What TV, BVOD and SVOD actually are
Television (Linear TV)
Traditional broadcast TV remains one of the largest, most trusted and most culturally influential media environments in the UK. It offers huge reach, broad demographic coverage and the ability to deliver emotional, memorable storytelling at scale.
BVOD (Broadcaster Video on Demand)
Platforms such as ITVX, Channel 4, My5, Sky Go, and STV Player offer premium video content streamed on demand. BVOD combines the quality and brand safety of television with digital-style targeting, frequency management and flexibility.
SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand)
Services like Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video are increasingly introducing ad-funded tiers, opening up new opportunities to reach audiences who watch little or no traditional television. SVOD combines high attention with premium programming and previously hard-to-reach viewer segments.
Together, these channels create a broadcast ecosystem far more powerful than any single medium.
Why broadcast video matters today
Despite industry chatter about fragmentation, television (in all its forms) continues to dominate high-attention video consumption.
1. It reaches people at scale
Even in a world of infinite choice, TV + BVOD remains the most efficient way to reach large audiences quickly. SVOD platforms extend this reach into lighter-TV-viewing demographics.
2. It delivers high attention and recall
Broadcast-quality video, whether linear or streamed, commands far more attention than most digital environments. People watch intentionally, often on bigger screens, in comfortable settings.
3. It shapes culture
TV is where national moments still happen. BVOD and SVOD increasingly host cultural phenomena too - think drama launches, reality series, sports highlights and big documentaries.
4. It works in harmony with other channels
Television drives search, improves paid social performance and increases the effectiveness of digital campaigns. BVOD reinforces frequency. SVOD extends incremental reach.
Simply put: if you want people to know you exist, remember you and choose you, broadcast video remains one of the most effective tools available.
Key benefits of TV, BVOD and SVOD
Reach + Targeting
TV provides unmatched scale; BVOD adds demographic and behavioural targeting; SVOD reaches subscription-heavy households and younger audiences.
High-Quality Environments
All three offer premium, curated content with rigorous brand safety standards.
Emotional Storytelling
Broadcast video is uniquely suited to narrative, humour and emotional impact - the building blocks of long-term brand growth.
Flexible Investment Options
From national TV to regional buys, from BVOD overlays to emerging SVOD inventory, the ecosystem supports a wide range of budgets.
Incremental Reach and Frequency Control
BVOD and SVOD add reach you can’t access through linear TV alone, while managing frequency more effectively.
Broadcast video offers both mass marketing and precision, which is rare and extremely valuable.
How the modern broadcast ecosystem works
Linear TV: Planning and Buying
We analyse audience profiles, viewing patterns, dayparts and programming to identify the most cost-efficient routes to reach your priority segments. Buying is negotiated transparently - no hidden costs, no pre-bought airtime, no trading commitments.
BVOD: Data-Driven Advertising
BVOD allows us to target by:
Demographic
Postcode or region
Interests
Behaviours
Consumption patterns
Device type
It delivers strong view-through rates and sits comfortably alongside TV for extending reach.
SVOD: Emerging Opportunities
As ad-funded tiers grow, SVOD offers access to audiences that historically avoided advertising. It is particularly valuable for:
Inventory is still limited, but this scarcity often creates a premium environment for brands.
The role these channels play in the media mix
Television builds broad mental availability and trust. BVOD provides targeted reinforcement. SVOD gives access to 'TV refuseniks' and subscription-first households.
Together, they create a complete video strategy capable of:
Building fame
Driving mass awareness
Amplifying creative
Generating measurable uplift
Supporting performance channels
Improving integrated campaign efficiency
Used together, these channels deliver far more than the sum of their parts.
How Hello Starling plans and buys TV, BVOD and SVOD
Audience-First Strategy
We start with the behaviour, motivations and media habits of your target audience. Every decision flows from this understanding.
Creative and Media Working Together
Broadcast video succeeds when the message and moment align. We collaborate with creative partners to ensure your campaign is built for attention, emotion and recall.
Platform-Neutral Recommendations
We have no trading commitments, no pre-bought airtime and no inventory to shift. That means:
We never favour one broadcaster over another
We never recommend packages because they suit us financially
We are free to create the best plan for your audience
National and Regional Expertise
Whether you’re advertising in Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England, or across the UK, we understand the nuances of regional broadcast planning.
Flexible Budgets
We plan campaigns that work whether you are investing £50k regionally or £5m nationally.
Live Reporting Dashboards
We track everything that can be tracked, in real time:
TV and streaming may not always be real-time channels, but our reporting is.
Measuring the impact of TV, BVOD and SVOD
Measurement must be designed from day one. We evaluate:
Brand search uplift
Traffic and engagement changes
Frequency and reach modelling
Creative effectiveness signals
Incremental reach across platforms
Regional performance differences
Cross-channel uplift in social and PPC
Measurement is not optional. It is the backbone of our approach.
Why transparent buying matters in TV and streaming
Broadcast media is historically where opaque practices have thrived. Pre-bought inventory, trading deals and principal-based models can influence planning in ways clients never see.
Hello Starling has a simple policy:
We never engage in principal media
We never resell inventory
We are entirely platform-neutral
Your budget should work for your audience, not for someone else’s balance sheet.
A final thought
Television, BVOD and SVOD remain some of the most effective tools available to marketers who want to build brands, influence behaviour and deliver measurable commercial outcomes. They work because they combine impact, attention and scale, the foundations of long-term growth.
At Hello Starling, we use broadcast video strategically and creatively. No stock to shift. No proprietary deals. No bias. Just audience-first planning, measurable results and independent media planning and buying.
If you’re exploring how TV and streaming could play a part in your next campaign, we’d love to talk.
