Video on demand providers either distribute content that is live, or played back on demand, or both. For video on demand (VOD) this will be a playout file requested from the library, transcoded into renditions for the ABR ladder and chunked up. For live streams it’s likely to originate uncompressed from a studio or remote camera or be lightly compressed to mezzanine or contribution quality.
Many video service providers of live content will record live streams to enable their consumers to playback, pause and rewind on-demand to enhance monetization options. Video on demand providers of live sports may similarly also broadcast an event live (over legacy infrastructure and their own website) and clip up video packages for distribution to social media.
Any live video service provider must have a video contribution network. Video produced at a location (such as a studio or sports stadium) is contributed to the event’s rights holders. In turn, the rights holders (typically, local broadcasters) will manipulate the feed with their own production graphics and video inserts before distribution to their viewers.