A technique for managing session setup for video on demand sessions involves caching information related to session setup for a session manager and then utilizing the cached information to setup a video on demand session for a client in response to a session setup request that is received from the client. Because information related to session setup is cached for the session manager, the session manager can utilize the information to establish a session without having to exchange messages with other video on demand elements, in particular other servers in the video on demand network. Reducing or eliminating the number of messages exchanged between video on demand elements enables video on demand sessions to be quickly and efficiently setup.