A free trial gives a new user full or partial access for a limited time to demonstrate value before billing begins. It is a primary acquisition tool for SVOD, lowering the barrier to trying the service in the hope the user becomes a habitual, paying subscriber.
Operationally it requires careful entitlement and billing logic: granting time-boxed access, reminding before conversion, handling the trial-to-paid transition, and combating trial abuse (repeated sign-ups). Trials are measured by conversion rate and by the post-trial churn they produce - a generous trial that converts poorly or churns immediately can cost more than it earns, so they are tuned continuously.
