---
title: When purchasing additional eternal minutes, are those used up first or are the minutes that are dispersed each month with the package used up first?
description: Purchased minutes are eternal and never expire. They serve as a buffer and overdraft protection. They are only used when the Video Minutes balance runs out of the monthly or annual package-minutes. Pa
---

![company logo](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/hs-fs/hubfs/test-header.png?height=120&name=test-header.png) 

[Support Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/)

- [Open a Support Ticket](https://mediacloud.dev.lightcast.com/support-center/open-ticket)
- <https://help.dev.lightcast.com/kb-tickets/new>
- [Go to Customer Portal](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tickets)

 Bandwidth Usage (Video Minutes)

- [Getting Started](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/getting-started)
- [Video Guides](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides) 
    - [Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#subtitles)
    - [Audio Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#audio-archive)
    - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#sub-channels)
    - [Watermarks](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#watermarks)
    - [Video Minutes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-minutes)
    - [Account Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#account-settings)
    - [Workflow Presets](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#workflow-presets)
    - [App Builder](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#app-builder)
    - [Player Customization](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#player-customization)
    - [Pay-Per-View](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#pay-per-view)
    - [Media Stats Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#media-stats-center)
    - [Revenue](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#revenue)
    - [Media Groups](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#media-groups)
    - [Video Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-archive)
    - [Platforms](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#platforms)
    - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#miscellaneous)
    - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#24-7-cloud-scheduler)
    - [Live Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#live-channels)
    - [VOD Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#vod-channels)
- [Video on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand) 
    - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#miscellaneous)
    - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#sub-channels)
    - [Facebook Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#facebook-video-publishing)
    - [Trailers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#trailers)
    - [YouTube Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#youtube-video-publishing)
    - [Video Upload](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#video-upload)
    - [Media Groups](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#media-groups)
    - [Closed Captions - Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#closed-captions-subtitles)
    - [Video Export](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#video-export)
    - [Scheduled Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#scheduled-publishing)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#troubleshooting)
    - [Watermarks Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#watermarks-feature)
    - [Geo Blocking](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#geo-blocking)
- [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/miscellaneous)
- [Bandwidth Usage (Video Minutes)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/bandwidth-usage-video-minutes)
- [Lightcast API](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-api)
- [Tips Of The Week](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tips-of-the-week)
- [Audio on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/audio-on-demand)
- [Release Notes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/release-notes)
- [Storage & Transcoding](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding) 
    - [Storage](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding#storage)
    - [Transcoding](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding#transcoding)
- [Analytics](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/analytics)
- [Platforms & App Stores](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores) 
    - [Chromecast/Google Cast & Apple AirPlay Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#chromecast-google-cast-apple-airplay-publishing)
    - [AndroidTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#androidtv)
    - [Amazon FireTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#amazon-firetv)
    - [Mobile Devices/Mobile Apps](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#mobile-devices-mobile-apps)
    - [Podcast Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#podcast-channels)
    - [AppleTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#appletv)
    - [WebApp](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#webapp)
    - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#general)
    - [Roku](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#roku)
    - [App Ownership](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#app-ownership)
- [Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming) 
    - [LIVE-to-VOD](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-to-vod)
    - [Simulated Live](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#simulated-live)
    - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#miscellaneous)
    - [Toubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#toubleshooting)
    - [VOD-to-LIVE](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#vod-to-live)
    - [Facebook Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#facebook-live-streaming)
    - [YouTube Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#youtube-live-streaming)
    - [Live Encoder / Encoder Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-encoder-encoder-settings)
    - [Multi-Bitrate Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#multi-bitrate-streaming)
    - [Pay-per-View (PPV) for Live Events](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#pay-per-view-ppv-for-live-events)
    - [Livestream DVR](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#livestream-dvr)
- [24/7 Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming) 
    - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#24-7-cloud-scheduler)
    - [Linear Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#linear-streaming)
- [Lightcast DRM](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-drm)
- [Code Authentication](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/code-authentication)
- [Payment & Billing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/payment-billing)
- [Video Advertising (AVOD/ALIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive) 
    - [Publishers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#publishers)
    - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#general)
    - [Advertisers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#advertisers)
- [Lightcast EasyPay](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay) 
    - [Lightcast EasyPay for Subscription Content (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-subscription-content-svod-slive)
    - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#miscellaneous)
    - [Lightcast EasyPay for Donations](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-donations)
- [Lightcast Academy](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy) 
    - [Account Training](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy#account-training)
- [Subscription System (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/subscription-system-svod-slive)
- [Pay-Per-View (PPV)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/pay-per-view-ppv)
- [Media Player](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player) 
    - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#general)
    - [Player Embed Tool](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-embed-tool)
    - [Player Sharing Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-sharing-feature)
    - [Player Configurator](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-configurator)

[Back to home](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/)

1. [Support Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/)
2. Bandwidth Usage (Video Minutes)

- [Getting Started](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/getting-started)
- [Video Guides](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides) 
    - [Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#subtitles)
    - [Audio Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#audio-archive)
    - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#sub-channels)
    - [Watermarks](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#watermarks)
    - [Video Minutes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-minutes)
    - [Account Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#account-settings)
    - [Workflow Presets](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#workflow-presets)
    - [App Builder](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#app-builder)
    - [Player Customization](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#player-customization)
    - [Pay-Per-View](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#pay-per-view)
    - [Media Stats Center](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#media-stats-center)
    - [Revenue](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#revenue)
    - [Media Groups](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#media-groups)
    - [Video Archive](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#video-archive)
    - [Platforms](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#platforms)
    - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#miscellaneous)
    - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#24-7-cloud-scheduler)
    - [Live Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#live-channels)
    - [VOD Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-guides#vod-channels)
- [Video on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand) 
    - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#miscellaneous)
    - [Sub Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#sub-channels)
    - [Facebook Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#facebook-video-publishing)
    - [Trailers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#trailers)
    - [YouTube Video Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#youtube-video-publishing)
    - [Video Upload](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#video-upload)
    - [Media Groups](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#media-groups)
    - [Closed Captions - Subtitles](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#closed-captions-subtitles)
    - [Video Export](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#video-export)
    - [Scheduled Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#scheduled-publishing)
    - [Troubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#troubleshooting)
    - [Watermarks Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#watermarks-feature)
    - [Geo Blocking](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-on-demand#geo-blocking)
- [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/miscellaneous)
- [Bandwidth Usage (Video Minutes)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/bandwidth-usage-video-minutes)
- [Lightcast API](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-api)
- [Tips Of The Week](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tips-of-the-week)
- [Audio on Demand](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/audio-on-demand)
- [Release Notes](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/release-notes)
- [Storage & Transcoding](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding) 
    - [Storage](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding#storage)
    - [Transcoding](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/storage-transcoding#transcoding)
- [Analytics](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/analytics)
- [Platforms & App Stores](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores) 
    - [Chromecast/Google Cast & Apple AirPlay Publishing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#chromecast-google-cast-apple-airplay-publishing)
    - [AndroidTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#androidtv)
    - [Amazon FireTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#amazon-firetv)
    - [Mobile Devices/Mobile Apps](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#mobile-devices-mobile-apps)
    - [Podcast Channels](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#podcast-channels)
    - [AppleTV](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#appletv)
    - [WebApp](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#webapp)
    - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#general)
    - [Roku](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#roku)
    - [App Ownership](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/platforms-app-stores#app-ownership)
- [Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming) 
    - [LIVE-to-VOD](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-to-vod)
    - [Simulated Live](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#simulated-live)
    - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#miscellaneous)
    - [Toubleshooting](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#toubleshooting)
    - [VOD-to-LIVE](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#vod-to-live)
    - [Facebook Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#facebook-live-streaming)
    - [YouTube Live Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#youtube-live-streaming)
    - [Live Encoder / Encoder Settings](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#live-encoder-encoder-settings)
    - [Multi-Bitrate Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#multi-bitrate-streaming)
    - [Pay-per-View (PPV) for Live Events](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#pay-per-view-ppv-for-live-events)
    - [Livestream DVR](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/live-streaming#livestream-dvr)
- [24/7 Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming) 
    - [24/7 Cloud Scheduler](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#24-7-cloud-scheduler)
    - [Linear Streaming](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/24-7-streaming#linear-streaming)
- [Lightcast DRM](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-drm)
- [Code Authentication](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/code-authentication)
- [Payment & Billing](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/payment-billing)
- [Video Advertising (AVOD/ALIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive) 
    - [Publishers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#publishers)
    - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#general)
    - [Advertisers](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/video-advertising-avod-alive#advertisers)
- [Lightcast EasyPay](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay) 
    - [Lightcast EasyPay for Subscription Content (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-subscription-content-svod-slive)
    - [Miscellaneous](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#miscellaneous)
    - [Lightcast EasyPay for Donations](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-easypay#lightcast-easypay-for-donations)
- [Lightcast Academy](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy) 
    - [Account Training](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/lightcast-academy#account-training)
- [Subscription System (SVOD/SLIVE)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/subscription-system-svod-slive)
- [Pay-Per-View (PPV)](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/pay-per-view-ppv)
- [Media Player](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player) 
    - [General](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#general)
    - [Player Embed Tool](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-embed-tool)
    - [Player Sharing Feature](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-sharing-feature)
    - [Player Configurator](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/media-player#player-configurator)

# When purchasing additional eternal minutes, are those used up first or are the minutes that are dispersed each month with the package used up first?

Purchased minutes are eternal and never expire. They serve as a buffer and overdraft protection. They are only used when the Video Minutes balance runs out of the monthly or annual package-minutes. Package-Minutes are always used up first before the purchased eternal minutes are touched. This is to ensure that your additionally purchased minutes (bandwidth) serves as overdraft protection and remains reserved for that purpose.

[![company logo](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Untitled-2.png?height=120&name=Untitled-2.png)](https://mediacloud.lightcast.com)

- [![facebook_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/facebook_circle_color.png)](https://www.facebook.com/lightcastinc)
- [![twitter_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/twitter_circle_color.png)](https://twitter.com/lightcast_inc)
- [![linkedin_social_link_icon_alt_text](https://static.hsstatic.net/TemplateAssets/static-1.329/img/hs_default_template_images/modules/Follow+Me+-+Email/linkedin_circle_color.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/lightcast/)

- [Open a Support Ticket](https://mediacloud.dev.lightcast.com/support-center/open-ticket)
- <https://help.dev.lightcast.com/kb-tickets/new>
- [Go to Customer Portal](https://help.dev.lightcast.com/tickets)