Viewing Feature
Catch-Up TV
Last updated: January 01, 2026
Catch-Up TV is an on-demand viewing feature that makes recently broadcast content available for replay after its scheduled airtime — typically within a 7 to 30-day window. It bridges linear TV and VOD by letting viewers watch what they missed without committing to a fixed broadcast schedule. For OTT platforms, Catch-Up TV is powered by Live to VoD pipelines that automatically convert live streams into on-demand assets.
Watch what you missed
Post-broadcast window
Linear meets VOD
7–30 day availability
Powered by Live to VoD
What it is
Catch-Up TV is an on-demand viewing feature that makes recently broadcast content available for replay after its scheduled airtime — within a rights-defined availability window. It bridges linear TV and VOD by letting viewers watch missed content on their own schedule, powered by Live to VoD pipelines that automatically convert broadcasts into on-demand assets.
- Content is available on demand after broadcast — no need to watch live or wait for a re-run.
- Availability windows are typically 7–30 days, defined by content rights agreements.
- Powered by Live to VoD — live streams are automatically converted to on-demand assets post-broadcast.
- Surfaced through EPG back-scroll, dedicated catch-up rails, and search within OTT apps.
- Rights management controls the catch-up window — some content has shorter or no replay rights.
- SSAI enables ad monetization of catch-up streams — extending ad revenue beyond the live window.
Why it matters
Catch-Up TV is one of the most impactful retention features an OTT platform can offer for live and linear content. Viewers who miss a broadcast no longer need to churn to a competitor or wait for a re-run — they simply watch it on demand within the catch-up window. For sports, news, and scheduled drama, this directly reduces involuntary disengagement caused by scheduling conflicts. For OTT operators, Catch-Up TV also extends the revenue window of live content — a match or episode that aired once continues driving engagement and ad impressions for days afterward. Platforms that deliver live content without Catch-Up TV are leaving both viewer satisfaction and revenue on the table.
Key points
- Catch-Up TV makes recently broadcast content available on demand after its scheduled airtime.
- Availability windows typically range from 7 to 30 days depending on rights agreements.
- It is powered by Live to VoD pipelines that automatically convert live streams into on-demand assets.
- EPG (Electronic Programme Guide) is the primary interface through which viewers discover catch-up content.
- Rights management determines the catch-up window — some content has restrictions on replay duration.
- Catch-Up TV reduces churn among viewers who cannot watch live due to scheduling conflicts.
- Ad-supported catch-up viewing extends ad inventory and revenue beyond the original broadcast window.
How it works
1
Broadcast
Content airs on the linear schedule — the Live to VoD pipeline captures the stream in real time alongside delivery.
2
Convert
At stream end, the pipeline stitches segments into a complete on-demand asset and publishes it to the CMS — typically within 15–30 minutes of broadcast completion.
3
Configure
The CMS applies metadata, availability window rules, entitlement settings, and DRM based on the content rights agreement.
4
Surface
The catch-up asset appears in the EPG back-scroll, a dedicated catch-up rail, and search results within the OTT app.
5
Monetize
SSAI inserts mid-roll ads into the catch-up stream — delivering ad revenue from on-demand replays as well as the original broadcast.
6
Expire
At the end of the catch-up window, the CMS automatically removes or restricts access to the asset based on rights expiry rules.
Where you encounter it
EPG back-scroll — viewers navigate backwards through past days of programming
Dedicated Catch-Up TV rail on OTT app home screens
Search results within OTT apps for recently aired programme titles
Rights management and CMS availability window configuration
Live to VoD pipeline post-broadcast publishing workflows
SSAI ad insertion configuration for on-demand catch-up streams
Subscriber retention and churn analysis dashboards
Key variations
7-Day Catch-Up
The most common window — content available for 7 days post-broadcast. Standard for entertainment and drama, often negotiated as the minimum in rights agreements.
Extended Archive
30-day or longer catch-up windows for platforms with broader replay rights. Common for news, documentary, and owned content where rights restrictions are minimal.
Sports Catch-Up
Shorter windows (24–48 hours) common in sports rights — leagues and federations typically restrict how long match replays remain available to protect live viewing value.
Real-world example
A broadcaster launching Catch-Up TV to retain time-shifted viewers
A regional broadcaster with strong primetime drama viewership was losing audience to streaming competitors. Research showed 38% of their target demographic regularly missed scheduled broadcasts due to work and family commitments.
Challenge
- No on-demand replay available after broadcast — viewers who missed episodes had no way to catch up.
- Subscribers were cancelling to join SVOD services that offered full series on demand.
- Live to VoD pipeline did not exist — post-broadcast content required manual editing and re-upload taking 6–8 hours.
- Rights agreements needed review — catch-up windows had not been negotiated for most content.
Action taken
- Implemented a Live to VoD pipeline that automatically published catch-up assets within 30 minutes of broadcast end.
- Negotiated 7-day catch-up windows into new content rights agreements.
- Surfaced catch-up content through the EPG — viewers could scroll back through the past 7 days of programming.
- Added a dedicated Catch-Up TV rail on the OTT app home screen for recently aired episodes.
- Monetized catch-up streams with SSAI — mid-roll ads inserted automatically into on-demand replays.
Outcome
Catch-Up TV consumption accounted for 29% of total viewing within 90 days of launch. Subscriber churn dropped by 19% among the 25–44 age group. SSAI ad revenue from catch-up streams offset 22% of content rights costs in the first quarter.
FAQs
What is Catch-Up TV?
Catch-Up TV is a feature that makes recently broadcast content available to watch on demand after its scheduled airtime — typically within a 7 to 30-day window. It lets viewers watch programmes they missed without waiting for a re-run or scheduling their day around a broadcast time.
How does Catch-Up TV work on OTT platforms?
On OTT platforms, Catch-Up TV is powered by a Live to VoD pipeline — a system that automatically captures the live stream as it broadcasts, converts it into an on-demand video asset, and publishes it to the platform's CMS. The catch-up asset is then surfaced through the EPG or a dedicated catch-up rail, with entitlement and availability window rules applied.
What is the difference between Catch-Up TV and VOD?
Catch-Up TV is a specific type of VOD — it refers specifically to on-demand access to recently broadcast linear content within a defined time window. Standard VOD includes any on-demand content regardless of whether it was previously broadcast on a linear schedule. All Catch-Up TV is VOD, but not all VOD is Catch-Up TV.
How long is a typical Catch-Up TV availability window?
Most catch-up windows range from 7 to 30 days after the original broadcast — determined by content rights agreements rather than technical limitations. Some sports rights restrict catch-up to 24–48 hours, while entertainment content often allows 30-day windows. The window is configured in the platform's rights management and CMS availability settings.
What is the difference between Catch-Up TV and time-shifted TV?
Time-shifted TV refers to viewing that happens during or immediately after a live broadcast — pausing, rewinding, or starting from the beginning while the live stream is still in progress. Catch-Up TV refers to viewing that happens after the broadcast window has closed — watching the complete programme on demand in the days following its air date.
Ready to launch?
Add Catch-Up TV to your OTT platform with Enveu
Enveu's Experience Cloud includes Live to VoD, EPG integration, and rights management — so every broadcast automatically becomes a catch-up asset without manual effort.