The secret life of VoDs: Mapping longitudinal patterns of 20 European public service Video on Demand services

Video on Demand services are increasingly important for public service broadcasters / -media in their encounter with audiences and in fulfilling public service obligations. Yet, the approaches to presenting the video content in a VoD interface vary considerably among public service broadcasters in Europe. This paper presents a typology of European public service broadcasting VoDs (PSB-VoDs) services and the methodology behind: Can PSB VoDs be characterised in a meaningful way via data analysis / -visualisation? The paper also critically reflects on the selection of data, parameters and visualisation techniques that can result in different narratives about PSB-VoDs. Being situated in a political context, public service broadcasting / media organisations have during almost 100 years of existence repeatedly been subject to fierce discussions about purposes, obligations and public service values. The paper provides a reflection on how - if possible - core concepts of public service such as universality and diversity can be examined via the collected data. The paper reflects on the relation between quantitative values - as measured in data analyses of the VoD interfaces, and normative values about public service as expressed in policy documents and public service contracts, cf.: (Lassen & Sørensen, 2021; Lassen & Sørensen, 2023).

Methodologically, the paper explores the novel territory of longitudinal studies of VoD interfaces by identifying promising key parameters of the VoD services that can characterise the services. We apply a comparative approach with 20 different PSB-VoD services from five countries. The paper extends previous research (Kelly & Sørensen, 2021), not only by scale but also by scope.

The paper aims to develop and present a methodology that not only reflects most visible aspects of the VoDs such as the number of videos available, but also more less visible aspects such as the frequency with which the video content appears and disappears at different parts of the page, movements, the naming and movements among of rows and larger changes over time; in short, the means used as part of publishing strategies and -tactics in the VoD space. The secret life of VoDs.