Streaming Media Hosting
Streaming Media is media that is viewed or heard, usually in the form of clips, while it is being delivered, eliminating the need for the consumer to download the entire file before accessing the content. Because the file does not have to be downloaded before playing, streaming is particularly attractive as a method to deliver large audio and video files.
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Streaming is much more a property of the delivery system, or web host, than the media itself. The term is usually applied to media that are distributed over computer networks such as the internet. Because of the high performance of today's PC's, the proliferation of the Internet, and the wide availability and reduced prices of broadband, streaming media is a practical and affordable solution for most consumers.
In general, because multimedia content is large, media storage and transmission costs can still be significant. To compensate for this, media files are generally compressed for both storage and streaming.
A media stream can be on demand or live. On demand streams are stored on a server for a long period of time, and are available to be transmitted at a user's request. Live streams are only available at one particular time, as in a video stream of a live sporting event.
A Windows Media server is often the best way to stream media because Windows Media Services is designed specifically for that purpose, and all Windows Media components work together to enhance the end-user experience. Intelligent streaming, for example, involves Windows Media Encoder, Windows Media Services, and Windows Media Player.
If you're unsure which web hosting method is right for you, please see our Streaming Server vs. Web Server Comparison
The experts at Digital Rights Director have significant experience in all aspects of digital media ingestion, encoding, management, protection, storage, and delivery. Please Contact Us today if your business requires assistance with Digital Asset Management, Digital Rights Management, or Digital Content Delivery!
