Notes from the VOD Research Workshop in Utrecht

I had the pleasure of taking part last week in a workshop held at the University of Utrecht on the topic of VOD research methods. Organised by Karin Van Es (Associate Professor of Media and Culture Studies at Utrecht University) and Ramon Lobato (Associate Professor, RMIT School of Media and Communication), the aim of the event was to bring together a group of researchers working on different aspects of video-on-demand services, making use of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Contributions ranged from analyses of public service broadcasters’ VOD catalogues to ethnographical protocols for interviewing industry insiders.

The topic of prominence came up often, underscoring the need for data and qualitative assessments of user interfaces. All participants agreed that establishing a common methodological toolkit for conducting research on VOD services has become a priority. As the industry evolves, so must the methods that researchers employ to study it. Our discussions throughout the day made me realise how useful Arvester’s data could be to researchers interested in taking a closer look at prominence on VOD services. At Arvester—and no doubt this is due to our university research backgrounds—we believe that industry professionals and researchers can only benefit from maintaining close ties, which is why we would welcome the opportunity to contribute data to research projects. We also hope to continue participating in "academic" events and we will urge other industry professionals to do so as well.

The workshop helped bring into focus the current state of the VOD industry, and also exposed holes in our understanding of some of the mechanisms at play. I feel confident that, by allowing researchers to share their process and findings, events such as this help to steer the industry towards a more level and transparent playing field.

A huge thank you to Karin, Ramon and all participants.