Streaming Video
Discussion
Streaming is Simple
Streaming is Hungry
we have several streaming companies, and on the whole its a painless process. Given modern browsers capabilities now, you dont even NEED to have a streaming server at the other end (tho it is reccomended) ie/mp9 will stream on the fly.
The main costs were in licensing for the streaming servers, tho depending on what format you want, it could also be free (windows 2000 / 2003 comes with inbuilt / FOC streaming / stream authoring software.
The main concern really is b/w.
We only tend to deal with big name customers, but the 'smallest' of our streaming customers easily gets thru 3/4mbit a month.
Do you plan to offer simple video on demand, or proper streamed events ?
The latter has the potential to cause serious b/w implications if its held regularily.
You have my mail if you need a chat.
Streaming is Hungry
we have several streaming companies, and on the whole its a painless process. Given modern browsers capabilities now, you dont even NEED to have a streaming server at the other end (tho it is reccomended) ie/mp9 will stream on the fly.
The main costs were in licensing for the streaming servers, tho depending on what format you want, it could also be free (windows 2000 / 2003 comes with inbuilt / FOC streaming / stream authoring software.
The main concern really is b/w.
We only tend to deal with big name customers, but the 'smallest' of our streaming customers easily gets thru 3/4mbit a month.
Do you plan to offer simple video on demand, or proper streamed events ?
The latter has the potential to cause serious b/w implications if its held regularily.
You have my mail if you need a chat.
PetrolTed said:
Thanks, that's the sort of info I was after. Is streaming different from just bunging a video file on a server?
The sort of thing I'd like to provide is some video to accompany road tests etc.
Hi,
if your just after video clips, then you can generally just stick the vid clips up and ppl can download them / MP9 will attempt to play them on the fly.
If you wanted to, for example, have the video auto load and play along whilst they read the review (prolly too disconcerting) then you could implement a streaming server.
For what you describe, just 'lobbing' them on the server should suffice, just wont work for everyone as a stream, some ppl will have to wait for the whole clip to have downloaded first...
tho you could encode in Real, and this should assist in the 'on-the-fly' aspect, but has a reduced market saturation, increased licensing costs and increased SpyWare feature
PetrolTed said:
So in fact 'streaming' may be a bit of a red herring.
Yep, aware of the conversation I had with you Stig. I didn't think that was an option for me though...
Given the way MS have coded the recent generations of IE and WMP, then yes, but you have to remember, not EVERYONE uses WMP9 and IE6,
these ppl will, at worst, have to download the whole clip and THEN watch it, but hardly a biggy really anyway,, as any half decent clip doesnt stream that well unless you have nothing else AT ALL open, or are on 1mbit> DSL / Cable.
Shouldnt be a problem for a few mb's of Road Test..
but if your planning 40mb tests, then streaming would be nicer.
Streaming also offers other 'benefits' like variable bitrate streams, depending on users connection speeed.
ie, someone on a phat pipe, will get 10x the quality stream, as opposed to some slowdem user.
Static Video on Demand cant do this.
All depends how 'boutique' you want to go.
jim
Ted,
I'm good friends with the head of MS-Windows Media (from previous job with a shed load of streaming - we provided 25% of all streams in the WMP Media Guide as well as over 1000 from our site, at up to 500K - >25,000 0.5Mbps clips per day of some of the individual files) - he's a car fan and I could have a litte chat if you wanted?
From experience (putting tin hat on here) it's only worth bothering with MS-WMF as >95% of the people have it on their PC. You just need to encode it using the correct codecs so that WMP 6.4 & above can play it as the MAC needs v6.4 codecs (or did last time I was bothered to check with the 'creative' types).
As others have already said it's not that complicated, but you should use a dedicated server for it (doesn't have to be big but just makes mngt a lot easier) and ensure you've got a good bandwidth contract. You'd be surprised just how little you need and how little it can cost if done properly.
Will gladly tell you as much info as you want offline via email...
I'm good friends with the head of MS-Windows Media (from previous job with a shed load of streaming - we provided 25% of all streams in the WMP Media Guide as well as over 1000 from our site, at up to 500K - >25,000 0.5Mbps clips per day of some of the individual files) - he's a car fan and I could have a litte chat if you wanted?
From experience (putting tin hat on here) it's only worth bothering with MS-WMF as >95% of the people have it on their PC. You just need to encode it using the correct codecs so that WMP 6.4 & above can play it as the MAC needs v6.4 codecs (or did last time I was bothered to check with the 'creative' types).
As others have already said it's not that complicated, but you should use a dedicated server for it (doesn't have to be big but just makes mngt a lot easier) and ensure you've got a good bandwidth contract. You'd be surprised just how little you need and how little it can cost if done properly.
Will gladly tell you as much info as you want offline via email...
It's the bandwidth costs that have prevented me progressing this previously. I'd be interested in a rough guide as to how much really gets used (i.e. what does a 30MB video, viewed by 1000 people really work out at - is it simply 30MB x 1000?).
I've got a lead on a potential solution to the bandwidth issue but I'd be interested in any other suggestions/experiences.
I've got a lead on a potential solution to the bandwidth issue but I'd be interested in any other suggestions/experiences.
Ted,
Found the company I mentioned - www.whizzvids.com
Looks pretty impressive and the bandwidth savings are significant.
Found the company I mentioned - www.whizzvids.com
Looks pretty impressive and the bandwidth savings are significant.
*Alternative IDEA*
Streaming Video is one option.
Maybe you could also produce a paid-for CDROM/DVD .
CD distribution costs are low + you have 650mb+ .
You could arrange for a third party to be responsible for production and distribution and you share revenue with them.
You could have a few free streaming clips on the website and more in depth coverage and higher quality clips on the CDROM/DVD.
Can be built with a flash interface and
offer different formats (Windows Media /Apple Quicktime/RealPlayer)
Maybe charging a couple of pounds for the disc+ P &P.
thoughts ?
Ramesh.
Streaming Video is one option.
Maybe you could also produce a paid-for CDROM/DVD .
CD distribution costs are low + you have 650mb+ .
You could arrange for a third party to be responsible for production and distribution and you share revenue with them.
You could have a few free streaming clips on the website and more in depth coverage and higher quality clips on the CDROM/DVD.
Can be built with a flash interface and
offer different formats (Windows Media /Apple Quicktime/RealPlayer)
Maybe charging a couple of pounds for the disc+ P &P.
thoughts ?
Ramesh.
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff