CHATSWORTH, Calif. – For the first time in their 31-year history, the AVN Awards will consider titles produced only for distribution via video-on-demand. Previously, adult movies must have been released on physical media in order to be eligible for nomination.

“The time to make this amendment has come,” AVN Senior Editor Peter Warren said. “Stepping back and taking a good, hard look at the reality of how the industry has changed made it clear that we could delay [adding VOD-only titles] no longer.”

Warren said the internet’s monumental effect on the creation and marketing of adult content was a primary motivator for the change in eligibility requirements. He also said specific criteria apply to VOD submissions:

• A title must have been made available during the eligibility period for VOD download and/or streaming through at least two major for-pay VOD providers. “For-pay VOD providers” are those carrying movies from at least 100 active labels and/or studios.
• A title must have clearly marked post dates falling within the eligibility period across all qualifying VOD platforms carrying it.
• Companies wishing to submit VOD-only titles for consideration in the 2015 AVN Awards must provide links showing said titles meet the above requirements.

The 2015 AVN Awards nominating committee will accept submissions released between Oct. 8, 2013 and Sept. 30, 2014.

The requirements for adult content released on physical media remain virtually unchanged, with one exception. Over the past few years, the awards committee has allowed titles released on physical media after the deadline to compete as long as the titles were released via VOD prior to the deadline. That practice has been discontinued since VOD titles are eligible on their own.

“We took a lot of care in formulating these new guidelines so as to make their impact as minimal as possible on studios and producers,” Warren said. “Those who have planned their release schedules for specific productions to meet our customary eligibility requirements should not be affected. Our hope is simply that this will open the door for some who have eschewed the DVD format and serve as a pivotal step in the evolution of the AVN Awards.”

For more information about the 2015 AVN Awards, visit AVNAwards.com.