch movies and series on demand for a fee. Cable providers also have their own video on demand platforms.

Once you as a viewer start an episode or movie, you will be charged a fee. This can be debited directly from your account, but usually the services work with a prepaid account credit, or the costs incurred are settled monthly in arrears. After starting the video stream, it is usually available for an extended period of time, so playback can also be paused.

Besides their earnings model, on-demand services distinguish themselves with a large and current offer, high picture quality and additional functions. Such as browsing through offerings that match your viewing behavior. Some services also offer a limited amount of free content.

Pay only for what you read

Pay per view is also on the rise on the worldwide web.

Many newspapers are stopping offering free articles over the Internet. While newspaper circulation is declining, websites selling banners are mostly unprofitable to operate. After putting up pay walls, non-subscribers can pay for reading the articles on a per-article basis.

Through the online newsstand Blendle, it is even possible to view articles from print media for a small payment per article read. Newspapers and magazines initially reacted reluctantly to this development. After all, they depend on their subscribers and newsstand sales. However, by offering articles on a pay-per-read basis, new target groups can be tapped into and an additional medium is used to sell content that has already been produced.

Pay per view in online advertising

The term pay per view is also used in a different context. When an advertiser only pays when his banner or advertising video is actually viewed, we also speak of pay per view.