VOD Advertising Showcases Will Transform TV Advertising, according to Forrester Research -- Networks and cable operators imagine a world where the best programs are available on-demand, supported by advertising. The reality: standards and measurement fall short, and advertisers, while intrigued, aren't ready to commit. But thinking about VOD ads only as 30-second spots is a mistake. VOD will finally succeed when it includes traditional spots, long-form video advertising showcases, and links that join the two. Advertisers should invest in this advertising on-demand format as soon as Comcast and Time Warner Cable make it available � within the next 18 months. Both networks and operators will profit as new advertising dollars come flowing in from direct marketing and Internet budgets. Forrester conducted confidential interviews with 20 advertisers and agencies. They also spoke with seven networks, three cable operators, and several vendors of VOD hardware and software.
The global streaming industry has spent the better part of a decade chasing subscriber counts as the primary metric of success. That era is now formally over. New market data from Omdia confirms that the industry has crossed a decisive threshold; one that shifts the competitive playing field from growth-at-all-costs to monetization discipline. For senior executives navigating media, advertising, and technology strategy, the implications extend well beyond entertainment. A Historic Revenue Crossover Online video revenue increased 13.5 percent to $176 billion in 2025, while pay-TV revenue declined 4 percent to $170 billion; marking the first time in the industry's history that streaming has surpassed legacy pay-TV in revenue terms. This is not a rounding error or a statistical artifact; it represents the culmination of more than a decade of structural disruption to the traditional broadcast and cable TV model. Global subscriptions to online video services reached 2.24 billion by the ...