VOD is a cache problem dressed as a media problem. Segments and files are large, popular and identical. The encoder should package once. Cloud CDN should repeat the result on 200+ Tbps.

You deliver, you do not have to transcode

Cloud CDN does not replace your packager. It caches HLS/DASH segments and progressive files, including 4K-ready playback, and shields origin storage from concurrent viewers.

Playlists versus segments

Media playlists change more often than segments. Give segments long TTLs. Keep playlist TTLs short enough for the product, and purge when a title is replaced.

Protect premium titles

Token authentication can gate URLs so a cached object is still not anonymously shareable. HTTPS is not a licence check by itself.

The same CDN as the website

Application assets and VOD can share the network. They usually should not share cache keys or bypass rules. Use path policy.