In this ultimate guide, we cover what OTT platforms and technology are. We discuss how it works and how it’s changing the media industry. Furthermore, we discuss why you should use OTT and provide examples of successful businesses built on an OTT platform. To conclude, we compare IPTV and OTT.

Table of Contents

• What is OTT Technology?
• Why Use OTT?
• How is OTT Delivered?
• How Does OTT Technology Work?
• How OTT Technology is Changing the Media Industry
• IPTV vs. OTT
• OTT vs. Streaming
• Core Components of OTT Technology
• Detailed Workflow of How OTT Technology Works
• OTT Protocols and Streaming Technologies
• Role of OTT APIs
• Challenges in OTT Delivery and Technological Solutions
• Comparison of OTT vs. Other Video Technologies
• OTT Technology Trends and Future Developments
• How to Implement OTT Technology for Your Business
• OTT Monetization Models
• FAQs
• Conclusion

What is OTT Technology?

So what exactly is OTT streaming? Over-the-top (OTT) streaming is a media distribution method where content is distributed over the internet instead of through traditional television accessed via satellite or cable television connection. 

What is OTT technology? It is the software and equipment that make it possible to broadcast content over the internet instead of through traditional television. 

What is OTT broadcasting? OTT broadcasting just refers to the process of distributing media over the internet instead of through traditional television. With OTT broadcasting, you can access content through any internet-enabled device. 

What is an OTT video? OTT video specifically refers to the video content you watch over the internet instead of satellite or cable television. 

OTT is all about going around or “over the top” of traditional media distribution channels and accessing content through the internet. OTT services are often monetized through paid subscriptions, but they can also use advertising or in-app purchases to support their broadcasting efforts.

Why Use OTT? 

Wondering why as a broadcaster, you should jump onto the OTT train? The main reason is that people love OTT content. You can look at one of the biggest OTT providers, Netflix, which now has 282.7 million subscribers as of Q3, 2024. 

OTT isn’t just about huge content providers. Many sports organizations, for example, now offer league passes so fans can access games and content for their favorite teams no matter where they live. 

Examples of OTT sports content include big names like ESPN+ and more league-specific content such as the NBA League Pass, Premier League Pass, F1TV, and DAZN. Many college sports organizations also have their own OTT content. 

People love OTT content because it is easy to access and can be targeted based on one’s viewing preferences. Broadcasters should use OTT strategies for over-the-top because it allows access to a larger audience, as there are fewer barriers to accessing OTT content than traditional TV content.

How is OTT Delivered? 

OTT platforms use an internet-based delivery system. That means that all someone needs to access the content is an internet connection and a compatible device. Here are some of the most common devices people can use to access OTT platforms:

• Mobile devices: You can use either a smartphone or tablet to download OTT apps from a digital storefront, such as Google Play or Apple App Store.

• Personal computer: With a computer, you can access OTT content through a web browser or desktop-based apps. 

• Digital media players: Third-party devices such as Chromecast, Apple TV, and even video game consoles can download OTT apps and access content. 

• Smart TVs: Smart TVs now come with numerous pre-installed OTT apps and the ability to download additional OTT apps. 

Essentially, if you have an internet connection and a device that can access the internet, you should be able to access OTT content.

How Does OTT Technology Work?

While accessing video via OTT is typically more convenient for viewers, what goes on behind the scenes of OTT streaming is a bit more complex than traditional broadcasting. 

Here is how OTT technology looks in action:

1. Broadcasters upload video content to an OTT video hosting platform
2. The video host transmits the data to remote servers via a content delivery network (CDN)
3. Viewers select the content they want to stream on the user-facing video gallery
4. The video player on the device pulls the video content from the CDN’s server with the internet

With that process in mind, let’s briefly break down the technologies involved.

With that process in mind, let’s briefly break down the technologies involved. This will help you understand precisely how OTT technology works and what is meant when someone says OTT technology. 

OTT Platform Technology

First and foremost, OTT streaming requires a professional-grade video hosting platform with OTT capabilities. OTT platform technology typically comes in downloadable software or an in-browser streaming tool.

Some OTT platform technology is open source. However, the most popular options include a graphical user interface that allows broadcasters with any level of experience to navigate OTT broadcasting easily. With the right OTT platform technology, this highly technical process becomes accessible to those with limited to no technological know-how.

Video hosting platforms come with various tools for hosting, storing, and managing video content at different price points. Some hosting features valuable for creating your own platform include OTT model monetization, gold-standard security, HTML5 video players, white-label capabilities, brand customization, and API access.

Some of the most innovative OTT platform technology is available via Dacast, Vimeo OTT, and Brightcove. We recommend looking at our comparison of the 10 Best OTT video hosting providers for more information on this specific piece of OTT technology to find the platform that works best for you.

Content Delivery Network

OTT media distribution is made possible by content delivery networks.  

A content delivery network (CDN) is exactly what it sounds like a network of servers that delivers content. Most online video platforms partner with professional CDNs, so this isn’t typically the main concern for broadcasters. To release content over an OTT, you need a content delivery network to move that content to your end viewers.

You’ll want to ensure that your chosen video hosting platform uses a CDN with servers stationed around the globe. This will help maintain the quality of your stream for viewers in every corner of the globe. It will also help avoid lagging and buffering.

However, if you are self-hosting, you must choose a CDN of your own. Due to complicated CDN pricing structures, this can get expensive and confusing, so choosing a video hosting platform with a built-in CDN is the way to go. A built-in CDN makes it easier to engage in OTT video distribution. 

Internet Connection

A strong internet connection is another important piece of the OTT technology puzzle. Broadcasters need a reliable internet connection to send out their video signal, and viewers need fast internet to access content on your OTT platform, as well.

The ideal upload speed for OTT streaming is 672 kbps to 61.5 Mbps. For high-quality streaming, your internet speed should be about double your intended bandwidth usage.

You can check your internet speed by searching for an “internet speed test” on Google. Be sure to pay attention not to your download speed, which is what most people focus on when looking at internet speed, but to your upload speed.

Regarding appropriate download speeds for viewing OTT content, there is a bit of variety in what is considered “good.” The recommended speeds depend on the quality of the video the viewer is trying to access.

The recommended download speeds are broken down as follows:

• 25 Mbps: sufficient for streaming 1080p HD video
• 10 Mbps: sufficient for 720p video
• 5 Mbps: sufficient for 480p video

Most viewers access OTT content with their in-home WiFi, and viewers on the go will tune in with their cellular data. In-home WiFi is typically more reliable, but cellular data can work, as well. With different download speeds based on in-home and on-the-go access, you will want to look into adaptive bitrate or multi-bitrate streaming for the best experience for your viewers.

App with Embedded Video Players

To make your OTT video content easily accessible to viewers, you need to build a platform that displays your library of video content and can embed your video player to stream your content online. Many OTT platforms offer desktop, Smart TV, and mobile versions to maximize compatibility and accessibility.

Make sure that the professional video hosting platform you’re using offers API access and mobile SDKs to create a platform that perfectly suits your audience.

Internet-Enabled Device

This may seem like a no-brainer, but an internet-enabled device is a non-negotiable for OTT streaming. Viewers need to have a device that they can use to access video players on your OTT platform.

We will dive a little further into this shortly, but OTT video can be accessed on computers, Smart TVs, and more.

How OTT Technology is Changing the Media Industry

OTT technology has played a massive role in the media industry’s evolution. It is leading viewers worldwide to “cut the cord” on cable. About a quarter of cable users will have cancelled their subscriptions by 2022.

Access to OTT technology changes the traditional television-watching experience in a few different ways. For starters, viewers can access their favorite shows and films from just about any device with internet capabilities.

The ability to sign in to your OTT streaming platform account on different devices allows you to access your subscriptions from anywhere in your house without worrying about special wiring or hookups.

You can also access the subscriptions or videos you’ve purchased if you’re on vacation by signing in on your smartphone, laptop, or tablet. The flexibility that comes with cutting the cord is so convenient, and it allows viewers to get the most out of their subscriptions.

OTT streaming brings exciting developments for broadcast sports fans in particular. With traditional television, some games are only available in certain regions. Other areas are total blackout zones due to their proximity to multiple major cities. With OTT, you can watch your favorite sports team from anywhere in the world.

A major OTT trend that has grown alongside the industry is binge-watching. Netflix and other platforms release entire series of seasons at a time, as opposed to the airing of weekly episodes that traditional TV uses. This has inspired people to binge-watch shows out of excitement or fear of the plot being spoiled by family, friends, or other users on social media.

OTT technology has influenced the way that we consume video content.

An OTT platform means more access to more content all the time, around the globe. 

Examples of OTT Devices

OTT technology has changed how video content is accessed. As we mentioned, there are quite a few OTT devices, which is convenient because viewers aren’t restricted to their television set if they want to watch a film or show.

Here are a few specific examples of OTT devices:

• Smartphones: iPhones and Androids
• Tablets: iPad, Amazon Fire, Microsoft Surface, Galaxy Tab A
• Smart TVs: Roku TV, Apple TV, Amazon Firestick, Chromecast
• Gaming Consoles: XBOX, Play Stations 

Although most OTT platform providers are designed and marketed as a replacement for traditional television, over half of OTT viewers tune in from their mobile devices. OTT technology works on any type of device when paired with an HTML5 video player. Mobile viewing continues to increase and replace traditional television viewing, with OTT video helping to fuel this trend. 

Examples of Businesses Built Upon OTT Technology

Pretty much all of the major streaming-as-a-service platforms that consumers know and love are powered by OTT technology. Some examples are Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, and Netflix.

Each of these businesses monetizes its content in slightly different ways.

Netflix, which started as a video rental company, is probably one of the most notable businesses that have evolved to accommodate the shift towards OTT broadcasting. Netflix adapted its model from DVD rentals to online video streaming throughout the past decade. They stayed on the cutting edge of OTT technology to launch their streaming service as soon as the internet became more accessible and bandwidth costs were affordable.

Today, Netflix generates over $37.587 billion in revenue (as of September 30, 2024) from its subscription-based OTT streaming platform.

Prime Video uses a mix of subscriptions and pay-per-view monetization. Prime Video offers access to a library of films and television series to those with an Amazon Prime membership. Still, a large chunk of their content is only available at an added cost. Viewers can rent movies and shows to watch right on the platform.

Hulu uses a combination of advertisements and subscriptions to monetize its platform. Users can pay extra to upgrade to ad-free streaming. Hulu also offers upgrades for access to live-streamed programs and channels with linear streaming.

Disney+ is available via subscription on its own, but the platform has strategically partnered with different platforms, including Hulu, to reach a larger audience. Another one of their partners is ESPN+, which is popular among different demographics. However, these bundles are priced right, making them attractive to families with members with other interests.

Video OTT can be packaged and priced in many ways, as evidenced by the above examples. 

IPTV vs. OTT

While we’re on the topic of OTT technology, let’s clear up a common confusion in online video streaming. Many people wonder what the difference is between IPTV and OTT. The two are very similar and seem identical on the surface, so this is a valid question.

IPTV is short for “Internet Protocol Television,” and it is another alternative to traditional television that uses the internet to stream. The main difference between IPTV and OTT streaming is that IPTV uses a closed server and OTT does not.

IPTV is also typically very similar to traditional television because it primarily uses linear broadcasting. It is generally packaged as a channel rather than access to an extensive library of content. On-demand streaming is possible with IPTV, but it is not nearly as popular as OTT.

It is very popular for large enterprises and organizations to use IPTV for internal video hosting and delivery, whereas streaming services like Netflix and Hulu rely on OTT.

OTT vs. Streaming

OTT technologies and traditional streaming services both deliver content online, but there are key differences. OTT (over-the-top) platforms offer direct access to video content over the internet, bypassing cable or satellite providers. Examples of OTT in media include Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

You may ask, How does OTT work? It works by using the internet to stream content directly to users on any device, such as smart TVs, smartphones, or tablets. How OTT platform works is through content delivery via apps or websites, without needing a broadcast service.

When comparing OTT vs streaming, streaming is the general process of delivering audio or video in real time, while OTT platforms provide more control over the distribution and monetization of content. For a deeper understanding, refer to an OTT guide to see how this technology is transforming media consumption.

Core Components of OTT Technology

OTT video technology powers the delivery of content directly to viewers over the internet. The OTT platform architecture consists of several critical components. First, video encoding and transcoding are essential for compressing videos while maintaining quality. This ensures smooth playback across various devices. Streaming protocols like HLS and MPEG-DASH are used to deliver content over OTT networks, allowing for adaptive streaming and high-quality viewing experiences.

A video CMS (Content Management System) helps manage, organize, and distribute content efficiently. Content monetization is another major element, with methods like subscriptions, ads, and pay-per-view enabling revenue generation for OTT streaming services. OTT distribution ensures that content reaches a wide audience, making it accessible globally. For further insights on OTT in media and answering questions like what is the difference between OTT and IPTV, explore a detailed OTT guide for a larger overview.

Detailed Workflow of How OTT Technology Works

To understand how OTT platforms work, let’s break down the process from content creation to delivery.

1. Content Ingestion: The first step in OTT video technology involves capturing or uploading video content to the platform. This content could be live or pre-recorded.

2. Cloud Transcoding: Once ingested, the video goes through OTT content processing. It is transcoded in the cloud into multiple formats and resolutions to ensure compatibility across different devices (smartphones, tablets, TVs).

3. Content Delivery via CDNs: After processing, the video is distributed through CDNs (Content Delivery Networks. These servers store and deliver the content closer to the viewers for smooth streaming and reduced latency, which is critical for OTT video streaming services.

4. Viewer Delivery: Finally, the transcoded content reaches the viewer’s device through the OTT content distribution process. The viewer can access the content on-demand, anywhere, anytime.

This workflow allows seamless and efficient delivery of high-quality video to users on various devices across the globe.

OTT Protocols and Streaming Technologies

OTT technology powers the delivery of video content directly to viewers via the internet. This bypasses traditional cable or satellite systems. Key OTT video technology includes various streaming protocols and methods to ensure smooth content delivery, even under varying network conditions.

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)** and RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) are two popular streaming protocols used in OTT video streaming services. HLS is favored for its ability to deliver high-quality video across different devices, while RTMP is known for its low-latency streaming, often used in live broadcasts.

Adaptive Bitrate Streaming (ABR) is a vital part of OTT content distribution, dynamically adjusting video quality based on the viewer’s internet speed. This ensures a seamless viewing experience, even with fluctuating network conditions.

And to protect content, Digital Rights Management (DRM) is essential. It safeguards copyrighted materials during OTT content processing, ensuring that content is secure from unauthorized access or piracy. Together, these OTT tools form the backbone of modern streaming, delivering high-quality video securely and reliably across the globe.

Role of OTT APIs

APIs play a crucial role in OTT media services. They allow for seamless integration of OTT content delivery into various platforms. These APIs enable businesses to customize their digital OTT solution by embedding them into websites, applications, or even what is an OTT device, such as smart TVs and streaming devices. 

In the OTT industry, APIs are essential for creating a smooth user experience, enabling viewers to access streaming OTT content easily across different devices. With APIs, businesses can tailor their OTT media services to meet specific needs, from managing subscriptions to delivering personalized recommendations. As a result, APIs help improve efficiency and enhance the overall user experience, ensuring that OTT content delivery is flexible and scalable across multiple platforms.

Challenges in OTT Delivery and Technological Solutions

OTT video services face several challenges in delivering high-quality streaming experiences. Latency is a common issue, where delays between real-time events and the stream frustrate viewers, especially during live broadcasts. Another challenge is scalability during live events, as a sudden surge in viewers can overload servers, leading to buffering or outages. Managing various devices is also complex, as viewers use different smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs, each with unique requirements.

Modern OTT technology addresses these problems with advanced solutions. Edge computing reduces latency by processing data closer to users, speeding up delivery. Adaptive bitrate streaming improves scalability and user experience by adjusting video quality based on the viewer’s network conditions and device capabilities, ensuring smooth streaming regardless of bandwidth fluctuations or device specifications. These innovations significantly enhance the reliability and flexibility of OTT video services.

Comparison of OTT vs. Other Video Technologies

Over-the-top technology has transformed the way we access video and audio content. Unlike traditional broadcasting, which relies on cable or satellite networks, OTT delivers content directly over the internet. This allows viewers to watch shows and movies on demand, making it a popular choice for consumers seeking flexibility.

In contrast, IPTV also streams video content over the internet but usually requires a subscription through a service provider. This can limit access compared to OTT, which can be accessed through various devices without a subscription

Traditional broadcasting, such as terrestrial or satellite TV, offers limited interactivity and content choice. Viewers are often tied to fixed schedules. By contrast, OTT platforms allow users to watch content anytime, anywhere.

Hybrid models combine elements of both OTT and IPTV, providing a mix of live streaming and on-demand content. While these technologies offer different benefits, OTT stands out for its convenience, user control, and extensive content library, making it a preferred choice for many viewers today.

OTT Technology Trends and Future Developments

The OTT streaming industry is constantly growing and evolving, driven by several key trends. One significant development is the impact of 5G technology, which enables faster internet speeds and lower latency. This improvement allows users to enjoy high-quality video streaming seamlessly, even on mobile devices.

Also, cloud-native streaming platforms are gaining popularity as they offer greater scalability and flexibility, allowing content providers to adapt quickly to changing demands. Furthermore, edge computing is becoming essential for reducing buffering times by processing data closer to users, improving the viewing experience.

Another exciting trend is the rise of personalized content experiences powered by artificial intelligence (AI). AI algorithms analyze viewer preferences to recommend content tailored to individual tastes, improving user engagement and satisfaction. These trends indicate a bright future for OTT technology, which makes it an exciting time for both providers and viewers alike.

How to Implement OTT Technology for Your Business: A Guide

Implementing OTT technology can enhance your business by delivering video content directly to your audience. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to get you started:

1. Choose the Right Platform: Research and select an OTT platform that fits your business needs. Look for features like video hosting, analytics, and monetization options.

2. Plan Your Content: Determine the type of content you want to offer like live streams, on-demand videos, or both. Ensure you have the necessary rights for all content.

3. Select a Content Delivery Network (CDN): Choose a reliable CDN to ensure your videos are delivered smoothly and quickly to viewers worldwide. Look for scalability options to accommodate audience growth.

4. Set Up Your Branding: Customize your video player and platform to reflect your brand identity. This includes logos, colors, and other visual elements.

5. Test Your Setup: Before launching, conduct tests to ensure everything works correctly. Check video quality, streaming speed, and user experience.

6. Launch and Promote: Once you’re satisfied with your setup, launch your OTT service and promote it through your marketing channels to attract viewers.

By following these steps, you can effectively implement OTT technology to enhance your audience’s experience.

OTT Monetization Models

OTT content providers have various monetization models to generate revenue while delivering engaging video experiences.

1. Subscription Video on Demand (SVOD): This model allows users to pay a recurring fee for access to a library of content. Popular platforms like Netflix and Disney+ use SVOD to ensure a steady income.

2. Advertising Video on Demand (AVOD): In this model, content is free for viewers, but ads are shown during the programming. Platforms like YouTube utilize AVOD, making it accessible to a wide audience while generating revenue from advertisers.

3. Transactional Video on Demand (TVOD): Here, users pay for individual pieces of content, such as movies or episodes. This model is common on platforms like iTunes, where customers can rent or buy specific titles.

4. Hybrid Models: Combining elements of SVOD, AVOD, and TVOD, hybrid models offer flexibility for content creators and viewers. This approach allows providers to maximize revenue while catering to diverse audience preferences.

FAQs

1. What is OTT?

OTT stands for “over-the-top.” This refers to content delivered directly to viewers via the internet, rather than by traditional cable or satellite services.

2. How does OTT work?

OTT works by streaming video content through apps or websites on devices like smart TVs, smartphones, or tablets. This allows users to access shows and movies at any time of day.

3. What’s the difference between OTT and streaming?  

While streaming refers to the delivery of content over the internet, OTT refers to bypassing traditional distribution channels.

4. Do I need a subscription for OTT services?

No, not always. Some OTT services are subscription-based (SVOD), while others are ad-supported (AVOD) or offer pay-per-view (TVOD) options.

5. What types of content are available on OTT platforms?

OTT platforms offer a wide variety of content. This includes movies, TV shows, documentaries, and live sports.

6. Is OTT content available worldwide?

Availability can vary by region, as some platforms may restrict access based on licensing agreements.

Conclusion

With OTT, broadcasters can create profitable streaming services and deliver video on demand that viewers crave. Delivering high-quality video content partnered with an HTML5 streaming video solution will bolster your professional presence.

Looking to build a professional, top OTT platform of your own? Look no further than Dacast. Dacast’s professional-grade OTT platform technology has the tools you need to host and deliver incredible OTT content. Using HTML5 video player and partnered with top-tier CDNs, Dacast provides the best possible OTT broadcasting experience.

You can try Dacast completely free for a full 14 days.

Feel free to join our LinkedIn group for regular tips on live streaming and exclusive offers.

The post The Ultimate Guide to OTT Technology for Professional Broadcasters in 2024 appeared first on Dacast.

The downside to the explosive growth of live streaming is that cybersecurity threats are also rising. Security firms are reporting an increase in a variety of different cybersecurity threats in 2024, such as: 

• Piracy
• Hacking
• Digital attacks

The good news is that there are serval video security solutions you can implement to protect your content against cybersecurity threats, including AES video encryption.

In this post, we will examine AES video encryption in detail. We will discuss what video streaming encryption is, who should use it, and how it works. We’ll also mention a few additional video security methods and see how they compare against AES video encryption. Let’s see how AES can protect your content against rising cybersecurity threats.

Table of Contents

• What is AES Video Encryption?
• Who Needs AES Video Encryption?
• Benefits of Encrypting Video Streams
• Potential Vulnerabilities and Limitations of AES Encryption
• Technical Overview of AES Video Encryption: Development and Strength
• Does AES Impact Video Latency
• AES-256 vs. AES-128
• How to Encrypt a Video with AES
• Additional Streaming Cybersecurity Measures
• FAQ
• Conclusion

What is AES Video Encryption?

AES stands for “Advanced Encryption Standard.” TechTarget says AES encryption is “a symmetric block cipher chosen by the U.S. government to protect classified information and is implemented in software and hardware throughout the world to encrypt sensitive data.”

During live video streaming, broadcasters can use AES video encryption for secure streaming. When the video is encrypted, a special key scrambles the video content. 

Viewers can’t access the video unless they have the correct digital access key, and if they try to intercept it, they’ll see a scrambled mess of useless data. Authorized viewers can access AES-encrypted video via their web browser and a secure HTTPS connection.

The encryption process may be invisible, but it provides a significant layer of protection against interception and piracy. Video streaming encryption works behind the scenes to ensure that video content is accessed in the right location by the right people who have access to it.

Who Needs AES Video Encryption?

If you need to protect your valuable video content from being viewed or stolen by unauthorized people, AES video encryption is for you. For example, if you have private internal content or if you sell video courses online, your videos must remain exclusive and be accessible only to your subscribers or your internal team.

AES often works with other security measures to keep your videos as secure as possible. That way, you can keep private internal content private and retain the monetization value of your video content.

Although anyone can use AES streaming encryption, here are a few types of businesses and industries that benefit from this security measure:

• Government organizations
• Enterprise businesses and SMBs
• OTT and entertainment companies
• Education and eLearning
• Live event streaming

Anyone who wants to keep their OTT streaming content from being copied should consider this security measure. In August 2024, online piracy is estimated to cost about $73.7 billion. That’s why Netflix uses AES encryption to protect its content catalog, making it nearly impossible for hackers to intercept or tamper with their streams. Learning platforms like Coursera also use AES video encryption to protect premium courses and give access only to paying users.

Benefits of Encrypting Video Streams

Numerous benefits come with encrypting your video streams. Being aware of these benefits makes it easy to choose to use AES video encryption on your content.

Benefit #1: Stop “Man-in-the-Middle” (MITM) Hacks

AES video encryption prevents “Man-in-the-Middle” (MITM) style hacking attacks. In this attack, someone intercepts network traffic to steal sensitive data.

You may have heard that using public, unsecured WiFi networks can be dangerous, and MITM attacks are why. For example, if you log in to your bank at the local Starbucks, you might have exposed your financial details to a hacker.

In general, these types of attacks are relatively simple. Tools such as packet sniffers are widely available, and anyone with little technical knowledge can download and get one running easily. More concerning, however, are the professional hackers. These individuals look to gather sensitive information to resell on the dark web.

Akamai, a top-tier content delivery network that partners with many streaming platforms, reports that credential theft for online video subscriptions is an issue that compromises millions of accounts every year.

AES video encryption allows you to completely prevent these types of attacks. Anyone snooping on your streams will be halted by AES encryption. This protects you against piracy, data theft, intellectual property appropriation, and more.

Benefit #2: Hardware and Software Implementation

AES video encryption takes place at both the hardware and software levels. 

Implementing at both the hardware and software level creates an extremely secure and robust security protocol that is hard for hackers to get through. It is slightly more complicated to implement with software, but it is more than possible.

Benefit #3: Longer Key Sizes

AES encryption uses longer encryption key sizes than other types of technology you can use to protect your content. The average key size is 128, 192, or 256 bits. Using higher and various key lengths helps make the AES algorithm more secure and robust.

Benefit #4: Commonly Used

AES encryption isn’t just for video files. It is used for a wide variety of different use cases, including: 

• Financial transactions
• Wireless communications
• Encrypted data storage
• E-business transactions

Benefit #5: Greater Control Over Who Access Your Content

One of the biggest benefits of encrypting your video content is having more control over who views your content. This can allow you to ensure that only those users you want access to your content have access. 

This is important if you are trying to monetize your content. You need to keep the content secure if you want to succeed in making money from your content. Your content needs to be exclusive to get people to pay subscription fees, for example.

Potential Vulnerabilities and Limitations of AES Encryption

While it’s true that AES encryption offers all of the above mentioned benefits and protection for video and streaming content, it’s not fully immune to certain vulnerabilities. Most notable are:

• Replay Attacks: Unauthorized users try to intercept and decrypt the data and gain access. To stop these attacks, most streaming platforms implement tokenized security, making each watching session unique, so it’s more difficult for attackers to reuse the data.
  
• Key extraction: Attackers try to get the encryption key directly from a viewing device to access the content. You can mitigate this risk by regularly rotating the keys in use and storing them in hardware security modules (HSMs).

Another risk you must consider is physical vulnerabilities, like screen recording. It completely bypasses the AES encryption and grabs the video content straight from the user’s screen. Usually, the solution is as simple as incorporating watermarks in your videos. A more sophisticated solution is screen capture blocking, which stops users from screen recording the part of the screen that contains sensitive information.

Technical Overview of AES Video Encryption: Development and Strength

AES was originally released in 2002 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. It’s meant to be as secure as possible, free, and relatively easy for programmers to implement. Since then, AES video encryption has proven to be a strong and reliable security method.

It’s still widely used in banking, government, military, and business because it aligns with strict compliance standards such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOC 2. These regulations require strong encryption while transferring and storing highly sensitive personal information and data.

AES is free, open-source, and built-in to the hardware and software of many devices. It uses the Rijndael algorithm and symmetrical block ciphers to encrypt the content. It’s a complex repeating process of mathematical substitution that turns content into jumbled data, which is completely worthless unless you apply the proper key. This brings up the need for proper key management.

AES Key Management

Key management is the practice of securely handling the AES encryption keys during their lifecycle in a way that maintains data security and integrity. Best practices involve regular key rotations every 30 to 90 days to minimize the risk of the key being compromised.

A good security practice is setting a key expiration date or, more precisely, giving the key a specific lifespan. This limits the potential damage of key exposure because the key becomes invalid after a while and will need replacing.

Another top tip is key storage. You must always store the AES encryption keys in hardware security modules (HSMs) or key management systems (KMSs). These secure environments add extra security and prevent unauthorized access.

Does AES Impact Video Latency

As effective as AES is in protecting your video content, using larger key sizes like AES-256 can make the encryption and decryption process a bit slower. This lag is mostly noticeable when watching videos on older devices or if your network has limited bandwidth.

You can easily fix this issue by using Content Delivery Networks or CDNs. They spread the encrypted content across multiple servers located near viewers, which in turn speeds up the data transfer and reduces latency.

CDNs also pair up seamlessly with HTTPS protocols to maintain the integrity of the AES encryption during streaming. To give viewers the best user experience while still maintaining a high level of security with AES video encryption, do the following:

1. Use AES-128 for standard content to minimize processing impact.
2. Implement CDNs for faster encryption and decryption.
3. Use adaptive bitrate streaming for seamless playback.
4. Ensure compatibility with modern browsers and devices.
5. Regularly rotate encryption keys to maintain security without affecting performance.
6. Test for latency and adjust settings for different user conditions.

AES-256 vs. AES-128

In general, AES-128 video encryption should be secure enough for most use cases. If you’re sending particularly sensitive information, you can use AES-256. The only drawback is that encoding and playing back this video will require a little more CPU resources from your viewers.

However, in 2015, the NSA stopped recommending the use of 128-bit keys for AES encryption and started recommending 256. Today, most professionals recommend 256-bit keys as a matter of course. Most modern hardware should have no trouble at all decoding video encrypted with a 256-bit key.

Which key size you use mostly depends on how sensitive your video content is. AES-128 is pretty secure and offers good performance on most devices for securing standard video content or non-sensitive data. However, if you want to protect premium or monetized video content, it’s best to use AES-256. It provides stronger security but can slightly impact video performance on older devices.

AES vs. Other Encryption Methods

While there are plenty of other encryption methods available like DES, RSA, and 3DES, AES is still the preferred one for video streaming. Compared to the others, it offers better security and is more efficient.

For example, the DES keys are 64-bit, 128-bit, and 192-bit, so the encryption and decryption processes are a lot slower than AES encryption. RSA is often used for secure key exchange in video streaming workflows, but it’s slower, and unlike AES, it’s unsuitable for large-scale data encryption.

But these encryption methods aren’t mutually exclusive, and you can use them side by side. For example, RSA and AES are often used together for key exchange in secure communication protocols like SSL/TLS.

How to Encrypt Video with AES

Implementing AES video encryption sounds rather technical, but if you’re using the right secure video streaming platform, it’s as simple as a single click of a button on your video dashboard. The process is completely invisible to both you and your viewers and looks a little like this:

1. Encryption starts in the background on ingest servers, where an AES algorithm scrambles the raw video data.
2. The encrypted video is then sent to a CDN.
3. It remains on the CDN nodes, where it stays encrypted until it reaches the user’s device.
4. Then, the correct AES key decrypts the video and turns the scrambled data back into watchable content.
5. All of this happens in real time to minimize latency.

As we said, knowing how to encrypt a video isn’t something you need to worry about, as most major OTT platforms already provide you with some level of encryption measures. Here is a little comparison of what sort of encryption you can expect from the leading streaming platforms.

AES Encryption on Dacast

Dacast has recently reintroduced AES streaming for our users in the new iteration of the platform. Now, we use special servers to encrypt the data before it is even sent to the video player, in addition to encrypting the video player itself.

To enable AES encryption for new or existing VOD files on your Dacast account, just follow these steps:

1. Sign in to your Dacast dashboard
2. Choose the video that you would like to add AES encryption for
3. Click the “Security” tab on the top menu bar
4. Scroll to the “Advanced Encryption Standard” (AES) section and toggle to the right to turn it on
5. Click the purple “Save” button

Feel free to review the other security options on the page while enabling AES to configure your security settings properly for maximum video content protection.

Additional Streaming Cybersecurity Measures

In addition to online video encryption using AES, you can take other measures to make your content more secure. Several more advanced security protocols perfectly complement AES and add extra layers of protection to the video content. The most popular ones include:

• Password protection: Add a “first line of defense” against unauthorized viewers by requiring a password to access your content;
• Geo-restrictions: Restrict access based on viewers’ physical location;
• Domain/referrer-restrictions: Restrict access based on the website that your player is embedded in (i.e. limit access to players embedded in your website only);
• Tokenization: Limit access to viewers that have the specified digital credentials by generating time-sensitive tokens that prevent unauthorized sharing of links or session hijacking;
• Watermarking: Embed a visible or invisible mark into the video that prevents pirating, helps track any leaks, and stops unauthorized sharing.
• Blockchain Verification: This technology can help you track the ownership of any video content and give access only to authorized users.
• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): This step requires viewers to provide additional verification, such as a second password, before accessing protected video content.

If you’re using a video paywall to monetize your content, it is important to make it absolutely secure so that your viewers’ financial information is never compromised.

FAQ

1. What is AES video?

An AES video is a video stream protected using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), a powerful encryption method that secures content by scrambling the data. This process ensures only viewers with the correct decryption key can access the content, protecting it from unauthorized access and interception. AES encryption is widely used in industries like entertainment, education, and government to safeguard sensitive or high-value video content. Without the proper key, intercepted AES-encrypted video appears as unusable, scrambled data. This makes AES video encryption a critical tool for preventing piracy and ensuring content privacy.

2. Is AES encryption compatible with all browsers and devices?

AES encryption is widely compatible across modern browsers and devices, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. However, the streaming platform used to deliver AES-encrypted content must support secure playback methods, like HTTPS connections. Older devices or outdated browsers may experience compatibility issues, so viewers should use the latest browser versions for the best experience.

3. Does AES encryption increase streaming latency?

AES encryption has a minimal effect on streaming latency for most users, especially when optimized through a content delivery network (CDN). The encryption and decryption processes are efficient and designed to run smoothly on most devices, though larger key sizes like AES-256 may slightly increase processing time. By using a streaming platform optimized for AES encryption, latency impact is typically negligible, ensuring a seamless viewing experience.

4. What is the difference between AES encryption for video and AES encryption for other data?

AES encryption for video streaming specifically secures the video content as it moves from servers to viewers, often paired with secure delivery methods like HTTPS. In contrast, AES encryption for other data, such as files or emails, focuses on protecting information stored on devices or in transit between users. Video AES encryption requires specialized delivery protocols to maintain real-time playback and low latency, whereas general AES encryption often prioritizes static data security.

5. How secure is AES-128 compared to AES-256 for live streaming?

Both AES-128 and AES-256 are highly secure and suitable for live streaming, but AES-256 provides stronger encryption with its larger key size, making it more resistant to brute-force attacks. While AES-128 is typically sufficient for most streaming needs, AES-256 is recommended for sensitive or high-value content due to its enhanced security. Some streaming platforms allow users to choose between the two, balancing performance and security based on specific needs.

6. Can AES encryption protect my video from all forms of piracy?

AES encryption effectively protects against many forms of piracy, such as unauthorized access and interception during streaming. However, it cannot prevent screen recording, where an authorized user records video playback from their device. To mitigate this, AES encryption is often paired with additional security features, such as dynamic watermarking or DRM, which help deter and track unauthorized copies.

7. Do I need to manage encryption keys for AES video encryption myself?

Most streaming platforms handle encryption key management for AES, so users do not need to manage or distribute keys manually. Key management is automated and secure, typically involving rotating keys at set intervals to enhance security. If users prefer more control, some advanced platforms may offer customizable options for key management and rotation settings.

Conclusion

Now that you’re familiar with AES video encryption and how it works, we hope that you consider using it as part of your video hosting security strategy.

Encrypted streaming is truly one of the best methods broadcasters and businesses can use today to protect their video content.

At Dacast, we offer AES video encryption in addition to secure video upload, password-protected video hosting, and other innovative security features with our streaming solution.

To learn more about our video platform’s security features, please check out our privacy and security page or contact our dedicated 24/7 customer support team.

We invite you to try these and our other private video hosting tools risk-free for 14 days. Sign up today to start your trial. No credit card is required.

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The post AES Video Encryption – The Ultimate Guide to Streaming Video Security [2024 Update] appeared first on Dacast.

For any business aiming to get involved in streaming media, understanding the live-streaming software industry is critical. When it comes to choosing a streaming solution, Vimeo is often one of the top options to come to mind.

Back in 2017, Vimeo acquired Livestream, a live-stream video host platform. Since then, they’ve integrated live video streaming functionality and added OTT services to their offerings. 

In this article, we will examine Vimeo as a live-streaming video provider. Specifically, we’re going to look at the background of Vimeo and explore its entry into the OTT marketplace. We’ll provide an overview of Vimeo pricing, including Vimeo pro pricing and Vimeo account cost, before we dive into the specific features of their streaming service. 

To wrap things up, we will look at a few Vimeo alternatives, including Dacast, for broadcasters that need a slightly different solution.

Table of Contents

• Vimeo at a Glance
• The History of Vimeo
• Vimeo in the OTT Marketplace
• Vimeo’s Top Features
• Vimeo Livestream Pricing Costs
• The 5 Best Vimeo Livestream Alternatives
• Conclusion

Vimeo at a Glance

Vimeo is an impressive offering in the online streaming space. Here are a few stats and facts to familiarize you with the platform:

• Launched in 2004
• Over 200 million registered users
• Over 60 million creators and broadcasters
• Users in 190+ countries 
• Personal and professional streaming solutions
• Live and on-demand video hosting

The History of Vimeo

Vimeo was launched in 2004 by a group of filmmakers. The creators were looking for a way to share videos with friends. Since video files are bulky, they can be difficult to send over text or email, so an online streaming platform poses the perfect solution.

Originally, Vimeo was designed to be a consumer-grade video hosting provider, and the service soon grew in popularity, serving as an early competitor to YouTube

However, Vimeo quickly pivoted to focus on the creative market. Today, Vimeo is a video-on-demand platform with users that are mostly filmmakers, graphic designers, artists, and the like.

Vimeo offers a basic plan with highly limited storage space for free. Business plans are available for users with greater needs. These plans offer additional storage space and more features at an additional cost.

In September 2017, Vimeo announced that it was acquiring Livestream. Previously, the platform only offered VOD hosting. After the acquisition, Vimeo kept its original platform for VOD hosting, and the new “Vimeo Live” service was priced separately from the on-demand video service.

Today, both platforms are still owned by Vimeo, and they both offer VOD and livestream hosting. However, Livestream’s plans are geared more towards broadcasters with greater needs.

Vimeo in the OTT Marketplace

Vimeo has become a strong player in the OTT marketplace, offering unique tools and solutions for broadcasters and businesses looking to engage audiences digitally. With Vimeo OTT enterprise pricing, users can build their own streaming platforms that deliver content across multiple devices with ease. 

For broadcasters, this approach provides an easy way to monetize video content while connecting directly with viewers. The Vimeo OTT cost is flexible, tailored to different needs and offers features like high-quality streaming, custom branding, and analytics. When asking how much is Vimeo Enterprise, businesses find competitive rates that support scalability and reliable streaming for growing audiences. Even Vimeo’s lower tiers bring value, though it’s worth noting the Vimeo basic upload limit on storage and features. 

Overall, Vimeo’s comprehensive OTT solutions help broadcasters effectively reach, grow, and monetize their digital communities.

Vimeo’s Top Features

Although Vimeo was once geared towards consumers, it has gracefully evolved into a professional platform that is equipped with the tools professional broadcasters need to find success.

Let’s check out a few of Vimeo’s features.

Live Streaming

Live streaming is a valuable tool for businesses and organizations that are looking to broadcast live events. It is also valuable for hosting virtual events.

Although Vimeo has live streaming capabilities, it is only available on their Premium plan and above. Plans with live streaming start at $75/month.

Storage and Bandwidth

Each of Vimeo’s plans comes with a different amount of storage and bandwidth. This is something you need to pay attention to because you need to make sure you’re well-equipped to reach your broadcasting goals and stream at your intended scale.

Vimeo’s Livestream plans offer unlimited viewers, which is a convenient feature, but this is only the case for the Premium plan on the regular Vimeo platform.

From the professional broadcasting perspective, it would be even better with an unlimited number of channels to provide users the option to stream various events simultaneously. 

While Vimeo’s most inclusive plan offers unlimited streaming hours, businesses will want to take into account the 5-hour limit for each event.

Vimeo advertises its service as including unlimited data. However, “unlimited” might be a stretch in many cases.

If you are a TV station looking for 24/7 continuous streaming, please note that plans with this feature are only available on Livestream, not Vimeo.

Video Monetization 

Video monetization presents a huge revenue opportunity. Video monetization requires special tools that are typically provided by your online video platform. 

Vimeo offers monetization capabilities at an additional cost.

Costs begin at $1 per subscriber per month. If you’re a small broadcaster, these costs remain reasonable. Larger broadcasters may find these fees prohibitive. 

If you want more flexibility, it might be better to consider an OVP that includes monetization tools at no extra cost.

Video Content Management API

A video API provides powerful tools for integrating video content into websites or applications. This enables businesses to control every aspect of the video experience. 

With Vimeo’s API, companies can customize video players, automate uploads, and seamlessly embed videos. This flexibility is great for creating unique video interactions and boosting user engagement. Wondering how much is Vimeo or how much does Vimeo cost? Pricing is tiered, so businesses can choose a plan that fits their needs. Vimeo streaming pricing in the higher tiers also includes advanced options like live streaming, making it simple to scale video services as you grow.

Customer Support

For customers on the basic Vimeo Live plan, tech support is available via email with a 1 hour response time on business days. 

However, Vimeo does not offer a 24/7 customer support option in case you need immediate assistance. This can be quite inconvenient, especially if you encounter a problem in the middle of a live stream and there is nobody to troubleshoot your issue. 

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

One of the biggest complaints Vimeo users have is the buffering time with videos. Vimeo doesn’t reveal how they deliver their content. Businesses that need to bypass these issues could potentially solve their problems with a CDN-based service. 

A CDN (Content Delivery Network) delivers your video to your viewers. By leveraging massive server farms and global networks, a CDN speeds up delivery and solves buffering problems. It is an essential part of online video success. Viewers who request content from a CDN are automatically routed to the closest server. 

The larger the CDN network is, the faster your video delivery is. Therefore, you want to target a streaming video hosting provider that partners with a powerful video streaming CDN, such as the top-tier, widely used Akamai CDN or Limelight Networks.

Video on Demand

Vimeo Video on Demand (VOD) offers a simple way for creators and businesses to sell or rent their video content online. With simple tools to set up a storefront and keep all earnings, it’s easy to reach audiences worldwide.

Vimeo monthly plans include options for VOD, with the flexibility to choose features that match specific needs and budgets. While Vimeo limits vary by plan, even the basic tiers offer good storage options and monetization features. For those wondering about Vimeo cost, VOD is available in both Pro and higher plans, allowing scalable solutions for distributing premium content.

Vimeo Live Streaming Pricing Costs

Vimeo offers several pricing plans to suit different needs, from basic users to large enterprises. Here’s a breakdown of each option to help you decide which plan fits best:

Free

Vimeo offers a free plan so you can try the platform. It’s great for trying its creation and editing, screen recording, sharing and embedding features.

Starter plan

For professionals and beginners alike, Vimeo Start pricing begins at just $12/month. This plan is ideal for creatives and businesses needing advanced features, offering 100GB of storage per week, customizable players, and no ads.

Standard plan

At $20/month, the Standard plan expands on Starter with team collaboration tools, enhanced customization, and marketing integrations. This tier is ideal for businesses seeking more control over their brand and audience engagement.

Advanced plan

The advanced plan, priced at $65/month, includes all Business features and introduces Vimeo live streaming cost options, so users can host live events. Vimeo live pricing in this plan is competitive, allowing unlimited streaming and viewer engagement tools.

Enterprise

For large organizations, what is Vimeo Enterprise? It’s a customizable solution with dedicated support, security, and advanced integrations. Vimeo enterprise cost and Vimeo enterprise plan cost vary based on business needs, so contact Vimeo for a quote. How much does Vimeo Enterprise cost? It’s designed for those needing secure, high-volume streaming, including Vimeo VOD pricing and Vimeo API pricing.

Vimeo provides scalable options to suit diverse needs, making it easier to create, manage, and share video content professionally.

Vimeo OTT

The Vimeo OTT-specific pricing package is another Livestream pricing plan. These plans include all the basics for starting your web-based OTT channel, as well as growing your OTT business online.

There are two Vimeo OTT pricing tiers, including:

• Starter Pricing: $1/subscriber per month
• Growth Pricing: starting at $500/month

Vimeo Enterprise

The Vimeo Enterprise plan offers powerful video tools made for large organizations that need secure, high-quality streaming. With Vimeo Enterprise pricing, companies receive a custom quote based on their specific needs, making Vimeo pricing flexible and scalable. This plan includes advanced analytics, security features, and priority support, which is perfect for large teams. 

It also covers Vimeo livestream pricing, enabling unlimited live events, as well as Vimeo on demand pricing, which allows businesses to monetize and manage on-demand content. Vimeo Enterprise combines security, performance, and customization, giving companies the resources to engage audiences and grow with confidence.

The 5 Best Vimeo Alternatives

Although Vimeo has made strides towards the realm of professional broadcasting, most of its plans are still geared towards broadcasters with lesser needs. It doesn’t have the infrastructure to host large broadcasts like 24/7 continuous live streaming.

Some broadcasters are better off seeking alternative solutions that meet their needs more effectively. That said, let’s take a look at 5 Vimeo alternatives that broadcasters can consider for their professional streaming needs.

1. Dacast

If you are looking for an alternative to Vimeo that supports broadcasters with more advanced needs, Dacast could be an option for you.

Dacast is a unified streaming solution, which means we fully support both live and on-demand video hosting. Here is a summary of key features, pros, cons, and live-streaming pricing of the Dacast live-streaming platform

Although Vimeo has set monthly prices, certain features, like monetization require paid upgrades. With Dacast, most features, such as video monetization, video API, unlimited channels, and much more, are built into all of our plans. The main difference from plan to plan is bandwidth and storage, which are presented transparently from the start.

Key Features

• Monetization tools (subscriptions, advertising, and pay-per-view)
• White-label video player
• Branding control
• Adaptive bitrate streaming
• HTML5 video player
• RTMP Encoder for ingesting HLS streaming
• Low-latency video streaming
• Live encoding support for the top video encoders
• Unlimited viewers and live channels
• Video security tools for secure streaming
• Global content delivery with strategic CDN partnerships
• Multi-bitrate streaming
• Player API and Video API access
• 24/7 tech support 

New!

• Multi-user access on Scale and Custom plans
• Zoom live streaming integration for meetings and live events in real-time
• Expo 2.0 galleries video portal for immersive video experiences

Pros

• VOD and live stream video hosting
• Real-time analytics
• Ad-free streaming
• Wide range of privacy and security tools
• Mobile device support
• Live stream recording
• China Video Hosting
• Plans for every budget

Cons

• A large range of features require a bit of an initial learning curve

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: None (but 240p is the recommended minimum)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p or 4K (depends on the user’s hardware and internet)
• Video aspect ratio: No restrictions (but 16:9 is the default)
• Max file size: None
• Max video length: None
• Total file storage: 10-1000GB (depends on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4 (preferred), MOV, M4V, M2V, AVI, MPG, FLV, WMV, MKV, WEBM, OGV, MXF, ASF, VOB, MTS

Pricing

Dacast’s live streaming pricing plans begin with the Starter Plan, and include the following:

• Starter: $39/month billed annually (includes 2.4 TB bandwidth and 500 GB storage)
• Event: $63/month billed annually (includes 6 TB bandwidth and 250 GB storage)
• Scale: $165/month billed annually (includes 24 TB bandwidth and 2 TB storage)

Custom Enterprise plans are also available for broadcasters with greater streaming needs. We urge you to check out Dacast’s bandwidth calculator to find a plan that suits your broadcasting needs.

2. Cincopa

If you are looking for multimedia hosting support, as opposed to video hosting alone, Cincopa might be the Vimeo alternative that you are looking for.

Cincopa is a multimedia hosting solution that is geared towards large organizations. The different types of media files that Cincopa supports include video, audio, and images. When it comes to video streaming, specifically, Cincopa is capable of hosting live streams and VOD files.

Key Features

• Multimedia hosting
• Live and VOD hosting
• Live stream recording 
• Powerful video player
• Video monetization
• Integrations for a customizable streaming experience 
• OTT streaming
• Reliable content delivery 
• Multiple CDN partnerships
• Privacy and security

Pros

• Variety of powerful features
• High-quality streaming
• Professional hosting tools
• Customization via integrations
• Tech support

Cons

• Video hosting is not the main offering
• Some limits on media storage 

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 144p
• Maximum dimension: 4K
• Aspect ratio: 4:3, 16:9
• Max file size: 1, 2, 20GB (depending on the plan)
• Max video length: not available
• Total file storage: 5 videos, 40 videos, unlimited videos (depending on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: AVI, MOV, WMV, MP4, M4A, F4A,  F4B, F4V, F4P, M2TS, MTS, VOB, MKV, RMVB, M1V, QT, DIV, DIVX, DV, 3GP, 3GPP, 3G2, MPG, MPEG, MPE, FLV

Pricing

Cincopa offers three distinct pricing plans:

• Plus: $25/month; includes marketing tools (CTAs, email integrations, etc.)
• Corporate: $99/month; advanced broadcasting tools
• Enterprise: $350/month; advanced broadcasting tools with more flexibility

Please check out Cincopa’s pricing page for a further breakdown of storage and capabilities that come with each plan.

3. JW Player

JW Player was originally founded as a video player. However, the platform has since expanded to include video hosting and delivery services. 

Recently, the company added live streaming to its offerings as well. JW Player is a highly capable player that is based on open-source coding. The live streaming platform includes the player itself, among other useful features.

Key Features

• Live streaming and video-on-demand (VOD) hosting
• Cloud-based content management platform
• Custom video galleries
• Up to 1080p HD streaming
• Support for monetization via advertising
• Multi-bitrate and adaptive streaming
• Email support through the $100/month plan level
• Video API access on all plans
• Only custom-priced Enterprise plans offer DRM
• Monetization via advertising

Pros

• HD streaming
• Video recommendations engine to generate custom “watch next” recommendations for increased viewership
• Global content delivery

Cons

• No China video delivery
• Only basic security features
• Only ad-based monetization

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 360p (640 x 360)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920 x 1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3, 2.39:1
• Max file size: 25GB
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 25GB to 500GB (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, WMV, AVI, MOV, 3GP, FLV

Pricing

With JW Player, you will need to contact sales to discuss your needs and get custom pricing or start with a free trial.

Publishers and broadcasters should contact JW Player directly for pricing and features.

4. Kaltura

If you are looking for a streaming solution that is more customizable than Vimeo, Kaltura might the option for you. Kaltura is an open-source streaming platform that offers a unique solution in the professional streaming space. 

Kaltura offers cloud-based video hosting and distribution services for both VOD and live streams. The open-source nature of their software allows users to use a variety of integrations and add-ons to reach their desired results.

One major downside to the extensibility of this platform is that it makes it a bit complex. That’s why it is best suited for experienced broadcasters with some technical know-how.

Key Features:

• Cloud video hosting and streaming
• Cloud TV service
• Advanced Security in the Cloud
• Highly customizable
• Integrations for any feature imaginable

Pros:

It is designed specifically for education and large enterprise uses. They offer various monetization options, making it a great choice if you want to earn money through your content.

Cons:

• Many options for customization may get complex for beginners
• Slow uploads to the cloud
• No China video delivery
• Users complain about the lack of sufficient customer support

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 180p (320 x 180)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p (1920x 1080)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: 2GB
• Max video length: Not available
• Total file storage: 10GB to Unlimited (depends on the plan)
• Compatible video formats: MOV, MP4

Pricing

Prices are based on the solutions you’re looking for. These include but are not limited to: 

Webinars:

• Free trial: $0 for two webinars
• Business: $150/month billed annually (when billed annually or $199 when billed monthly)
• Enterprise: Custom pricing

Virtual classroom:

• Free trial: 14 days
• Standard: $19/month up to 10 participants per session and up to 10 hrs of cloud recording
• Pro: $45/month up to 100 participants per session and up to 25 hrs of cloud recording
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for up to 10+ classrooms

Media Services:

• Annual discounts – Discounted pricing packages are available for any scale and use-case, enterprise SLA, and developer support. For more information, please contact sales
• Free trial account – $100 worth of credits for 30 days for testing and experimentation with no commitments
• Pay as you go – You pay only for what you use at these credit levels:
• Base plan: $20 one-time annual fee + monthly usage fees

Other services include virtual events, video portal town halls, video messaging, meetings and more.

5. Muvi

Broadcasters who are looking for an OTT-focused solution to build a streaming app, like Netflix and Hulu, should consider Muvi.

Muvi is a Vimeo alternative that functions as a turnkey appliance for OTT broadcasters. This platform helps users to launch a video or audio streaming platform. Muvi includes specific tools for creating streaming websites, mobile apps, and TV apps.

This platform is on the more expensive end, so it is best suited for advanced broadcasters who are looking to launch an OTT streaming service.

Key Features

• White-label platform: Customizable branding for a unique user experience.
• Multi-device support: Accessible on web, mobile, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.
• Monetization options: Subscriptions, pay-per-view, and ad-based models.
• Advanced security: DRM, encryption, and secure video player for content protection.
• Analytics: Detailed insights into viewer behavior and performance metrics.
• Content management: Easy upload, organization, and distribution of media.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Robust security features
• Comprehensive monetization options
• High scalability and reliability
• 24/7 customer support

Cons

• Higher pricing for advanced features
• Steeper learning curve for beginners
• Limited third-party integrations

Upload Guidelines and Specs

• Minimum dimension: 144p (256 x 144)
• Maximum dimension: 4K (3840  x2160)
• Aspect ratio: 16:9, 4:3
• Max file size: not available
• Max video length: not available
• Total file storage: 1TB, 2TB, 5TB (depending on plan)
• Compatible video formats: MP4, MOV, MKV, FLV, VOB, M4V, AVI, 3GP, MPG

Pricing

• Starter Plan: $399/month – Basic features and support
• Professional Plan: $1499/month – Advanced features and customization
• Enterprise Plan: $3900/month – Professional + dedicated server and enterprise support
• Ultimate – Full suite of features, dedicated support, and custom integrations

Conclusion

Vimeo is a viable streaming solution, especially for broadcasters that are looking for a cheap option and have minimal broadcasting needs.

Please keep in mind that opting for a cheaper solution doesn’t always mean you’re getting a better deal in the world of live broadcasting There are several Vimeo alternatives available that will give you a much better bang for your buck when compared to their streaming platform.

As we covered, one of these alternatives is our own service, Dacast. We offer a large collection of video streaming tools with transparent pricing.

Not yet sure where to start with all the live streaming solutions on the market? Take advantage of our 14-day free trial by signing up for a Dacast account today. No credit card is required.

Get Started for Free

The post Vimeo Pricing and Review: What You Need to Know About Streaming with Vimeo appeared first on Dacast.

Data breaches, unauthorized video sharing, and hacks can be a substantial cost for many companies. That’s why protecting video content and securely delivering streams to users should be a broadcasting best practice.

First, we’ll cover what video encryption is and why it matters. Then we’ll dive into the HLS streaming protocol and how AES-128 encryption works. Finally, we’ll look at the key features necessary for a secure cloud video platform.

Table of Contents:

• What is Video Encryption?
• Why Does Protecting Video Content Matter?
• The HLS Protocol
• HLS Encryption Explained
• 4 Key Features of Secure Video Clouds
• Dacast Video Platform
• Conclusion

What is Video Encryption?

Encryption is a method for masking data so that only authorized users can decrypt and access a file. It’s a part of cryptography, which is a field of study devoted to the secure communication of information or data.

Over the years, many encryption algorithms have been developed with varying levels of security. Most algorithms, however, scramble the data into ciphertext and require the receiving party to use a key to reassemble the data into plaintext.

Can You Encrypt Video?

While it’s straightforward to understand the encryption of text documents, how exactly does video stream encryption work?

Video encryption allows broadcasters to scramble video content using a secure algorithm and transmit the data to viewers. Authorized viewers can then decode the video and watch it. That is how encrypted streaming works. That is the basics of how encrypted video streaming works.

Many broadcasters encrypt both on-demand and live streaming videos to prevent unauthorized third parties from accessing the content as it is transmitted. This prevents someone from interrupting a live stream in progress or taking the live stream and showing it on an unauthorized platform. 

As broadcasters can make money from both on-demand and live streaming content, encrypted streaming is the best way to protect one’s revenue stream.

Why Does Protecting Video Content Matter?

Broadcasters usually have one or more reasons for protecting videos, from keeping sensitive information safe to implementing digital rights management or ensuring proper content monetization

• Sensitive Information: Many organizations use video streams for internal meetings and events that shouldn’t be available to the public. The company could risk violating industry regulations or leaking information to competitors if these videos aren’t protected.
• Digital Rights Management: Video stream encryption is a critical aspect of digital rights management (DRM), which broadcasters require for various reasons. For example, geographical regions—such as the People’s Republic of China (PRC)—may have specific regulations or censorship limiting who can view certain types of content. 
• Monetization: Brands may have video streams at various price points that need access controls as well, such as charging more for high-definition videos or ad-free content. The ability to safely accept payment from viewers and ensure video content isn’t pirated are both crucial for monetization.

Encrypted streaming helps protect sensitive information, monetization potential, and digital rights management for broadcasters. It allows you to retain control over your content.

The HLS Streaming Protocol

Video streaming requires sending enormous amounts of data to viewers. RAW video files are too large, so broadcasters must encode videos into a compressed format using a codec like H.264 advanced video coding to reduce the file size.

A video stream also requires choosing a container format, which encompasses the necessary video, audio, and metadata. Most broadcasters choose the MP4 format because it’s compatible with a many devices.

Finally, broadcasters must choose a self-hosted video delivery method or private hosting. Two of the most common are the HLS streaming protocol and RTMP. These are standardized methods for transmitting video and audio data over the Internet as a continuous stream rather than a single file download. That is why HLS encryption is the most common method of encrypting streaming videos. 

What is HLS Streaming?

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) is a protocol that splits video streams into chunks that are transferred and reassembled within the user’s video player. In most cases, the video player is an HTML5 or Video.js player that offers playback natively in the user’s web browser.

Pure HTML5 playback without a streaming protocol requires downloading the entire video file during initiation. That’s why it’s crucial to break down videos into smaller files so that playback can start faster and there’s less wasted data. 

In contrast to RTMP, the HLS protocol leverages HTTP to transfer video content in chunks to viewers. That means broadcasters can use a standard server or video content delivery network (CDN) to store and deliver video content. With HLS streaming, broadcasters can scale their streams to reach a much larger audience without compromising on quality.

Most broadcasters use HLS streaming because it’s the protocol supported by HTML5 players. These video players—built into web browsers—have become the default playback method rather than Flash. HLS streams are supported by nearly every device, from tablets to laptops and smart TVs.

What is Adaptive Bitrate Streaming?

Moreover, HLS is an adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) protocol. That means broadcasters offer multiple variants of a particular stream at different bitrates or levels of quality.

These separate streams are split into 2 to 10-second segments and indexed in a manifest file. Then an adaptive video player can use the manifest file to choose the optimum video segment based on network conditions and the user’s device.

ABR streaming is crucial for broadcasters who want to offer their viewers the best viewing experience possible.

HLS Encryption Explained

While there are many encryption algorithms, the most common method for HLS is AES-128. Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) block cipher encrypts data in 128-bit blocks. Here are the basics of how AES-128 works.

How Does AES 128 Encryption Work?

The first block is encrypted using an initialization vector (IV)—or 16-byte random value—and the next block uses this to start the encryption process. Each subsequent block uses ciphertext from the preceding block for encryption in a method known as cipher block chaining (CBC).

As AES is a symmetric key algorithm, there needs to be a secret key that’s used for both encryption and decryption. That means the broadcaster encrypts the video using the key and the viewer’s browser decrypts it using the same key.

AES has widespread adoption because it’s straightforward to implement and safe enough for general use. The U.S. Government even uses the algorithm for encrypting sensitive data, which is how most digital rights management (DRM) systems protect media. HLS AES 128 encryption is easy to implement and, therefore, commonly used.

HLS Encryption Methods

While the HLS supports AES-128 encryption, there are two different ways to implement the standard in practice.

Broadcasters can use one key to encrypt the entire video stream, but that also means the whole stream is unprotected if an unauthorized third party intercepts the secret key.

Alternatively, each stream segment can be encrypted with a different key. That way, only a few seconds of video can be accessed without a specific key. Broadcasters might choose this method if the video content their sharing is highly sensitive.

4 Key Features of Secure Video Clouds

Many companies use a secure video platform to host their video content and share it with their intended audience. Here are four security features to look for in a private video hosting platform.

1. AES Encryption

Regarding AES video encryption, there is often a debate over which key length to use for AES: 128-bit or 256-bit. A more significant key is generally harder to compromise with a brute force attack, but a simple calculation shows that even a 128-bit key would take far too long to crack.

That’s why the ability to protect the secret key from unwanted third parties is far more critical than the key size. The videos should be safe from brute force attacks as long as the cloud platform uses at least AES-128 encryptions.

Larger key sizes also require more computing power, but most modern devices can handle decrypting AES-256 without performance issues. Be sure to consider your target audience and the quality of devices they’ll use for streaming before choosing an encryption algorithm for your content.

2. Manifest File

The HLS manifest file—or M3U8 playlist—is necessary for video players to select and retrieve the right video segments for ABR streaming. In addition, the M3U8 manifest file contains the secret encryption key for each video segment. 

If an overall AES key is used, it will appear in the manifest file as a link after the EXT-X-KEY tag. This file should be served over HTTPS and require authentication to minimize the risk of this key being exposed to eavesdroppers.

Many streaming platforms rotate these AES keys at regular intervals, so there’s a lower chance of getting compromised during streams. The more frequently keys are rotated or refreshed, the more secure the video content will be.

3. HTTPS Delivery

HTTPS is a way of transferring data using HTTP (Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol) that’s secured using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). SSL was later renamed to transport layer security (TLS), but the end goal is the same: to prevent hackers from intercepting data in transit.

With HTTPS, a server is secured using an SSL certificate that’s issued by a certificate authority (CA). When users connect to a server with a valid certificate, data transferred between the two parties will automatically be encrypted.

When using AES encryption with HLS streaming, it’s crucial to exchange the secret keys over HTTPS. That way, broadcasters can prevent man-in-the-middle attacks, where hackers intercept sensitive data—such as AES keys—while exchanged between two parties.

4. Password Protection

While many broadcasters focus on encryption, password-protected video streaming is just as important. The most common way to protect video content is by using passwords to restrict who has access to a particular piece of content. Password protection is a simple and powerful way to limit video viewership to internal employees, specific clients, or other smaller audiences. 

That said, it’s a good idea to generate a secure password, change it out periodically, and follow other best practices for password protection. Otherwise, the password can get leaked online, and unwanted viewers could gain access to the content.

Dacast’s Secure Video Platform

Dacast is a secure video streaming solution that supports HLS encryption for video on demand (VOD) content. That means broadcasters can deliver video content to their audience with AES-128 encryption taking place behind the scenes.

Moreover, Dacast relies on HTTPS to deliver video streams to viewers to prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and keep their financial information safe. This is critical for broadcasters that want to monetize their videos using the platform’s secure paywall capabilities.

Beyond HLS encryption and HTTPS, Dacast encourages broadcasters to utilize password protection for hosting their video content. Within the Dacast platform, adding passwords to live streams, VOD content, or entire playlists is straightforward.

Along with securing and protecting the video streams themselves, Dacast allows broadcasters to set geographic and referrer restrictions. Geographic restrictions can help prevent piracy by blacklisting certain countries where malicious actors often operate. 

Similarly, referrer restrictions allow broadcasters to block well-known piracy sites or competitors from resharing video content. An HTTP referrer is metadata that identifies a website that has linked to a particular video.

Finally, Dacast offers a secure video upload feature for adding video content to the secure video hosting platform. That way, users can easily upload files in bulk or migrate an entire collection of video content, keeping videos safe during the upload process. 

Here are more details on the many features of the Dacast platform and our commitment to video security.

Basic Functionality

If you’re looking for advanced security, monetization, and distribution tools, Dacast is a great choice.

Key Features

• Content control and advanced security options
• RTMP Encoder for ingesting HLS streaming
• Low latency HTML5 channels for video streaming
• Reliable delivery via top-tier CDNs
• Adaptive multi-bitrate streaming
• Video API access on premium plans (scale and event)
• Player API access for easy integration and custom app creation
• Multiple video monetization options to customize
• White-label customization capabilities
• Real-time analytics

New!

• AES-128 video encryption with all plans
• Multi-user access on Scale and Custom plans
• Expo video gallery to display your live streams in an immersive video showcase
• Zoom live streaming integration for meetings and live events in real-time
• DRM for VOD
• Multi-CDNs
• Browser-based streaming
• China live streaming

Pros

Many features make Dacast stand out from the competition. 

Mobile Live Streaming

If you want to stream on the go, Dacast allows you to live stream directly from your mobile device, making producing live content easier. 

Live streaming and VOD for Every Subscription Plan

If you sign up for one of Dacast’s subscription plans, you get access to live streaming, VOD support, and features. Dacast understands that most broadcasters need support for both VOD and live streaming. 

Dacast offers great features for both live streaming and VOD, such as live stream recording capabilities and a robust content management system. Dacast also allows for unlimited viewers and live channels.

Customizable HTML5 Video Player

Your video player should match your branding. With a customizable HTML5 video player, you can change how your video player looks to support your overall branding and company goals. Plus, you can easily embed the video player wherever you need it. 

24/7 Customer Support

You can’t control when you need help, so Dacast offers 24/7 live customer support via email and live chat options for every plan. Higher-level plans also get phone support. 

China Video Hosting

Want to broadcast content in China? Dacast offers video hosting and live streaming support for China. 

Cons

One of the few drawbacks to Dacast is that the professional features may require some learning time. 

However, Dacast has a vast knowledge base of articles to help you learn how to use the platform and video tutorials. Plus, Dacast offers 24/7 access to support for all customers, so you can always get the help you need to learn how to use the platform.

Technical Specifications

• Minimum dimension: None (but 240p is the recommended minimum)
• Maximum dimension: 1080p or 4K (depends on the user’s hardware and internet)
• Supported aspect ratios: No restrictions (but 16:9 is the default)
• Maximum file size: Unlimited, though larger file sizes can impact viewer experience
• Maximum video length:
• Total file storage: 10 to 1,000 GB depending on the plan
• Accepted video formats: MP4 (preferred), .MOV, M4V, M2V, .AVI, MPG, .FLV, .WMV, .MKV, WebM, OGV, MXF, ASF, VOB, MTS

Pricing

Dacast offers multiple pricing plans geared toward all business budgets. Here is an overview:

• Starter Plan: $39/month (includes 1,000 GB of bandwidth & 50 GB of storage)
• Event Plan: $63/month (includes 6 TB of bandwidth upfront and 50 GB of storage)
• Scale Plan: $188/month (includes 24 TB of bandwidth per year and 1 TB of storage)

Broadcasters can contact Dacast directly to learn more about custom-priced high-volume plans.

Best Use Cases

Dacast’s live streaming platform is great for:

• Live event streaming
• VOD on-demand hosting
• Streaming video for education
• Cloud-based enterprise video solutions
• Online video platform for marketing
• Video software for sales teams

Conclusion

Video content is invaluable for most brands, but if data gets into the wrong hands, it can be devastating. That’s why every broadcaster should prioritize offering secure stream services and storing video content safely using a reliable video streaming solution. Both HLS video encryption and M3U* encrypted players are two secure methods for keeping content safe.

Dacast is a unified streaming solution that makes the annual list of the most important, most innovative, and most interesting companies for 2021 Streaming Media Magazine’s Top 50 List.

With the company’s commitment to offering a robust and secure streaming video platform for its users, this powerful platform helps companies worldwide scale and monetize their online video content.

At Dacast, we’re confident that the solution is ideal for broadcasters that need a secure online video platform (OVP) for their live streaming and VOD needs. That’s why we offer a risk-free trial for 14-day. Try Dacast out and see if it fits your needs for secure video delivery.

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The post HLS Encryption: How to Encrypt Video Streams in AES-128 [2024 Update] appeared first on Dacast.

This is good news for both broadcasters and viewers. Firstly, because HTML5 and HLS are open specifications, so anyone can modify and access them. Secondly, they’re safer, more reliable and much faster than earlier technologies. Furthermore, HTML5 and HLS live-streaming technologies provide distinct advantages for content producers today. If you’re a broadcaster, business or content producer, you need to get up-to-speed on these changes. Whether you’re live broadcasting, event streaming or want to stream live video content from your website, ensuring proper viewing across all streaming platforms in the best quality is vital.

In this article, we’ll cover the role of HTML5 video streaming with HLS. Specifically, we’ll detail the different streaming protocols. By the end, you’ll understand the importance and benefits of HLS streaming and how it can help you stream your best content yet.

Did you know that Dacast is a powerful live-streaming platform with the key features you need to get http live streaming tools up and running quickly and effortlessly?

Dacast now offers HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) on the Akamai CDN.  Sign up today for a 14-day free trial and try it for yourself. There’s no commitment and no credit card is required.

Try It For Free Today

Table of Contents

• What is HLS Streaming, and How Does it Work?
• A Basic Breakdown: How Does HLS Work?
• Technical Overview of HLS Streaming
• Key Benefits of HLS Streaming
• Comparing HLS Streaming to Other Video Streaming Protocols
• Advantages of HLS Video Streaming Over Other Protocols 
• Devices and Browsers That Support HLS
• When to Use HLS Streaming
• One Drawback of HLS Streaming
• Building an RTMP to HLS Workflow
• HTML5 Video Streaming With HLS
• The Future of Live Streaming
• FAQs
• Conclusion

What Is HLS Streaming, and How Does it Work?

HLS stands for HTTP Live Streaming. In short, HLS is a media streaming protocol for delivering visual and audio media to viewers over the internet. Apple launched the HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) protocol in the summer of 2009. Apple created the protocol to coincide with the release of the iPhone 3 due to issues with accessing streaming content.  

The original iPhone and the iPhone 2 had issues accessing video content due to switching between Wi-Fi and mobile networks while people were watching video content. Before Apple released HLS, most early smartphones used Quicktime Streaming Server as their media streaming standard. Quicktime was an important tool; however, it used non-standard ports for data transfer, which resulted in firewalls blocking the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) used for the Quicktime streaming server.  

These limitations, combined with slow internet speeds in smartphones’ early days, resulted in the end of the Quicktime Streaming Server. 

protocols learned from the drawbacks of Quicktime Streaming Services, and the protocol was made so that it wouldn’t get blocked by a firewall. Due to this and many other features, HTTP Live Streaming has become one of the most used streaming protocols.

A Basic Breakdown: How Does HLS Work?

We’ve covered the matter-of-fact definition of HLS, but before we move on to an equally technical overview of how this protocol works, we’re going to go back to the basics. As we’ve mentioned, HLS is an important protocol for live streaming. 

The live streaming process compatible with the greatest number of devices and browsers looks a little bit like this:

1. Capturing devices (cameras, microphones, etc.) capture the content.

2. The content is sent to a live video encoder from the capturing device. 

3. The encoder transmits the content to the video hosting platform via HTTP.

4. The video hosting platform uses HLS ingest to transmit the content to an HTML5 video player.

This process requires two main software solutions: a live video HLS encoder and a powerful video hosting platform. 

If you choose to stream with HLS, you’ll want to ensure that both software offers the protocols and features we mentioned. HTML5 video players powered by HLS are great for reaching the largest audience since this duo is practically universal. Dacast is a feature-rich live video streaming solution that includes HLS streaming and a customizable, white-label HTML5 video player. 

Technical Overview of HLS Streaming

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) operates on the same HTTP protocol as regular web traffic, making it easy to deploy content through standard web servers and content delivery networks (CDNs). This protocol is designed to offer reliability across different network conditions by dynamically adjusting playback speed to optimize for both wired and wireless connections.

So, how does HLS streaming technology work in detail?

First, the HLS protocol breaks down MP4 video content into short segments, typically around 10 seconds each, using the .ts (MPEG2 Transport Stream) format. These video segments are then stored on an HTTP server, which delivers them to viewers on their devices via HTTP.

HLS supports video encoded in either the H.264 or HEVC/H.265 codecs, making it versatile for various devices and networks. As part of the streaming process, the server generates an M3U8 playlist file (also known as a manifest file) that indexes the video chunks. This playlist file is crucial because it remains accessible even if you choose to stream with only a single quality level.

When streaming, HLS technology ensures smooth playback by allowing a video player, such as an HTML5 player, to detect any changes in network quality. If the network quality fluctuates, the player first reads the main M3U8 playlist file and selects the appropriate video quality for optimal playback. It then accesses a quality-specific index to retrieve the video chunk that aligns with the viewer’s current position in the video.

For instance, streaming services like Dacast offer an M3U8 online player to test HLS streams, making it easier for users to ensure their HLS streaming setup functions as intended. While this might sound technically complex, HLS streaming runs seamlessly in the background, creating an uninterrupted viewing experience for the end user.

Security and Compatibility with M3U8 Links

Ensuring secure video content distribution is essential, particularly if your business relies on live streaming for revenue. Using M3U8 links with HLS provides not only secure delivery but also broad compatibility with HTML5 players and mobile applications.

In HLS streaming, the M3U8 file organizes and sequences multimedia files for playback. When video is delivered via HLS to an HTML5 player, the player uses the M3U8 playlist file to locate and play the video segments efficiently. This M3U8 file also plays a vital role in security: it can include security tokens that protect your content by regularly authenticating with your app’s live streaming servers. These tokens enforce any security measures you’ve set for your broadcast, such as password protection or geographic restrictions.

This feature is particularly valuable for content monetization, as it ensures that your streams remain secure and accessible only to authorized viewers. With M3U8’s security protocols, your live streaming solution can restrict access based on the viewer’s credentials or location, creating a robust framework for protecting your valuable video assets.

Key Benefits of HLS Streaming

HLS streaming is laden with benefits for professional broadcasters and newcomers to the live and on-demand video content world alike.

Many vital benefits come with utilizing HLS streaming, including:

Wide Compatibility 

A key benefit of this protocol is its compatibility features. Unlike other streaming formats, HLS is compatible with many devices and firewalls. However, latency (or lag time) tends to be in the 15-30 second range with HLS live streams. It would be best if you used other tools to get quick HLS streaming.  

That’s certainly an essential factor to keep in mind. Dacast now offers an HLS direct low latency streaming feature, which works with any HLS-compatible encoder. With a low latency streaming feature, you can overcome the long latency associated with HLS streaming. 

Encoding at Multiple Quality Settings 

Versatility makes HLS video streaming stand out from the pack. On the server side, content creators often have the option to encode the same live stream at multiple quality settings.  In turn, viewers can dynamically request the best option available, given their specific bandwidth at any given moment. In other words, the data quality can differ from chunk to chunk to fit different streaming device capabilities. 

That’s known as multi-bitrate streaming and is a tool that helps enhance one’s viewing experience and results in happier viewers of your content.

That’s best explained with an example. Let’s say, in one moment, you’re sending a full high-definition video. Moments later, a mobile user encounters a “dead zone” in which their quality of service declines. With HLS streaming, this is not an issue. The player will detect this decline in bandwidth and instead deliver lower-quality movie chunks at this time. HLS streaming allows you to provide the best viewing experience to your viewers.  HLS also supports closed captions embedded in the video stream. 

To learn more about the technical aspects of HLS, we recommend the extensive documentation and best practices provided by Apple.

Scalability

HLS is highly scalable for delivering live streams and video content across global content delivery networks (CDNs) using ordinary web servers. CDNs share the workload across a network of servers to accommodate a spike in viewership and larger-than-expected live audiences. 

CDNs also cache video and audio segments to help deliver a high-quality video streaming experience and improve the viewer experience. 

Other benefits of HLS streaming include ad insertion through the VPAID and VAST interfaces, cross-device compatibility, and piracy protection with extensive support for DRM technologies.

Comparing HLS Streaming to Other Video Streaming Protocols

Over the years, tech companies have introduced several new streaming solutions into the market through media streaming protocols. Generally, each of these solutions aims to expand video streaming possibilities. 

However, industry conflicts can arise similar to the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray format wars or the even older Betamax vs. VHS showdown. HLS is currently the best option for streaming media protocols, but it wasn’t always that way—nor will it remain so forever. Let’s review several past and current streaming protocols to understand better the innovations of HLS streaming protocol offers today.

1. Adobe HTTP Dynamic Flash Streaming (HDS)

Known as Adobe’s next-gen media streaming protocol, HDS stands for HTTP Dynamic Streaming. This protocol was designed specifically for compatibility with Adobe’s Flash video browser plug-in. Therefore, the overall adoption of HDS is relatively small compared to HLS.

We use HDS at Dacast to deliver some of our VOD (Video On Demand) content. HDS can be a robust choice with lower latency for devices and browsers that support Flash video. Like HLS, the HDS protocol splits media video files up into small chunks. HDS also provides advanced encryption and DRM features. Finally, it uses an advanced keyframe method to ensure that chunks align.

While HLS started as an Apple proprietary streaming protocol, it has become an open industry standard. So it has a wider adoption and support compared to HDS. Apple also holds almost 16% of the global smartphone market (second behind Samsung- 22%). That means using HDS instead of HLS would cut out a significant chunk of potential viewers from your streams. Lastly, HDS was initially intended to be used with Adobe Flash, which has since been discontinued.

2. Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)

Macromedia developed RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) in the mid-2000s. Many know this protocol simply as Flash, designed for audio and video streaming. Macromedia later merged with Adobe, which now develops RTMP as a semi-open standard. An RTMP platform streams media over TCP or UDP protocols, unlike HLS, which uses the HTTP protocol. RTMP is no longer the standard for live video and audio data streaming, but it still has a place in the process and is mainly used behind the scenes.

For much of the past decade, RTMP was the default video streaming method on the internet. But with the recent rise of HLS, we’ve seen a decline in the usage of RTMP. 

Even today, most streaming video hosting services work with RTMP encoders to ingest live streams via HLS. 

In other words, broadcasters deliver their streams to their chosen video platform in RTMP stream format. Then, the OVP usually delivers those streams to viewers via HLS, including in-China video hosting, which Dacast now offers. Even this legacy use of RTMP streams is beginning to fade in recent years. More and more CDNs (Content Delivery Networks) are beginning to depreciate RTMP support.

3. Microsoft Smooth Streaming (MSS)

Next up is the streaming protocol MSS (Microsoft Smooth Streaming).

As the name implies, it’s Microsoft’s version of a live-streaming protocol. Smooth Streaming also uses the adaptive bitrate approach, delivering the best quality available at any given time. First introduced in 2008, MSS was one of the first adaptive bitrate methods to hit the public realm. The MSS protocol helped to broadcast the 2008 Summer Olympics that year. The most widely used MSS platform today is the Xbox One. 

However, MSS is one of the less popular streaming protocols available today. HLS should be the default method over this lesser-used approach in almost all cases. HLS has advantages over MSS, including deploying on ordinary HTTP servers, supporting multiplexed and non-multiplexed content, and running MPEG-2 TS Segments.

4. Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (MPEG-DASH)

The newest entry in the streaming protocol format wars is MPEG-DASH. The DASH stands for Dynamic Adaptive Streaming (over HTTP). MPEG-DASH comes with several advantages. First, it is the first international standard streaming protocol based on HTTP. This feature has helped to quicken the process of widespread adoption. 

For now, MPEG-DASH is a relatively new protocol and isn’t widely used across the streaming industry. However, like the rest of the industry, we expect MPEG-DASH to become the de facto standard for streaming within a couple of years. One major advantage of MPEG-DASH is that this protocol is “codec agnostic.” Simply put, this means that the video or media files sent via MPEG-DASH can utilize a variety of encoding formats. 

These encoding formats include supported standards like H.264  (as with the former HLS streaming video protocol) and next-gen video formats like HEVC/H.265 and VP10. And like HLS, MPEG-DASH is an adaptive bitrate streaming video method.

So, who wins the MPEG-DASH vs. HLS battle? The truth is that there’s not much difference between the two. Both can deliver high-quality HD streaming, which is the priority for broadcasters. They also support higher resolution video, including 4k video resolution. However, HLS gets an edge over MPEG-DASH because it offers wider compatibility. HLS provides the features and compatibility you need. 

But we’ve mentioned that MPEG-DASH is a relatively new protocol, so maybe we should give it time. Despite its wide adoption and support, HLS has not been published as an international standard. MPEG-DASH is an international standard.

5. Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)

Real-time streaming protocol, or RTSP for short, is a protocol that helps manage and control live stream content rather than transmitting the content. It is considered a “presentation layer protocol.” It is a pretty old protocol, initially developed in the late 1990s. RTSP was developed in collaboration with Columbia University, Real Network, and Netscape. 

RTSP is known for having extremely low streaming latency, which is undoubtedly a plus. Unfortunately, this protocol comes with a slew of limitations.

Because of its low streaming latency, RTSP requires a constant and stable network connection. Unstable networks will result in dropped frames, macro blocking, and other visual artifacts. Android and iOS devices also don’t have RTSP-compatible players, hence rarely used. 

Additionally, RTSP also cannot easily be cached for widespread distribution. That’s why it’s rarely used for internet-based content streaming. It’s best suited for networks where the operator has end-to-end control of the network environment. RTSP remains standard in many surveillance and closed-circuit television (CCTV) architectures because RTSP support is still ubiquitous in IP cameras.

6. Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC)

Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC) is a free, open-source technology released by Google and Ericsson in 2011 to enable real-time video, audio, and data communication without plugins. It’s used to allow real-time video and audio communication inside web pages. While still a relatively new protocol, WebRTC has gained the support of major players in the industry, such as Microsoft, Opera, Mozilla, and even Apple, among others. 

Its adoption on mobile platforms and in the IoT space has been increasing steadily. 

However, WebRTC still lacks the scalability that HLS offers. The intense bandwidth configuration required to support multiple peer connections cannot go beyond a few thousand connections. 

7. Secure Reliable Transport (SRT)

Like WebRTC, SRT is a relatively new streaming protocol. It was developed by Haivision, a leading player in the online streaming space, in 2017. It’s an open-source technology that aims to minimize the effects of jitter,  bandwidth changes, and packet loss to optimize the streaming experience. Industry experts consider it the future of live streaming due to its security, reliability, and low latency streaming. 

Haivision created the SRT Alliance, a group of companies in the tech and telecommunications industry, to help bring SRT into the mainstream live-streaming space. Currently, the best way to access SRT is by using technology founded by or backed by any SRT Alliance members.

SRT supports all types of video and audio codecs. It also supports all transport and package formats. However, Haivision does not specify playback support and the segment duration for SRT.

If you want to be on the cutting edge of video streaming protocols, consider adapting SRT. It is considered the future of streaming alongside HLS, WebRTC, and MPEG-DASH.  SRT makes it easy to traverse firewalls without needing help, and it’s economical to deploy over the existing network infrastructure.

Advantages of HLS Video Streaming Over Other Protocols

The HLS video streaming protocol has a wide range of advantages that make it attractive to broadcasters.

In the first half of this article, we covered a major advantage of HLS over other protocols in terms of streaming video quality. In particular, broadcasters can deliver streams using the adaptive bitrate process supported by HLS. That way, each viewer can receive the best quality stream for their internet connection at any moment. 

This protocol includes several other key benefits such as:

• Embedded closed captions

• Synchronized playback of multiple streams

• Good advertising standards support

• DRM support

• Support for multiple browsers and operating systems

• Smartphones automatically select the data rate for playing media

• Better security

• No complexity at the users’ end

• Support on most network infrastructure 

The takeaway here for broadcasters? For now and at least in the shorter-term future, HLS is the definitive default standard for live streaming content.

Devices and Browsers That Support HLS

The HLS streaming protocol is widely supported across multiple devices and browsers. Initially limited to iOS devices like iPhones, iPads, and the iPod Touch, the HLS streaming server is now supported by the following devices and browsers:

• All Google Chrome browsers

• Mozilla Firefox 

• Safari

• Opera

• Microsoft Edge

• iOS devices

• Android devices 

• Linux devices

• Samsung Internet

• Microsoft devices

• macOS platforms 

At this point, HLS is a nearly universal protocol. If you want to stream online, you want to use HLS streaming. 

When to Use HLS Streaming?

Currently, we recommend that broadcasters always adopt the HLS streaming protocol. It’s the most up-to-date and widely used protocol for media streaming. For example, 45% of broadcasters reported using HLS streaming in this Video Streaming Latency Report. RTMP came in second, with 33% of broadcasters using that alternative. And MPEG-DASH trailed behind even further, used by only 7% of broadcasters.

1. Streaming to Mobile Devices

Developed by Apple, HLS mobile streaming supports all portable devices, including iPhone, iPad, and other streaming media players.

When it comes to streaming to mobile devices and tablets, you need to use HLS. As of May 2023, 58.26% of all web traffic comes through mobile phones. Mobile devices now make up most of the internet traffic, so any streaming solution you use needs to work with mobile devices. HLS is essential for mobile streaming.

2. Streaming With an HTML5 Video Player

The native HTML5 video player is the standard player used to play video content on websites, apps, and mobile devices. However, HTML5 video players don’t support RTMP or HDS.  You need to use HLS with an HTML5 video player. HLS allows for content delivery to your video player. Along with reaching mobile devices, these considerations point towards HLS as the default standard. If you’re stuck using Flash technology for the moment, RTMP will be a better delivery method—but only if you have no other option.

One Drawback of HLS Streaming

HLS streaming does have one disadvantage, which we mentioned above. Namely, it has a relatively higher latency than some other protocols. That means that HLS streams are not quite as “live” as the term live streaming suggests.  Generally, with HLS, viewers can experience delays of up to 30 seconds (or more, in some cases). That means that if you’re streaming a video, it’ll take 30 seconds to reach the viewer, so they see the content as close to live as possible.  

That can be an issue if you are streaming something like a sporting event, where people may be commenting on the event, and you don’t want a large delay between what is happening and when your viewers see the content. 

However, this delay is manageable with many live streams, such as a conference or a graduation ceremony. That said, this isn’t a problem for most broadcasters. Most live streams can handle that delay without causing user dissatisfaction. One protocol that works well to reduce latency with HLS video streaming is Low-Latency CMAF for DASH. This protocol works with the content delivery network and HTML5 video player to carry the weight where HLS streaming is lacking. 

If you’re streaming something such as live sports, you should use this; if you don’t want a long delay, you should use this.  Using tools such as CMAF allows you to overcome one of the few drawbacks of using HLS video streaming. 

Another (minor) drawback worth noting is that HLS streaming requires at least three segments to remain in the queue before it allows video playback.

Building an RTMP to HLS Workflow

We’ve covered what HLS is, how it works, and when to use it. We’ve also looked at alternative streaming protocols from the past and present. Now, let’s discuss how to build an RTMP Ingest to HLS workflow. If you’re using a streaming service like Dacast, you need to build a workflow that begins as RTMP. This is much simpler than it sounds. 

You must configure your hardware or software encoder to deliver an RTMP stream to the Dacast servers. Most encoders default to RTMP and quite a few only support that standard. For Dacast users, our CDN partners then ingest the RTMP stream and automatically rebroadcast it via both HLS and RTMP. From there, viewers default to the best-supported method on their own devices. 

Using HLS is relatively straightforward with a professional, full-service OVP. On Dacast, all live streams default to HLS delivery. On computers that support Flash, we fall back on RTMP/Flash to reduce latency. However, HLS is supported automatically on every Dacast live stream and is used on almost all devices. As we discussed above, HLS streaming is delivered through an M3U8 file. An M3U8 file is a playlist containing references to media files’ location for playback. Unlike its predecessor, M3U, which may use various character encodings, M3U8 exclusively uses UTF-8, enhancing its compatibility and reliability across different streaming platforms and devices. On a local machine, these would consist of file paths. For live streaming on the internet, that M3U8 file would contain a URL (the one on which your stream is being delivered). 

Another relevant process to note quickly is transmuxing. Transmuxing is the process that repackages content files without distorting the content itself. That allows the content to flow more easily between software via the RTMP and HLS protocols.

HTML5 Video Streaming With HLS

HTML5 video players are essentially the universal, all-device video player.

The HLS protocol has become the go-to approach for streaming content with HTML5 video players. If you’re not familiar with HTML5 video streaming, it’s one of the three main approaches to video streaming today. With HTML5, the content-hosting website uses native HTTP to stream the media directly to viewers. Content tags (e.g., <video> tag) are included as part of the HTML code.  As a result, the <video> tag creates a native HTML5 video player within your browser. 

These tags provide direction to the HTTP protocol (HLS) and what to do with this content. HTTP displays the text, and an audio player plays audio content. 

Like HLS, HTML5 is customizable for broadcasters and free for viewers. To learn more, you can check out our related post on optimizing HTML5 video players with HLS.  We’ve also written extensively about the transition from Flash-based video (usually delivered via RTMP) to HTML5 video (usually delivered using HLS). Check out our “Flash is Dead” RTMP-focused blog post for more on that subject, including why it’s important to use an HTML5 video player. 

If you’re streaming over the Dacast, you’re already using a fully compatible HTML5 video player. Content delivered via Dacast defaults to HTML5 delivery. 

However, it’ll use Flash as a backup method if HTML5 is not supported on a given device or browser. That means that even older devices with Flash will have no problem playing your content over your Dacast account. Of course, some broadcasters may prefer to use a custom video player. Luckily, it’s quite simple to embed your HLS stream within any video player. 

For example, if you’re using JW Player, insert the M3U8 reference URL into the code for your video player. Here’s a visual example: var playerInstance = jwplayer(“myElement”); playerInstance.setup({ file: “/assets/myVideoStream.m3u8”, image: “/assets/myPoster.jpg” }); 

Another note about using HLS and an HTML5 video player with Dacast is that Dacast uses the THEOplayer. THEOplayer is a universal video player that can be embedded in websites, mobile apps, and any platform you can think of. As mentioned before, compatibility is critical when choosing video players and protocols since you want to reach the most people possible.

The Future of Live Streaming

Live streaming seems to grow faster by the minute. We can’t wait for future technical improvements in video delivery, security, privacy, and more.

Before wrapping things up, let’s recap our discussion of some of the advantages of the HLS streaming protocol. First, there’s no particular infrastructure required to deliver HLS content. Any standard web server or CDN will function well. 

Additionally, firewalls are much less likely to block content using HLS. In terms of technical functionality, HLS will play video encoded with the H.264 or HEVC/H.265 codecs. It then chops the video into 10-second segments. Remember, latency for delivery tends to be in the 30-second range.  However, Dacast now has a low-latency HLS live streaming solution that reduces latency to 10 seconds or less. The HLS protocol also includes several other built-in features. For example, HLS is an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol. That means the client device and server dynamically detect the user’s internet speed and then adjust video quality in response.

Other beneficial HLS features include support for embedded closed captions, synchronized playback of multiple streams, advertising standards (i.e., VPAID and VAST), DRM, and more. 

While HLS is the current gold standard for live streaming, it won’t stay that way indefinitely. We expect MPEG-DASH to become increasingly popular in the coming years.  As that shift takes place, we’ll see other changes, such as the transition away from h.264 encoding to h.265/HEVC. This new compression standard provides much smaller file sizes, making 4K live-streaming a real possibility. However, that time isn’t here yet. 

For now, it’s vital to stick with the established standards to reach as many users as possible on their devices. In other words, HLS is the streaming protocol of the present.

FAQs

1. What is HLS file format? 

HLS, or HTTP Live Streaming, is a media streaming protocol developed by Apple. It breaks down video content into smaller chunks and delivers them via standard HTTP web servers. Viewers download these chunks on-the-fly, allowing them to start watching immediately without waiting for the entire video to download.

2. Is HLS streaming good?

Yes, the HTTP streaming protocol is particularly good for its adaptive bitrate streaming capability. This feature adjusts video quality in real-time based on the viewer’s internet speed. If your internet connection slows down, your video player can automatically switch to downloading smaller chunks (lower video quality) to keep the stream going. The result is a smooth viewing experience without buffering. 

3. Is HLS better than RTMP?

While both HLS and RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) are used for streaming, they each have different strengths. 

RTMP is known for its low latency. It’s ideal for live streaming events where real-time interaction, like in live auctions or interactive events, is crucial. Meanwhile HLS, which is ideal for video on demand, offers better compatibility across devices and supports adaptive bitrate streaming. This translates into a viewing experience suitable for a wider audience with varying network conditions. 

4. How do I protect my HLS stream?

Some of the ways you can add security to your HLS stream include:

• Encryption: Scramble the content using encryption to prevent unauthorized access – AES-128 encryption is commonly used.

• Token-based authentication and digital rights management (DRM): Require viewers to have a special token (like a password) to access the stream.

• Secure connections: Use secure protocols such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS ) to protect the data transfer between the server and viewer.

5. What is an alternative to HLS streaming?

HTTP Live Streaming is a dominant player, but other alternatives like MPEG-DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) exist. It’s an open standard that, like HLS, breaks down video into smaller segments and supports adaptive bitrate streaming. Others include:

• Microsoft Smooth Streaming (MSS)

• Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming (HDS)

• Web Real-Time Communication (WebRTC)

• Adobe HTTP Dynamic Flash Streaming (HDS)

• Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)

• Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP)

• Secure Reliable Transport (SRT)

Conclusion

HLS video is the current standard for any high-quality video content delivery network. It’s widely supported and provides high-definition video with minimal buffering. Furthermore, it can run on almost any server and can be viewed on most devices. For businesses, broadcasters and content creators today, it’s a dream.

You should now have a better understanding of how HLS streaming works, its benefits and when to use it. We’ve also outlined the future of HLS streaming technology, the technicalities and its future. Ultimately, it’s a huge leap forward in video. And with a vast array of live-streaming tools available, such as Dacast’s live-streaming platform, taking advantage of HLS has never been easier.

Fortunately, you can take advantage right now. Dacast is a complete video streaming solution for any business, organization or creator. With Dacast’s 14-day free trial, you can try the feature-rich platform and experience the benefits. Signing up is quick, easy and requires no commitments.

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The post What Is HLS Streaming and When Should You Use It [2024 Update] appeared first on Dacast.

Fortunately, starting a successful live stream requires only a few important elements. For live video streams, you need a camera, an encoder, an internet connection and a high-quality video streaming solution. If you’re unfamiliar, an encoder is software or hardware that interfaces between your camera and a live streaming service provider. Furthermore, an HSL encoder is a tool that uses the HLS streaming protocol to ingest the video files and stream them to the live video streaming platform. This is a particularly technical component which requires sound knowledge and guidance.

This post will help enlighten this process. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about HLS encoding. We’ll discuss HLS encoders and RTMP encoders in the context of HLS streaming. Also, we’ll look at specific encoder settings for HLS streaming. We’ll then break down each HLS encoder setting so you can get a better understanding of all the inner workings. By the end, you’ll be well-equipped to begin turning mere video and audio data into winning live streams.

Let’s dive in and learn more about the HLS encoder and video bitrate settings for HTTP live streaming.

Table of Contents:

• What is HLS Streaming (HTTP Live Streaming)?
• How HLS Works
• Retain Backlinks with M3U8 Files
• Adaptive Bitrate Streaming in HLS
• HLS Encoding with HLS Ingest
• RTMP Ingest and HLS Streaming
• 7 HLS Encoder Setting Configurations to Consider
• RTMP Encoder Settings for HLS Streaming
• How to Connect Your Encoder to Your OVP
• Conclusion

What is HLS Streaming (HTTP Live Streaming)?

In the past, Flash was the de-facto standard for delivering internet video. However, due to security and power consumption issues, Flash has been phased out. The reason that Flash is now obsolete is that it was not compatible with the operating systems of many mobile devices.

HTML5 video players have since replaced it. Access to an HTML5 video player via HLS streaming makes it possible to stream to iOS, Android, desktop browsers, and a variety of other internet-connected devices. HLS streaming is possible due to HLS encoders.

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) has played a major role in the move away from Flash. HLS was developed by Apple to deliver content to an HTML5 video player. This protocol is an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol that makes it possible to transport videos over the internet. Adaptive bitrate means that it can deliver content at different quality levels, such as 480p, 720p, or 1080p, depending on the content quality of the original video and the end user’s internet connection.

HTTP live streaming (HLS) is used for both on-demand and live streaming, despite the term “live” in the name. HLS takes large video files and breaks them into smaller downloadable HTTP files, which then allows them to be delivered using the HTTP protocol.

Due to its ultra-compatibility, the HLS streaming protocol dominates the market today. It is the safest bet to deliver your stream to any viewer on any device. That’s why Dacast and most other major online video platforms deliver online streams in HLS format. HLS streaming is the standard method for sharing videos online.

How HLS Works

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) is a widely used protocol for delivering video content over the internet, offering both on-demand and live streaming capabilities. The HLS streaming process involves several key steps:

• Encoding: HLS uses H.264 or H.265 encoding. The video data is reformatted using one of these two encoding methods so that other devices can recognize and interpret the data.

• Segmenting: The video is split into small segments. The average length of each segment is 6 seconds, although it can vary. This makes the content easier and quicker to transmit.

• Index File Creation: An index file, known as a playlist or M3U8 file, is generated. This file lists the sequence of video segments and provides the necessary information for playback.

• Duplicate Segments: To accommodate varying network conditions and device capabilities, duplicate segments are created at different quality levels (e.g., 480p, 720p, 1080p). This allows the streaming client to switch between quality levels dynamically, ensuring an optimal viewing experience, especially if you are offering adaptive bitrate streaming in HLS.

Retain Backlinks with M3U8 Files

The M3U8 playlist file plays a crucial role in HLS streaming. It organizes and sequences the multimedia files for playback, guiding the video player to locate and retrieve the appropriate video segments. Additionally, M3U8 files can incorporate security tokens, which are essential for enforcing access controls such as password protection and viewing restrictions. These tokens regularly communicate with the streaming server to verify permissions, thereby safeguarding your content and supporting monetization efforts.

By implementing HLS with M3U8 playlists and security tokens, you can deliver high-quality, adaptive streaming experiences while maintaining robust content protection measures.

Adaptive Bitrate Streaming in HLS

One of the most significant advantages of working with HLS over other streaming protocols is adaptive bitrate streaming. With adaptive bitrate streaming, the video quality will adjust automatically, without the end-viewer doing anything, if the viewer’s network quality changes.

For example, if the user’s network slows down, the video player will detect this, and the adaptive bitrate streaming technology will lower the quality of the stream. The video will not stop playing or experience buffering; the video quality will drop to a lower tier to ensure the viewer can continue to watch your content.

Or, if more bandwidth opens up on the user’s network, the video stream quality will increase. This also happens automatically, without the user having to do anything. With adaptive bitrate streaming, the quality of the video will automatically increase.

Adaptive bitrate streaming works because HLS creates duplicate segments, as explained in step four agave, of the stream at different quality levels when it segments. This allows the video player to automatically switch between the different quality segments without the end-user having to do anything.

This allows you to provide the viewer with a better overall viewing experience.

HLS Encoding with HLS Ingest

HLS streaming is used to deliver video content to an HTML5 video player. HLS ingest, however, refers to ingesting content to the encoder from the camera or other media source.

If you are using HLS for ingesting, you must use an HLS encoder. An HLS encoder is a tool that is used for encoding with HLS ingest. HLS ingest and HLS streaming is two different functions and should not be confused.

At this point, HLS is not yet the standard protocol for ingesting. That is because HLS ingest has some latency issues. Since HLS is not the primary protocol for this role, HLS encoders are a bit difficult to come by.

RTMP Ingest and HLS Streaming

RTMP ingest paired with HLS streaming is currently the most optimal streaming setup for a few reasons. This duo gives you access to the compatibility and security of HLS and the low latency and accessibility of RTMP.

The Dacast online video platform, for example, uses the RTMP for ingesting live streams. From there, our platform converts that live video content into the HLS streaming protocol

Finally, streaming content reaches your viewers via top-tier CDNs such as Akamai and Limelight. Unlike RTMP, HLS is compatible with most browsers and devices with no need for the Flash plugin.

Since RTMP is the standard, RTMP encoders are affordable and readily accessible.

7 HLS Encoder Setting Configurations to Consider

The way you configure your settings will affect the outcome of your stream. That said, understanding HLS encoder configurations on a more technical level gives you better insight as a broadcaster.

Let’s take a look at what each of these terms means and how they relate to streaming.

1. Best HLS Codec Options

Codec is the shorthand for “coder-decoder,” and it is the technology that makes encoding possible. In live streaming, you’ll use both audio and video codecs

The H.264 video codec is currently the most efficient for HLS streaming. The X.264 codec is another implementation of the same protocol, so it is also a viable option. You can use either one. In some cases, X.264 may use less processing power, but the difference is rarely significant.

There is one additional detail to keep in mind. The H.264 standard is a family of standards, which are called “profiles.” There are a lot of these profiles, but you only need to worry about two.

If you’re streaming in 720p resolution or lower, with a video bitrate of 350-800 kbps, use the “Main” protocol. If you’re streaming in 1080p full HD, with a video bitrate of 800-4500 kbps, use the “High” protocol.

As for the best audio codec, you should select AAC or AAC-LC.

For more details on codecs, check out our comprehensive guide to video transcoding

2. HLS Resolution Settings and Video Quality

Video resolution is simply the size of your video, measured in pixels. You can choose from the ultra-low definition, low definition, standard definition, high definition, and full high definition.

The most common video frame sizes today are:

 ULDLDSDHDFHDNameUltra-Low DefinitionLow DefinitionStandard DefinitionHigh DefinitionFull High DefinitionVideo Bitrate (kbps)350350 – 800800 – 12001200 – 19001900 – 4500Resolution Width (px)42664085412801920Resolution Height (px)2403604807201080H.264 ProfileMainMainHighHighHigh

High-resolution streaming requires a fast internet connection. When the conditions are right, higher resolution typically equates to higher quality.

That’s why, most of the time, you’ll want to broadcast in the highest available resolution. Since streaming in high resolution requires faster internet, most broadcasters choose to broadcast in multiple resolutions and multiple bitrates to accommodate viewers with all different internet speeds. That way, every viewer will have the best possible resolution for their situation.

That is where HLS bitrate settings and multi-bitrate streaming come into play. Check out our tutorial on how to set up multi-bitrate streaming for more information.

3. HLS Bitrate Settings

Bitrate refers to the amount of data in your video/audio streams per unit of time. This is measured in Kilobits per second (kbps) or Megabits per second (Mbps). One Mbps is equal to 1000 kbps.

Higher video resolution requires more data. To give you a rough sense of the numbers, a low-quality 240p live stream might require around 400 kbps. A full HD 1080p live stream usually requires 4-8 Mbps. Here are some recommended video bitrates at various resolutions:

• 240p: 350 kbps
• 360p: 350 to 800 kbps
• 480p: 800 to 1200 kbps
• 720p: 1200 to 1900 kbps
• 1080p: 1900 to 4500 kbps

The requirements for bitrate for 720p are less than they are for higher resolutions. The amount of bitrate required increases as the resolution of the video increases

Audio bitrates are simpler. We recommend always using at least 128 kbps and an audio sample rate of 48 kHz (48,000 Hz).

Multi-bitrate streaming allows viewers to be served as the best possible quality video for their situation. Check out our tutorial on how to set up multi-bitrate streaming for more information.

4. Internet Speed and Bandwidth Requirements

In general, we recommend that your upload speed be roughly double the total combined bandwidth of your video and audio. If you’re streaming in multiple bitrates, you should consider the total bandwidth of all combined streams. Multiple bitrate streaming requires a stronger internet connection on your end.

Attempting to stream too much data on an internet connection that isn’t fast enough can cause your live stream to fail.

To select the correct bit rate, divide the sustained upload speed of your internet connection by two. This is the amount of bandwidth you have to play with. For example, a 10 Mbps upload speed would give you 5 Mbps of bandwidth.

In this case, we recommend sending out a multi-bitrate stream with the following settings:

• 720p stream at 2.5 Mbps
• 480p stream at 1 Mbps
• 360p stream at 500 kbps
• 240p stream at 300 kbps

This would ensure that a reliable stream will be available to both people with a fast internet connection and a slow one.

5. CBR vs. VBR

CBR refers to “Constant Bitrate,” and VBR means “Variable Bitrate.” Encoder settings will often include a toggle for CBR to VBR for both audio and video.

Constant bitrate is simple. With this setting, streams use the same amount of data regardless of the contents of the stream at any given time.

In contrast, VBR takes into account the contents of your stream. If, for example, a segment of the video contains a lot of fast-moving action, the bitrate will temporarily increase. This increases perceived quality. However, in some situations, it can also cause excess load on your internet bandwidth.

In general, we recommend using VBR for the best results. However, CBR will suffice.

6. Frames Per Second (FPS)

“Frames per second” is another aspect to consider as you configure your encoder settings. Simply put, most users should generally set frames per second (fps) at 30. For people in certain regions of the world, however, 25 frames per second are standard.

However, 30 fps will work anywhere. If you are broadcasting sports or another fast-action video, 60 fps may be preferable. Be aware that it may take a higher bit rate to make these videos look high-quality. 1080p60 bitrate will be higher than needed for a 1080p stream.

7. Keyframe Interval

Keyframe interval, which is also referred to as “keyframe frequency” by some encoders, is the frequency that the full image on the screen changes.

When broadcasting over the Dacast OVP, users should always set the keyframe interval to 2 seconds (or 2x frame rate).

RTMP Encoder Settings for HLS Streaming

At this time, RTMP encoders are still the most common type of encoder for HLS streaming due to their widespread compatibility with other components of the streaming process.

RTMP encoders come in a wide variety of types. The simplest is software encoders, which users can install on a smartphone, tablet, or computer just like any other app. There are free live-stream encoders available, as well as highly complex and expensive suites.

Additionally, there are hardware encoders for use with live streaming. These are well suited for mobile streaming, studio use, and professional-grade settings. On the other hand, hardware encoders do require more know-how than simple encoder settings for encoding software

Regardless, RTMP encoders are all configured in the same basic manner. Whether you are using a hardware encoder or a software encoder, it is important to follow the required settings for your online video platform.

Required Encoder Settings for Dacast

Dacast requires specific encoder setting configurations to ensure that the platform works properly and produces the highest quality of content.

The following settings are required for live streaming with Dacast, regardless of your selected resolution and bitrate:

• VIDEO CODEC: H.264 (x264 may work)
• FRAME RATE: 25 or 30
• KEYFRAME INTERVAL: 2 secs (or 2x frame rate)
• SCANNING: Progressive
• RATE CONTROL: Constant (CBR)
• AUDIO CODEC: AAC-LC
• AUDIO BITRATE: 128 kbps
• AUDIO CHANNELS: 2 (Stereo)
• AUDIO SAMPLE RATE: 48 kHz (48,000 Hz)

For more information on Dacast’s preferred and required encoder settings, please check out our dedicated Knowledgebase article

How to Connect Your Encoder to Your OVP

Now that you are familiar with the most common HLS encoding settings, it is time to connect your encoder to your streaming solution.

The exact encoder configuration process varies depending on which encoder you’ve chosen and the streaming solution you’re using. However, the process typically requires gathering a few credentials to connect the two tools.

For example, with Dacast, the required credentials include

• Stream name
• Stream URL
• Log-in code (unique for each stream)
• Password

This information will automatically be generated when you create a new channel within your Dacast account. To access this info, navigate to the “encoder settings” portion of a live channel, and select the requisite RTMP encoder from the list.

For a detailed walkthrough on how to set up your encoder with Dacast, please check out our dedicated encoder setup tutorial

Conclusion

Properly configuring HLS encoder settings can be incredibly daunting at first. The language can seem too technical and abstract. However, with clear instructions and expert guidance, as we’ve provided, you too can get up and running in no time.

We recommend conducting a live-streaming test to ensure your live-streaming tools work correctly. Your video codec, video quality, bitrate settings and everything else must be aligned and in-check. If you follow our technical and live-streaming guidance, you can quickly set up a successful livestream.

Finally, you should know about Dacast. Dacast is a professional-grade live-streaming platform that will get you up and running, fast. Using Dacast you can set up the perfect live stream that your audience will appreciate. It’s flexible and works seamlessly with HLS, ensuring the highest quality live streaming.

You can try Dacast completely free with our 14-day free trial.

Start streaming now

Any questions? Let us know in the comment section below! We love to hear from our readers and will respond as soon as we can.

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The post HLS Encoder and Video Bitrate Settings for HTTP Live Streaming [2024 Update] appeared first on Dacast.

This article is going to take a look at the pros and cons of HTTP live streaming. We’ll compare it to a few alternative formats as well. We’ll also look at the history of the HLS format, and ask where it came from, and why.

Table of Contents:

• How HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) works
• HLS Adaptive Bitrate Streaming Explained
• HLS Security Features
• Pros of Using the HLS Protocol
• Cons of Using the HTTP Live Streaming Protocol
• HLS Compatibility with HTML5 and Browser Support
• Solutions to the Latency Problem
• HLS vs. Other Streaming Protocols
• HLS vs RTMP: The Fall of Flash
• HLS vs MPEG-DASH: The Newer Open-Source Alternative
• What is Low-Latency HLS?
• Use Cases for HLS Format
• HLS with CDN Integration
• HLS Encoder and Player Requirements
• HLS and Mobile Streaming
• The Evolution of HLS: Historical Context and Future Developments
• How Does Dacast’s Direct HLS Low Latency Streaming Solution Work?
• Conclusion

How HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) Works

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) is a popular streaming protocol designed to facilitate seamless delivery of live and on-demand content across various devices. HLS divides video files into smaller, manageable segments, which allows for efficient and adaptive streaming. Each video segment is stored in an MPEG-TS container format, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of devices, from mobile to desktop.

When a stream starts, the server generates an HLS M3U8 manifest file—essentially a playlist that lists each video segment, including its available quality options. This manifest file enables HLS players to adjust playback quality in real-time, ensuring smooth viewing experiences even under fluctuating network conditions. Each segment may further be divided into smaller “chunks” to optimize buffering, making playback more responsive. A Content Delivery Network (CDN) then distributes these segments globally, which helps deliver high-quality streams without latency or interruptions.

Technical Components of HLS

HLS was originally developed as an alternative to Flash, using modern standards to ensure smooth, secure streaming. It uses H.264 compression for video, AAC or MP3 for audio, and relies on the HTML5 protocol for web-based delivery. The HLS protocol breaks down MP4 video streams into short, ~10-second chunks. Streams are described using M3U8 playlists that are created by the HTTP server. This playlist also called a manifest file, indexes the video chunks. These chunks are organized in the M3U8 manifest file, which enables players to locate and retrieve each segment efficiently.

HTML5 video players support HLS alongside other streaming protocols like MPEG-DASH, broadening compatibility across platforms and providing an accessible solution for streaming in most modern browsers.

Security and Monetization

For content creators and broadcasters, securing live streams is crucial, particularly if the content is monetized. HLS provides robust security options through M3U8 links, which include security tokens embedded in the manifest file. These tokens help enforce security measures like password protection or geographic restrictions by requiring regular check-ins with the streaming server. This feature is critical for monetized content, as it prevents unauthorized access while providing a seamless experience for authorized viewers.

When combined with M3U8 files, HLS offers a flexible, efficient, and secure way to deliver high-quality live and on-demand content and ensures all backlinks are retained. Its compatibility with HTML5 and adaptive streaming capabilities make it a reliable choice for broadcasters looking to optimize performance and protect their revenue-generating streams.

HLS Adaptive Bitrate Streaming Explained

Adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) is a key feature that contributes to the popularity of HLS (HTTP Live Streaming). What is HTTP Live Streaming? It’s a streaming protocol that allows video content to be delivered over the internet efficiently. The HLS streaming format works by creating multiple video files of varying quality. This way, the player can adjust the video quality in real-time based on the user’s available bandwidth.

During an HLS live stream, the player continuously monitors network conditions and switches between different quality streams as needed. For example, if the network connection is strong, the player may use a high-quality stream. If bandwidth decreases, the player automatically switches to a lower-quality stream to ensure uninterrupted playback. This dynamic adjustment helps minimize buffering and provides a smoother viewing experience.

In essence, what does HLS mean? It means smarter streaming, allowing viewers to enjoy high-quality video without interruptions. The HLS full form emphasizes its role in delivering seamless content across various devices and network conditions.

HLS Security Features

In HLS video type streaming, encryption and secure key exchange are essential for protecting content. One common method is AES-128 encryption, which secures video files during playback. When a viewer accesses an HLS feed, the HLS player requests encryption keys from the server. 

These keys are shared securely through TLS/HTTPS, ensuring only authorized players can decrypt the content. This secure key exchange protects the HLS video stream from unauthorized access, maintaining privacy and integrity. 

By combining AES-128 and TLS/HTTPS, HLS delivers both a high-quality viewing experience and strong security, making it a trusted option for video providers aiming to protect their content across the web.

Pros of Using the HLS Protocol

Over the past few years, the HLS format has become a standard protocol for web video, and with good reason. HLS ingest is pretty simple to set up, it’s free to use, and it’s supported on a wide range of devices. Let’s take a look at some of the pros of using the HLMS protocol for video streaming.

1. All-Device Delivery

First, HTTP Live Streaming supports video on just about every device. Although it was originally created for use on Safari and iOS devices, the HLS format is now supported on every modern web browser—mobile, desktop, tablet, etc.

Whether you and your viewers are accessing content on a smartphone, tablet, desktop, or laptop, smart TV, set-top box, or any other device, HLS video will play. A majority of web browsers also support the leading alternative—MPEG-DASH—but iOS and Safari don’t. That’s a major advantage. For this reason, HLS remains the de facto standard.

2. Excellent Quality

The HLS video format uses a method called Adaptive Bitrate Streaming. This method measures the internet speed available to each viewer of a given video. Then, the video quality they are being served is adjusted dynamically.

For example, you may begin watching a video at home, where you have a fast Wi-Fi connection. Then, you may leave home and get in a car with a friend, and continue watching the video with a mobile connection. This internet may be slower. You may also pass through areas of limited bandwidth availability. Even a dedicated home or work internet connection can have a significant variation in internet speeds.

Video delivered using the HLS format, if configured properly, will dynamically provide you with the best possible video quality while minimizing buffering and lagging. This approach leads to a superior user experience. The video will attempt to continue playing as much as possible. Quality will scale up as long as your internet is fast enough to handle the load.

3. Cost-Efficient

Another major advantage of the HLS format is its lower cost. As we’ve said, the format is supported by just about every device via HTML5 and Media Source Extensions. There’s no need to use a specific device to watch the content. Standard web servers can handle HLS delivery with no problem (depending on load and other factors).

4. Privacy and Security

The final benefit of HLS that we’ll highlight here is privacy and security. Compared to Flash, HLS simply provides a more secure browser for your viewers—both when they’re watching your content, as well as afterward.

Cons of Using the HTTP Live Streaming Protocol

No protocol or technology is perfect, and HTTP Live Streaming is no different. There are a few cons to using the HLS format. Let’s take a look at one of the most prevalent issues: latency.

1. Latency

Latency refers to the elapsed time between when an event occurs in the real world, and when viewers can see it. Essentially, it’s the time that it takes for a video to be recorded by a camera, processed by an HLS encoder, transmitted across the internet, distributed to “edge” servers, and decoded for viewing.

Note that video latency doesn’t account for slowdowns due to internet speed and bottlenecks; these are largely separate issues.

2. Internet Speed

HLS was designed to maximize quality, not to minimize absolute latency. Its keyframe interval, packet size, and playback buffer requirement simply aren’t suitable for super-rapid live streaming. Therefore, it usually adds a delay of 20-60 seconds to your stream. These live-streaming software platforms offer integrated low-latency solutions, and those are the ones to consider.

Slow internet speeds are only a problem for a small subset of live streamers—notably, video gamers and sports fans. In these situations, speed is important. However, most users can easily ignore the small latency of hosting an HLS stream as it will have no impact on viewer satisfaction or experience. For almost all viewers, a high-quality video that is watchable anytime, on any device, is more important than latency.

3. Increased Processing Load

HLS divides video content into small, chunked segments. This segmentation can lead to an increased processing load on both the server and client devices. As each segment needs to be encoded and decoded separately, it may require more resources. This can affect performance, especially on less powerful devices.

4. Server Overhead

The need to manage multiple segments can result in higher server overhead. Each segment must be stored, indexed, and served to users, which can strain server resources. This may require more powerful servers or additional infrastructure to handle increased requests and data management.

5. Segment Caching Requirements

To optimize performance, HLS often requires segment caching at multiple locations. This means that each video segment needs to be cached on various servers to ensure quick access. Managing this caching can add complexity to the overall system, potentially leading to inconsistencies and increased latency if not properly configured.

HLS Compatibility with HTML5 and Browser Support

HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is a popular streaming format that works well with HTML5. This makes it ideal for delivering video across various devices and browsers. It was developed by Apple but HLS is now widely supported on most modern browsers and devices, including iOS, Android, and desktop browsers like Chrome, Safari, and Edge.

With HTML5, video playback is smoother, and there’s no need for plugins. This makes HLS integration more seamless. However, not all browsers natively support HLS (e.g., Firefox lacks full native support), so developers often use JavaScript libraries like hls.js to ensure consistent playback across platforms.

Using HLS with HTML5 allows for adaptive bitrate streaming, which adjusts video quality based on the user’s internet speed, providing a better viewing experience with fewer interruptions. This compatibility makes HLS a solid choice for online video delivery.

Solutions to the Latency Problem

Flash video provided low latency live streaming. But with the decline of Flash, internet video is in a transition period. There aren’t any fantastic solutions to the HLS latency issue yet. But many different businesses are working on it, including top-tier CDN provider Akamai. Replacements for HLS are in the works (such as fragmented MP4), but devices aren’t yet ready to play them. That next shift may still be a few years out.

To reduce latency in HLS streaming, several techniques can be used. Low-latency HLS (LL-HLS) improves latency by shortening segment durations and enabling partial segment delivery, bringing stream delays down to nearly real-time. This is achieved by delivering smaller, partial segments as soon as they’re available rather than waiting for the entire segment to be complete. 

Also, chunked transfer encoding allows data to stream in smaller chunks, enabling faster delivery. HTTP/2 improves efficiency through multiplexing, speeding up load times for the HLS manifest and HLS file format. Together, these techniques create a smooth, low-latency streaming experience

Here at Dacast, we’re offering a low-latency HLS streaming solution for our Premium plans and above. This solution lowers latency to the range of 10 seconds or less. It meets modern browser security standards via HTTPS delivery and still allows you to reach all mobile devices.

HLS vs. Other Streaming Protocols

HLS is a popular video HLS protocol developed by Apple. It’s used for delivering high-quality content via the HLS streaming protocol. HLS uses the HLS m3u8 stream format, which breaks video into small HLS media file segments, making it reliable for high-quality, adaptive streaming.

When comparing HLS to other protocols, WebRTC stands out for its ultra-low latency, which is ideal for real-time communication like video conferencing. While HLS works well for broadcast-quality streaming, WebRTC offers instant interaction, making it more suitable for video calls or gaming.

CMAF (Common Media Application Format) merges HLS with MPEG-DASH. This reduces latency and increasing compatibility across platforms. This makes it valuable for low-latency, broad-reach applications.

And RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) is often used for IP cameras. While RTSP can handle low latency, it lacks adaptive streaming, making HLS feeds better for dynamic, high-quality streaming needs.

So you can better understand the pros of HLS, let’s take a closer look at HLS vs. other streaming protocols—notably RTMP and MPEG-DASH.

Before Flash was discontinued, RTMP and HLS were popular picks for delivering streaming video to viewers. Now that Flash is gone, MPEG-DASH is arguably HLS’s biggest competitor. MPEG-DASH is the newer kid on the block and has positively pushed HLS to improve and address past shortcomings like lower video quality.

With that said, let’s dive deeper into both comparisons.

HLS vs RTMP: The Fall of Flash

RTMP as a delivery protocol is mainly phased out, but RTMP is not dead. Let me explain.

Macromedia developed RTMP to work with Adobe Flash player early when the internet became widely used. The merging of Adobe and Macromedia in 2005 gave RTMP a huge reach. Consider that at its peak, about 99% of desktop browsers in the West had the Adobe Flash Player plug-in installed.

RTMP and Flash worked very closely together, so many people confused the two as the same thing, but they’re not. In other words, although Flash is dead, RTMP is not.

So what caused the downfall of Flash (and RTMP as the top delivery protocol)? 

Steve Jobs addressed most of Flash’s shortcomings in a letter called Thoughts on Flash. In the letter, Jobs explained why Flash would not be allowed on Apple devices. In the letter, Jobs explained why Flash would not be allowed on Apple devices. In his letter, Steve Jobs talked about how Flash was a closed system and how it had a lot of issues. That’s why you may have heard people joking that Steve Jobs killed Flash, and there’s some truth to it.

Ultimately, Flash’s death resulted from being unable to fix its performance, battery, and security issues in line with competition like HTML5.

So technically speaking, it no longer makes much sense to compare HLS and RTMP as a delivery protocol, and this will become even more true as time passes. But, let’s pretend we’re back in the days of Flash for a second. As you might recall, RTMP was powerful because it achieved very low latency. Even after Flash’s end-of-life on December 31, 2020 (RIP), the world is still working on a solid low-latency replacement for RTMP.

Because RTMP is powerful, it still lives on, just not how it used to.

HLS Ingest vs. RTMP Ingest

With most browsers dropping support of RTMP delivery after Flash’s end-of-life announcement, anything to do with RTMP delivery/streaming (or Flash delivery/streaming) is practically nonexistent. However, RTMP largely lives on through RTMP Ingest, which actually works with HLS quite well.

For that reason, nowadays, it’s more appropriate to compare RTMP Ingest vs. HLS Ingest rather than RTMP vs. HLS for delivery/streaming.

If you need a refresher, ingest is the technology in charge of transmitting video files from the live stream encoder to the streaming platform. Basically, to use RTMP Ingest, you need an RTMP encoder, and to use HLS ingest, you need an HLS encoder, which leads us to our first benefit for RTMP Ingest.

At the moment, RTMP encoders are far more common than HLS encoders. However, this isn’t really a problem if you’re intentional about looking for HLS-compatible encoders since there are plenty of options out there. Another thing to note is that popular social media sites like Facebook support RTMP ingest and not HLS Ingest yet.

Compared to HLS, RTMP is optimized for latency, which is a top reason RTMP Ingest is still very popular compared to HLS Ingest. However, HLS ingest is capable of providing higher quality video and scalability. It’s likely HLS will come out on top in time, but for now, RTMP is going strong.

HLS vs MPEG-DASH: The Newer Open-Source Alternative

As far as delivery/streaming, HLS vs MPEG-DASH is more of a modern comparison compared to HLS vs. RTMP, so let’s dive in.

HLS is Apple’s proprietary solution and about a decade ago, most of its competition also consisted of other proprietary streaming protocols. For that reason, an alternative adaptive bitrate streaming protocol started to be worked on. MPEG-Dash is an open-source standard developed as a coordinated effort between more than 50 organizations, including giants like Apple and Microsoft.

So, one top thing you should know about MPEG-DASH compared to HLS is that it’s an international standard. But, MPEG-DASH’s major downfall is that the mobile Safari browser doesn’t support it, and if you’ve ever owned an iPhone or iPad, you know that Safari is the default browser. Considering there are about 1.8 billion active Apple devices globally, this is certainly a huge con for DASH.

Other comparisons between the two have changed over time. For example, DASH arguably delivered better quality in the recent past, but not anymore.

For a more detailed comparison, review our blog post comparing MPEG-DASH versus HLS streaming protocols.

What is Low-Latency HLS?

Originally, Apple developed HLS streaming to favor reliability over latency. As you now know, an advantage of RTMP over HLS is its lower latency.

To address this shortcoming, Apple announced low-latency HLS, which enables low-latency video streaming and is an extension of the HLS protocol. When it was first announced in 2019, low-latency HLS was an entirely separate protocol from HLS, but now Apple has merged both, and it’s become one protocol.

One goal of merging the two protocols was to speed up adoption. Since it’s relatively new, vendor support across the video delivery ecosystem has been lacking. The technology is super promising though.

Low-latency HLS can reach 2 seconds or less of latency, which is amazing. To put that in perspective for you, latency for HLS live streams generally tends to be between 15-30 seconds.

Use Cases for HLS Format

The HLS stream format (HTTP Live Streaming) is versatile, making it ideal for many industries. For live broadcasting of news and sports, for example, HLS supports real-time, high-quality streaming that scales. This ensures viewers experience minimal buffering. OTT streaming platforms rely on HTTP video streaming to reach audiences on various devices, from smartphones to smart TVs, enhancing accessibility and viewer engagement.

In e-learning, HLS offers smooth streaming for lectures and interactive courses, allowing students to watch content seamlessly on many devices. Corporate communications also benefit from HLS, as it supports secure video sharing for company updates, training, or events across global teams. 

Also, HLS is compatible with adaptive bitrate streaming. This adjusts video quality based on internet speed. This adaptability and compatibility make HLS an essential format for reliable, high-quality streaming across different sectors and use cases.

HLS with CDN Integration

Integrating HLS with CDNs creates a powerful solution for delivering video content efficiently. CDNs enhance HLS streaming by caching video segments at edge servers, closer to viewers. This reduces latency and enables faster playback, improving the viewing experience. By distributing segments across the CDN’s network, HLS can quickly scale to meet high traffic demands, making it ideal for large-scale live-streaming events where many users watch simultaneously.

The synergy between HLS and CDNs is found in the ability to optimize video delivery for viewers, regardless of location, without overloading the origin server. With edge caching, CDNs minimize buffering times and bandwidth usage, providing reliable streaming even under heavy loads. This integration provides smooth, high-quality videos for audiences everywhere.

HLS Encoder and Player Requirements

For streaming with HLS, both a compatible encoder and player are important. An HLS encoder is responsible for converting live video into HLS format, breaking it into small segments that can be streamed to users. 

Popular HLS-compatible encoders include OBS Studio* which is free and open-source, Wowza Streaming Engine, known for robust streaming capabilities, and professional hardware encoders such as Teradek and AJA. These options cater to different needs, from simple streaming to complex, high-quality broadcasts.

For playback, an HLS-compatible player is required. Some popular choices include JW Player, a widely-used solution for professional streaming, Video.js, an open-source player with customizable options, and THEOplayer, which is known for seamless HLS playback across devices. These players support smooth delivery and adaptive bitrate streaming, optimizing user experience. With the right HLS encoder and player, you can deliver reliable, high-quality streams on various platforms.

HLS and Mobile Streaming

HLS  is highly effective for mobile streaming, designed originally by Apple with mobile devices in mind. This format works especially well on mobile networks by using adaptive bitrate streaming to adjust video quality based on network conditions. This means users get smooth playback with less buffering, even when network speeds vary. This is a great benefit as mobile video consumption continues to grow.

For mobile-first businesses, HLS offers a big advantage over older protocols. It’s optimized for performance on mobile networks, meaning it delivers high-quality streaming with efficient data use. This helps in preserving battery life and improves user experience. With more viewers watching on mobile, HLS ensures that video content loads quickly and smoothly, making it a powerful choice for businesses focused on mobile-friendly streaming and reaching today’s mobile-centric audiences.

The Evolution of HLS: Historical Context and Future Developments

HTTP Live Streaming was developed by Apple back in 2009 as a response to the declining use of Flash for video delivery. Originally designed for mobile devices, HLS aimed to provide a robust solution that offered adaptive streaming capabilities. 

Over the years, it’s become the industry standard for delivering video over the internet because of its ability to adjust video quality based on users’ bandwidth, ensuring smooth playback across various devices.

As HLS continues to morph and improve, future developments look to include Low-Latency HLS, which significantly reduces buffering time and improves real-time streaming experiences. This improvement is particularly beneficial for live events and interactive broadcasts.

However, HLS faces growing competition from open-source alternatives like MPEG-DASH and CMAF. These technologies offer similar adaptive streaming features and appeal to developers seeking more flexible solutions. Despite this competition, HLS remains a cornerstone of video delivery, and its ongoing advancements will likely keep it relevant in an ever-changing streaming landscape.

How Does Dacast’s Direct HLS Low Latency Streaming Solution Work?

We were the first online video platform to offer a low latency HLS live stream encoder for free. This encoder is based on the open-source encoder OBS Studio meaning it includes all the benefits that make OBS Studio so popular.

It’s compatible with Mac and Windows. Something you should know is that unlike many other encoders, it only requires a small amount of CPU processing power and memory.

When we compared HLS vs. RTMP, we mentioned that RTMP-Ingest is still popular. However, that doesn’t mean it’ll be popular forever. Dacast’s Direct HLS Low Latency Streaming Solution uses HLS Ingest instead, although RTMP Ingest is still the default.

By using HLS ingest, Dacast’s Direct HLS Low Latency Streaming Solution is HLS end-to-end. So instead of HLS streaming starting with RTMP Ingest and then converting to HLS, it starts and ends with HLS. This gives viewers much lower latency, and we’re talking 10 seconds or less of latency. It also meets modern browser security standards, which means it can still reach all mobile devices.

Conclusion

HLS is a powerful technology that’s become one of the industry standards. Hopefully, this article has educated you on the basics of this live streaming technology, how it works, and what its upsides and downsides are.

Any questions about the HLS format? You can do your first live stream today with the Dacast HLS video streaming software. If you’re ready to try it today, you can take advantage of our free 14-day trial. No credit card is required.

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Finally, do you have further questions, thoughts, or feedback about this article? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below, and we will get back to you.

Thanks for tuning in, and good luck with your live streams!

The post HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) Format – The Pros, Cons and How it Works appeared first on Dacast.

The service works by routing user requests through the most suitable CDN, ensuring optimal performance and reducing latency. This setup not only improves load times but also increases redundancy; if one CDN experiences issues, traffic can seamlessly shift to another provider. 

By using multiple CDN providers, businesses can optimize content delivery to meet varying user demands, ensuring a smooth experience across different platforms and devices. Overall, integrating multiple CDN providers and a multi-CDN strategy enhances both reliability and user satisfaction.

Today, we’ll give you the rundown on what is multi-CDN, how it works, and how exactly a multi-CDN approach improves live streaming and video on demand. Then we’ll explain how to implement a multi-CDN strategy, and lastly, we’ll wrap up by sharing a simpler, alternate route to leverage the benefits of a multi-CDN setup.

Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

• What is Multi-CDN and How Does It Work?
• Reasons to Implement Multi-CDN Strategy For Your Website?
• Industry Case studies
• How to Implement Multi-CDN in 3 Steps
• Easy Way to Leverage Multi-CDN Solution
• Load Balancing Strategies
• Challenges of Using Multi-CDN
• Multi-CDN and Security Features
• Comparing 10 top Multi-CDN Providers
• Emerging Trends and Future Outlook
• Multi-CDN Provider and Cost Optimization Tips
• Multi-CDN Implementation Best Practices
• Conclusion

What is Multi-CDN and How Does It Work?

Before we share what is multi-CDN, let’s do a quick refresher on what a CDN is. A CDN is basically a network of geographically distributed servers around the world. The goal of CDNs are to speed up the delivery of videos or web content to end-users for a better user experience.

Although CDNs in the market are powerful, there’s not a single CDN capable of guaranteeing 100% uptime. No CDN provider can also truthfully say they provide the best coverage to every single city in the world. Here is where the value of multi-CDNs come in.

Multiple CDNs are a way to combine the strengths of different CDN vendors, while minimizing the weaknesses of each. A single CDN provider, for example, might have great coverage in Asia, while another CDN vendor might have great coverage all over the USA and Europe. When you use a multi-CDN service, you can route traffic to different CDNs in a way that makes the most sense when it comes to performance and availability.

Ultimately, the benefit of using multiple CDN providers in the context of videos is to give your viewers globally the best possible viewing experience.

Reasons to Implement Multi-CDN Strategy For Your Website?

A multi-CDN solution is ideal if reaching a large global audience through your website and video content is important for you. If a video on your site starts to go viral, but something happens to your CDN, this could lead to many negative repercussions.

This can result in your viewers experiencing major buffering and lagging issues and, worse, not being able to access your video at all. The effect of one negative event due to a server crash or CDN going down can have a domino effect on your business, revenue, and brand reputation.

A CDN outage can happen with even the top content delivery networks. For example, Cloudflare, a very popular CDN, has previously  gone down for about 25 minutes.

Pros and Cons to Using a Multi-CDN

The pros generally outweigh the cons of using a multi-CDN if reaching an audience at a global scale is important for you. However, it is important to note that introducing more content delivery networks to your workflow will increase the complexity of management. With that said, let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons of using a multi-CDN.

Pros:

• Avoid a single point of failure: Using multiple content delivery networks can ensure 100% availability. In the case of a content delivery network outage, the current CDN can be replaced with another CDN.
• Performance benefits: Multiple CDNs mean more servers and reduced latency. Lower latency and faster loading times mean less lagging and buffering.  The result is a higher-quality broadcast for both live streaming and video on demand. You can get away with high latency when a few seconds don’t make much of a difference, like when downloading a book, but these few seconds make a huge difference when live streaming.
• Enhanced security: A common type of cyber attack is called DDoS, where basically bad actors try to overload a server or network to cause it to fail. Think of a traffic jam. In a setup with multiple CDN providers, if the servers from one CDN gets attacked, traffic can just be rerouted and “fall over” to the servers of another CDN.
• Lower bandwidth costs: Different CDN providers offer cheaper rates in certain regions. When setting up a multi-CDN strategy, you can route to the cheaper option.
• Scalability: With multiple CDNs, you can better handle traffic spikes or virality. By using a multi CDN service, there are more servers to distribute the load and to handle requests, so the chance that any one server will be overloaded and fail is practically nonexistent.
• Reach remote areas: Generally, the closer a user is to a server, the lower the latency. Although data moves very fast today, it can’t travel faster than the speed of light. For that reason, distance will likely always play a role in video performance. Having strategic multiple CDN providers gives you more distributed edge servers, making it possible to deliver high-quality video experiences to more remote areas.

Cons:

• Need to pay extra attention to configurations: You need to ensure configurations are the same across all CDN providers. For example, in reference to simple multi-CDN load balancing, you want to make sure that if you blacklist European traffic on one CDN, you also blacklist it on others.
• Measuring performance may take longer: With multi CDN providers comes multiple capture logs to sort through to measure performance.
• Integration and training costs: Unless you have the technical knowledge to integrate a multi CDN strategy, you may have to hire experts or invest in a multi-CDN service solution that can help you manage multiple CDNs.
• More strategic thinking required: Choosing how to allocate specific workloads and determining which content delivery network will serve which user or session based on whichever rules requires some technical know-how.

If one content delivery system conveying your stream goes down, another content delivery system will automatically step up in its place, ensuring streaming outages are a thing of the past.

Want to experiment with Multi-CDN for your next live streams? Try Dacast for 14 days and activate the Multi-CDN option. You will only pay for the option if you actually use it.

Industry Case Studies

Industry case studies illustrate the effectiveness of using multiple CDNs to enhance reliability and performance. Companies like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video use multi-CDN switching to manage high-traffic demands during peak times, ensuring that users experience smooth streaming without interruptions. By taking advantage of a diverse content delivery network architecture, these companies can distribute traffic across various CDNs, reducing the risk of bottlenecks and improving load times.

For instance, a major online retailer faced challenges during holiday sales events, with traffic spikes overwhelming their single CDN provider. By adopting a CDN network architecture that included multiple CDNs, they successfully balanced the load and provided seamless service to customers worldwide.

This strategy not only enhances performance but also improves resilience and redundancy. If one CDN experiences an outage, traffic can be rerouted to another provider without impacting the user experience. 

Ultimately, the use of multiple CDNs enables companies to maintain high availability and performance, ensuring that their services remain accessible and reliable for users across the globe.

How to Implement Multi-CDN in 3 Steps

Implementing a multi-CDN strategy can enhance performance, but it also comes with challenges. One best practice is using DNS-based load balancing with services like Amazon Route 53, which helps route user requests to the optimal CDN based on latency and availability.

This method improves reliability and speed. Additionally, orchestration tools can streamline the management of different CDN network solutions, ensuring consistent configurations across all providers. This is vital for maintaining a seamless user experience. However, managing configurations and monitoring performance can be complex. It’s important to regularly review and optimize settings for each CDN. By understanding what is a multi CDN and how to leverage effective content delivery network solutions, businesses can overcome challenges and maximize their content delivery efficiency.

Now that you know the benefits of using a Multi-CDN let’s quickly explain the steps to implement a multi-CDN setup.

1) Select the Right CDN Partners

The right CDN provider will differ depending on your needs. We’ll guide you on different factors to consider in your search.

The first thing to consider is to make sure the CDN provider you choose specializes in video. Some CDN providers don’t support live streaming at all.

It’s also common for CDN providers to specialize in certain locations. In general, CDN performance is higher in major cities in the US and Europe because the concentration of edge servers in these areas tend to be high. That’s why if streaming to certain parts, especially live streaming to China, you need to be very strategic on who you choose.

Another factor to consider is the number of servers. Many live streaming CDN solutions don’t have a huge distribution of edge servers. Akamai CDN is popular for those looking for a live streaming CDN for this reason.

2) Choose a DNS Provider or Multi-CDN Management Solution

A multi-CDN DNS provider or multi-CDN management solution can make managing multiple CDNs easier. For example, these solutions can help with configuration, engineering support, and integration support. Different solutions can also help with routing network traffic in the most efficient way possible using data and smart algorithms.

3) Choose an Approach to Route Traffic

When working with a DNS provider that doesn’t use advanced methods to route traffic, you’ll need to consider a few ways to distribute the load of traffic to deliver the best possible experience to your viewers. Here are common approaches:

• Static DNS: Simple approach, but may require a manual, time-consuming effort if a CDN fails. Doesn’t consider cost or performance variables.
• Managed DNS: Similar to static approach, but automates the manual aspect.
• Weighted Round Robin: A multi-CDN load balancing approach where you can designate how often each of your CDNs receives traffic. (e.g., CDN A: 60% of traffic, CDN B-40%)
• Geo-location: Choose which CDN gets traffic from specific countries or states. You can even get as granular as which province.
• Variable-Driven: Most complex approach, but takes into account many factors when deciding which CDN to route requests to.

Easy Way to Leverage Multi-CDN Solution

Shopping for CDNs requires a lot of due diligence. An alternative to setting up and working with a multi-CDN architecture is to use an online video platform, like Dacast, and take advantage of their existing partnerships with top CDNs.

For example, here at Dacast, we offer a multi-CDN solution for a straightforward flat fee of $49 per hour. Easily activate multi-CDNs for your most important streams and eliminate the risk of missed opportunities. We have an existing partnership with Limelight so that video streamers don’t have to spend so much time on the technical stuff. By taking this route, you’ll also no longer need to worry about having to negotiate prices with multiple CDN providers.

Load Balancing Strategies

Load balancing is essential in multi-CDN setups, as it determines how requests are distributed among different CDN providers. Here are some common load-balancing strategies:

1. Round-Robin: This strategy distributes requests evenly across all available CDNs in a sequential manner. It’s simple and effective for balancing loads but may not account for differences in performance. It’s best suited for scenarios with similar traffic patterns, optimizing costs while ensuring even usage across CDN network solutions.

2. Weighted Round-Robin: Similar to round-robin, this method assigns a weight to each CDN based on its capacity or performance. Higher-performing CDNs receive more requests. This strategy is great for optimizing performance and ensuring resources are used efficiently.

3. Geolocation: This strategy directs user requests to the nearest CDN node based on their geographic location. It reduces latency significantly and improves load times, making it ideal for global audiences.

4. Variable-Driven Load Balancing: This approach uses real-time data and performance metrics (like latency and load) to route requests dynamically. It’s particularly effective for optimizing performance and cost in variable traffic situations.

These strategies help ensure efficient CDN monitoring and provide a reliable multi-content delivery network hub for businesses, enhancing user experience and reducing latency. Understanding how does a CDN work is crucial for selecting the right load-balancing strategy.

Challenges of Using Multi-CDN

While using a multi-CDN approach offers many benefits, it also presents several challenges that businesses must navigate. One of the main difficulties is the potential for configuration errors. With multiple CDN providers, ensuring that each is correctly set up to work together can be complex. A small mistake in settings can lead to content delivery issues, negatively impacting user experience.

Operational difficulties often arise as well. Managing different content delivery network architectures can complicate workflow processes, requiring teams to stay updated on each provider’s capabilities and limitations. This can lead to confusion and miscommunication within teams.

Troubleshooting issues can become more cumbersome with multiple CDNs. Identifying the source of a problem—whether it’s due to one provider or an interaction between them—can take extra time and effort.

To maintain performance and cost efficiency, organizations need reliable CDN monitoring tools. These CDN tools help track performance metrics and usage costs across different providers. Without effective monitoring, it’s easy to lose track of how multi CDN pricing affects overall budget and performance, leading to unexpected expenses and inefficiencies.

Multi-CDN and Security Features

A multi-CDN setup enhances security by distributing traffic across multiple networks, reducing the risk of attacks and downtime. With diverse providers, organizations can take advantage of various security features tailored to their needs. For instance, many CDNs offer Web Application Firewalls (WAF), which help protect against threats like SQL injection and cross-site scripting by filtering harmful traffic.

Another essential feature is Transport Layer Security (TLS), which encrypts data between users and servers, safeguarding sensitive information during transit. However, implementing a multi-CDN strategy can introduce complexities. Each CDN may have different security protocols and settings, making configuration management more challenging. 

While WAFs provide significant protection against security breaches, they require careful configuration to avoid disruptions. Balancing the security benefits and challenges of a multi-CDN setup is crucial for organizations aiming to enhance their content delivery while maintaining robust security.

Comparing 10 top Multi-CDN Providers

Implementing a multiCDN strategy is crucial for businesses needing reliable, fast content delivery across the globe. Using multiple CDN solutions helps mitigate outages, optimize delivery, and provide robust performance for different regions. 

Here’s a comparison of 10 top multi CDN providers, each with unique features and strengths.

1. Cloudflare

Cloudflare is known for its vast global network and robust security features, making it popular for multi-CDN solutions. It optimizes speed and reliability and is strong in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Pricing: Offers a free plan; business plans start at $25/month.

2. Akamai

Akamai boasts one of the largest multi-cdn architecture, providing high availability and performance across North America, Europe, and Asia. It offers in-depth analytics and seamless multi cdn switching for consistent content delivery.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on traffic and usage.

3. Fastly

Fastly is known for low latency and real-time analytics, ideal for high-traffic applications. Its edge cloud platform offers flexible configurations, and it’s brilliant in North America and Europe.

Pricing: Pay-as-you-go starting at $0.12/GB, with enterprise plans available.

4. StackPath

StackPath delivers on performance and security, with a strong presence in North America, Europe, and parts of Asia. It’s popular for multi platform content delivery and provides instant configuration changes.

Pricing: Starts at $10/month for standard CDN services.

5. KeyCDN

KeyCDN is a cost-effective provider with a strong focus on performance and an intuitive interface. It serves well in North America, Europe, and emerging markets like South America.

Pricing: Pay-as-you-go model, starting at $0.04/GB with no monthly minimums.

6. Limelight Networks

Limelight Networks has a reputation for delivering high-quality streaming content with low latency. Its optimized network routes are strong in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on bandwidth and service requirements.

7. Amazon CloudFront

As part of AWS, Amazon CloudFront integrates easily with other AWS services and offers a global reach with high availability. It’s popular in North America and Asia-Pacific for multi cdn dns and multi cdn switching.

Pricing: Pay-as-you-go starting at $0.085/GB.

8. CDNetworks

CDNetworks provides excellent reach in Asia and is well-suited for businesses targeting that region. Known for secure, low-latency delivery, it’s a great choice for a multi-content delivery network solution.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on bandwidth needs.

9. G-Core Labs

G-Core Labs offers global coverage with a strong focus on the gaming and media industries. Its advanced caching and low-latency streaming are ideal for Europe and the CIS region.

Pricing: Starts at $0.02/GB for CDN services.

10. Verizon Media (Edgecast)

Verizon Media CDN focuses on video streaming and multi-cdn architecture for content-heavy applications. It’s strong in North America and Europe, providing reliable delivery for broadcasters.

Pricing: Custom pricing based on use case and bandwidth.

Using a multi-CDN approach with these providers ensures resilient content delivery. By leveraging a multi cdn strategy and mixing providers based on regional strengths, companies can deliver optimized performance and redundancy across global markets.

Emerging Trends and Future Outlook

The future of multi-CDN strategies looks promising, driven by advancements in edge computing, the rollout of 5G, and the evolution of cloud-based infrastructure. 

As edge computing brings processing power closer to users, it reduces latency and enhances the speed of content delivery. This trend enables multi-CDN solutions to leverage geographically distributed nodes, improving performance even more.

The impact of 5G technology cannot be understated. Its high speeds and low latency create new opportunities for real-time streaming and interactive applications. This encourages businesses to adopt multi-CDN architectures that can efficiently handle increased traffic and data demands.

Also, cloud-based infrastructure will continue to shape content delivery, providing scalability and flexibility. As companies embrace these technologies, they can expect a more reliable and efficient multi-cdn strategy that meets the growing needs of users, ensuring an enhanced experience across various platforms and devices.

Multi-CDN Provider and Cost Optimization Tips

When selecting the right multi-CDN providers, consider your specific needs carefully. Start with geographic coverage and ensure the provider has a strong presence in the regions where your audience is located. This will improve loading times and user experience. Next, evaluate cost considerations. Compare pricing models to find a provider that fits your budget while offering essential features.

Technical capabilities are also crucial—look for features like security, analytics, and support for video streaming. To make the selection process easier, consider using CDN comparison calculators. These tools help you analyze performance, pricing, and features side by side, ensuring you choose the most cost-effective solution for your needs. 

By focusing on these factors, you can effectively implement a multi-CDN strategy that meets your business objectives.

Multi-CDN Implementation Best Practices

Multi-CDN (Content Delivery Network) strategies improve content delivery speed, reliability, and global reach. To make the most of a multi-CDN setup, we recommend these best practices:

Understand Your Needs: Assess your target regions, expected traffic, and content type (e.g., streaming, static) to choose CDNs that suit your goals.

Select Compatible CDNs: Choose providers with complementary strengths and compatible technologies to help avoid integration issues.

Set Up Smart Load Balancing: Use load-balancing tools to distribute traffic based on performance, availability, and user location.

Monitor Real-Time Performance: Watch each CDN’s performance with real-time monitoring tools to help you quickly detect and address any issues.

Have a Backup Plan: Keep a backup CDN ready in case of outages or unexpected traffic surges.

Optimize Costs: Track usage and costs across providers, adjusting configurations for cost efficiency without sacrificing performance.

Implementing these best practices helps ensure smoother, faster content delivery.

Conclusion

A multi-CDN solution improves live streaming and video on demand by enhancing the experience for your viewers around the world. More specifically, it reduces latency, improves availability, and gives you added security. Using a multi-CDN approach is a proven way to respond to the increase in the size of video files and the increasing popularity of video.

If you want a simpler way to access multi-CDN explicitly for video or streaming content, consider an online video hosting platform like Dacast and take advantage of their existing partnerships with multiple CDNs.

Experience the power of multi-CDNs for yourself with Dacast’s 14-day free trial.

Try Dacast with Multi-CDN

Do you plan to implement Multi-CDN for your business? We’d love to know in the comments below!

The post What Is Multi-CDN and How Does It Work as a Service appeared first on Dacast.

Table of Contents:

• What is an M3U8 File?
• How M3U8 Files Work
• Creating M3U8 Files
• Applications of M3U8 Files
• Benefits of Using M3U8 Files
• Diagram: How M3U8 Files Integrate with HLS
• Common Issues and Troubleshooting
• Advanced Usage of M3U8 Files
• Best Practices for Using M3U8 Files
• Tools and Resources
• FAQ
• Conclusion

What is an M3U8 File?

An M3U8 file is essentially a playlist file used to organize and sequence multimedia files for playback. Unlike its predecessor, M3U, which may use various character encodings, M3U8 exclusively uses UTF-8, enhancing its compatibility and reliability across different streaming platforms and devices.

Key Features of M3U8 Files

• UTF-8 Encoding: Ensures wide compatibility and support for international characters.
• Versatility: Can point to media files located on the local filesystem or online.
• Streaming Support: Integral to HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) technology.

How M3U8 Files Work

M3U8 files contain plain text that specifies the locations of media files, either through absolute URLs or relative paths. When used in streaming, M3U8 files typically link to media segments, allowing for adaptive bitrate streaming.

Example of an M3U8 File

plaintext

Copy code

    #EXTM3U

    #EXT-X-VERSION:3

    #EXT-X-TARGETDURATION:10

    #EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE:0

    #EXTINF:10,

   http://example.com/media/segment0.ts

   #EXTINF:10,

   http://example.com/media/segment1.ts

   #EXTINF:10,

   http://example.com/media/segment2.ts

Creating M3U8 Files

Creating an M3U8 file involves listing the media files in the correct sequence, along with necessary metadata. This can be done manually or through various software tools designed for playlist management.

Manual Creation of M3U8 Files

1. Open a Text Editor: Use any text editor that supports UTF-8 encoding.
2. Add Metadata Tags: Include tags like #EXTM3U, #EXT-X-VERSION, and #EXTINF.
3. List Media Files: Specify the URLs or paths to media files.

Using Software Tools

Several tools simplify the creation of M3U8 files, such as:

• FFmpeg: A powerful multimedia framework capable of converting and streaming audio and video.
• VLC Media Player: A versatile media player that can generate M3U8 playlists.

Applications of M3U8 Files

M3U8 files are extensively used in various applications, particularly in streaming technologies like HLS.

HTTP Live Streaming (HLS)

HLS (HTTP live streaming), developed by Apple, is a streaming protocol that uses M3U8 files to deliver adaptive bitrate streams. This ensures a seamless viewing experience by adjusting the quality of the stream based on the user’s internet connection.

Media Servers and Players

Media servers and players often utilize M3U8 files to manage and deliver content. Applications like VLC, Plex, and Kodi support M3U8 playlists, allowing users to organize and stream their media collections efficiently.

Benefits of Using M3U8 Files

Compatibility

M3U8 files’ UTF-8 encoding ensures they can be used across various video platforms and devices without encoding issues, making them a universal choice for multimedia playlists.

Flexibility

The ability to point to both local and online media files gives M3U8 playlists a significant advantage in managing diverse media libraries.

Adaptive Streaming

M3U8 files play a crucial role in adaptive streaming technologies, offering a superior user experience by dynamically adjusting the stream quality.

Diagram: How M3U8 Files Integrate with HLS

mermaid

Copy code

graph TD;

    A[Client Request] --> B[HLS Server];

    B --> C{M3U8 Playlist};

    C --> D[Media Segments];

    D --> E[Playback on Client];

    C --> F[Adaptive Bitrate Selection];

    F --> D;

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Encoding Problems

Ensure your text editor or software tool saves the M3U8 file in UTF-8 format to prevent playback issues.

Incorrect File Paths

Double-check the paths or URLs listed in your M3U8 file to ensure they point to the correct media files.

Server Configuration

For online streaming, ensure your server is correctly configured to support the delivery of M3U8 files and associated media segments.

Advanced Usage of M3U8 Files

Dynamic Playlist Generation

Dynamic playlist generation involves creating M3U8 files on-the-fly based on user preferences or real-time data. This approach is particularly useful for live events, personalized content delivery, and adaptive streaming scenarios.

Implementing Dynamic Playlists

1. Server-Side Scripting: Use server-side languages like Python, PHP, or Node.js to generate M3U8 files dynamically.
2. Database Integration: Store media metadata in a database and query it to populate the M3U8 file based on user requests.
3. Real-Time Updates: For live streaming, update the M3U8 file with new media segments as they become available.

Multi-Bitrate Streaming

To provide a smooth viewing experience regardless of the user’s video bandwidth, M3U8 files can specify multiple versions of the same content at different streaming bitrates.

Example of Multi-Bitrate M3U8 File

plaintext

Copy code

    #EXTM3U

    #EXT-X-STREAM-INF:BANDWIDTH=1280000,RESOLUTION=640×360

    http://example.com/media/low.m3u8

    #EXT-X-STREAM-INF:BANDWIDTH=2560000,RESOLUTION=1280×720

    http://example.com/media/mid.m3u8

    #EXT-X-STREAM-INF:BANDWIDTH=5120000,RESOLUTION=1920×1080

   http://example.com/media/high.m3u8

Encryption and DRM

To protect content, M3U8 files can include information for encrypting media segments and implementing Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Steps for Adding Encryption

1. Encrypt Media Segments: Use tools like openssl or FFmpeg to encrypt your media files.
2. Include Encryption Keys in M3U8: Add #EXT-X-KEY tags to your M3U8 file to specify the decryption keys.

Example with Encryption

plaintext

Copy code

    #EXTM3U

    #EXT-X-VERSION:3

    #EXT-X-TARGETDURATION:10

    #EXT-X-KEY:METHOD=AES-128,URI=”http://example.com/keys/key1″

    #EXTINF:10,

    http://example.com/media/encrypted_segment0.ts

    #EXTINF:10,

    http://example.com/media/encrypted_segment1.ts

Best Practices for Using M3U8 Files

Ensure Proper UTF-8 Encoding

Always confirm that your M3U8 files are saved with UTF-8 encoding. This prevents playback issues across different devices and platforms.

Validate M3U8 Files

Use tools like mediastreamvalidator (provided by Apple here) to validate your M3U8 files and ensure they adhere to the HLS specification.

Optimize Media Segments

• Segment Duration: Keep segment durations consistent (e.g., 10 seconds) to improve playback performance and reduce buffering.
• Segment Size: Balance the segment size to optimize for both low and high bandwidth scenarios.

Use Secure URLs

For online streaming, ensure your URLs are secure (HTTPS) to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks and ensure content integrity.

Tools and Resources

Software Tools

• FFmpeg: For creating, converting, and streaming media files.
• VLC Media Player: For testing and generating M3U8 playlists.
• HLS.js: A JavaScript library for playing HLS streams in browsers that do not natively support it.

Documentation and Guides

• Apple Developer Documentation: Comprehensive guide on HLS and M3U8 specifications.
• IETF RFC 8216: The official specification for HTTP Live Streaming.

FAQ

What is the difference between M3U and M3U8?

M3U and M3U8 are both playlist file formats, but M3U8 files are encoded in UTF-8, which ensures compatibility with a wider range of characters, including non-Latin alphabets. This makes M3U8 more suitable for international use and streaming applications. M3U files may use other encodings and are often limited in compatibility compared to M3U8.

Can I use M3U8 files offline?

M3U8 files can be used offline if they point to media files stored locally on your device. However, for streaming, M3U8 files typically reference media segments hosted online, so an internet connection is required. If you plan to use M3U8 files offline, ensure all media URLs are accessible on the local filesystem.

How do I create an M3U8 file if I’m a beginner?

Beginners can create an M3U8 file using a basic text editor by listing media file URLs or paths in sequence, following M3U8 specifications. Tools like VLC or FFmpeg can generate M3U8 playlists automatically, making it easier to create properly formatted files without needing in-depth knowledge. Just ensure the file is saved in UTF-8 encoding for compatibility.

Are M3U8 files compatible with all browsers and devices?

M3U8 files are widely supported on Apple devices and in most modern browsers with HLS support, but not all browsers support them natively. For instance, HLS playback via M3U8 files may not work in some versions of Chrome and Firefox without additional software or JavaScript libraries like HLS.js. Many media players and streaming apps, however, support M3U8 files across various devices.

Why is my M3U8 stream buffering or lagging?

Buffering or lagging in M3U8 streams can occur due to low internet bandwidth, high server load, or improperly optimized segment durations in the M3U8 file. Adaptive bitrate streaming, if configured, should switch to a lower bitrate to reduce buffering. Ensuring consistent segment duration (e.g., around 6-10 seconds) can also help improve playback performance.

Conclusion

M3U8 files are integral to modern multimedia streaming, offering unparalleled flexibility and compatibility. By mastering the creation and use of M3U8 files, you can enhance your media delivery solutions, ensuring high-quality, adaptive streaming experiences for users. Whether for live events, on-demand content, or secure media distribution, M3U8 files provide the foundation for efficient and effective media streaming.

In summary, understanding and leveraging M3U8 files is essential for anyone involved in digital media. From creating dynamic playlists to implementing multi-bitrate streaming and encryption, the applications of M3U8 files are vast and varied. By following best practices and utilizing the right tools, you can maximize the potential of M3U8 files in your media projects.

The post Comprehensive Guide to M3U8 Files: Understanding, Creating, and Using appeared first on Dacast.

That’s where HEVC (High-Efficiency Video Coding), also known as H.265, comes in. This cutting-edge codec allows for significantly smaller file sizes while maintaining high-quality video, which means faster streaming, reduced storage costs, and improved user experience.

For businesses & streaming platforms looking to stay ahead of the curve and deliver the highest-quality video content to their customers, HEVC is the obvious choice. With its ability to support 4K and even 8K video, the future of video content delivery is now.

We’re going to break down what HEVC is, explore what does HEVC mean, and its benefits. We’ll explain what a codec is and how to use it. We’ll also guide you on the best use cases and implementation of HEVC.

Table of Contents

• What is a Video Codec?
• Why is the HEVC Codec Important?
• What are the Benefits of Using the H.265 Codec?
• Comparison Between HEVC (H.265) and H.264 (AVC)
• Comparison of HEVC (H.265) with Other Codecs 
• Licensing and Patent Considerations
• HEVC Support Across Devices and Platforms
• Hardware Acceleration and Encoding Requirements
• Encoding Techniques and Configurations for Best Performance
• Benefits of HEVC for Low-Latency Streaming
• Emerging Trends and the Future of HEVC
• Cost vs. Benefit Analysis of Implementing HEVC
• Use Cases for the HEVC Codec
• Considerations When Using the HEVC Codec
• Conclusion

What is a Video Codec?

First, let’s break down what a video codec is. A codec is a software formula or process for compressing video files.

Video codes compress and send a video sequence using less data storage. The compressed video data can be broadcasted, transmitted, or sent over the internet more efficiently. The more efficiently the codec can compress and send the video sequence data, the better the quality received. On the receiving end, the codec uncompresses the data and displays it on-screen.

Delivering low-latency streaming with video compression

Whenever anyone watches a TV show, shares a video online, or makes a Facetime call, they are streaming video. All of this streaming uses a lot of data. A codec’s efficiency prevents us from running out of internet bandwidth. This efficiency is why we can watch smooth, high-quality video without lag.

The HEVC codec, or H.265 codec, is the latest and greatest in video codec technology. Businesses that want to deploy the highest quality video content are using the HEVC format. As the successor to the H.264 (AVC) codec, video compression is quicker, and more efficient and the video quality produced is higher.

AVC processes frames of video using macroblocks, but HEVC processes information using coding tree units (CTUs). A coding tree unit processes information much more efficiently. This results in smaller file sizes and less bandwidth needed to stream videos.

Why is High-Efficiency Video Coding Important?

Computing power is ever-evolving. The power of workstations, tablets, and mobile devices increases yearly. Higher data and communication speeds like 5G mean computational demands continue increasing.

This convergence of technological power is advancing video and picture quality and viewer expectations of what top-quality video is. With these increased needs, the HEVC format is important because it’s a high-efficiency method of compressing video that can display the highest-quality video

The HEVC codec is superior to previous standards. It can send a video sequence much more efficiently. It enables professional live video streaming, broadcasting, conferencing, and more, at maximal efficiency and quality. Further, as technology continues to improve, the HEVC codec provides future-proofing.

What are the Benefits of Using the H.265 Codec?

The H.265 codec is the next generation of video compression technology. While H.264 is still widely used for encoding video, the HEVC format is superior. High-efficiency video coding using the H.265 codec is becoming more widespread. Its screen coding ability means it has the potential to become technologically ubiquitous. This new video compression standard is making it easier for companies to provide the highest quality across major platforms.

The biggest benefit between H.264 and H.265 is that the latter produces the same picture quality and more at half the bitrate of its predecessor. With the HEVC codec, transmission bandwidth is more efficient. Visual quality is fully maintained or better than H.264 but with half the cost. 

For example, streaming in 1080p only requires 2-3Mbps with H.265 compared to 4-5Mbps with H.264. This new HEVC standard defines high quality without loss in performance for widespread use.

Key benefits & features of HEVC

Here are the key features of using the HEVC, H.265 codec.

• Using HEVC decreases the storage requirements of video data.
• HEVC decreases the bandwidth requirements of broadcasting.
• Video picture quality is enhanced with 4K and up to 8K video resolution support.
• HEVC supports high dynamic range (HDR) for superior video quality.
• HEVC delivers data via live stream quicker, more efficiently, and with higher quality video.
• HEVC has potential for universal use.

Further, HEVC was developed to address the following technological trends.

• Increased use of digital video: the HEVC codec helps support the increased use of digital video at larger screen resolutions. The larger the screen resolution, the more strain on network bandwidth. HEVC reduces the strain with more efficient data compression.
• Increasing video resolutions beyond HD: Improved video quality going beyond standard HD further burdens networks and storage. The HEVC codec helps takes this pressure off as technology evolves.
• Continuous improvements: Processing power continues to improve. Mobile devices such as smartphones have a lot more computing power today. And the HEVC codec has enough power to support a lot more growth. An improved coding efficiency results in better performance across these devices.

In a nutshell, the HEVC codec is the best video compression technology out there. As 4K becomes standard, businesses using HEVC put them ahead of the curve.

Many of the biggest players out there are already on the bandwagon. Netflix uses HEVC to stream 4K. Amazon’s original content is streamed in 4K. And it’s no wonder. In 2021 around 44% of US households owned a 4 K-compatible TV. This was an increase from 31% in 2019. Further, the global TV market is expected to grow to $181.37 billion in 2022. That’s up from $149.47 only the year prior. This incorporates the sales of 4K TVs and related services, such as businesses that provide 4K streaming services.

Comparison Between HEVC (H.265) and H.264 (AVC)

When comparing HEVC (H.265) and H.264 (AVC), understanding their differences is crucial for optimizing video streaming. HEVC, or High Efficiency Video Coding, offers significant improvements in efficiency, especially for high-resolution content. One of the primary advantages of H.265 vs H.264 is its ability to deliver similar video quality at about half the bitrate. This reduction is particularly beneficial for 4K and 8K content, where bandwidth demands can be substantial. With HEVC, streaming providers can achieve stunning visuals without overwhelming network capacities.

In terms of compatibility, H.264 is widely supported across most devices, making it a safe choice for various applications. However, as newer devices emerge, support for HEVC is increasing, making it essential for modern streaming solutions. Transitioning to HEVC video can result in substantial storage savings due to its more efficient compression. For example, users can store more high-quality videos on the same hardware.

While encoding with H.265 may take longer due to its complex algorithms, the benefits in playback and storage often outweigh the extra time spent. As content creators and distributors seek to enhance their offerings, understanding what is HEVC video and its advantages is crucial. 

In summary, the H.265 video codec stands out with its quality improvements and lower bandwidth needs, making it a worthy investment for anyone looking to upgrade their video streaming capabilities.

Comparison of HEVC (H.265) with Other Codecs 

HEVC, also known as H265 codec, is widely used for high-efficiency video compression, making it ideal for streaming high-definition content. The HEVC full form is High-Efficiency Video Coding, which significantly reduces file sizes while maintaining quality. This is especially true for 1080p HEVC streams. However, HEVC is not royalty-free, which can lead to licensing costs for developers and companies.

In contrast, newer codecs like AV1 and VP9 are being promoted as royalty-free alternatives. What is the H.265 codec compared to AV1? While both offer excellent compression rates, AV1 is designed for even better performance, especially in streaming scenarios. Supported by major players like Google, Amazon, and Netflix, AV1 aims to provide high-quality video at lower bitrates without the licensing fees associated with HEVC.

VP9, also developed by Google, provides similar benefits but may not achieve the same compression efficiency as AV1. Overall, as the industry shifts towards more cost-effective and efficient solutions, these newer codecs are becoming more relevant in the landscape of video formats, particularly for online streaming.

Licensing and Patent Considerations

When considering the H.265 codec, businesses must navigate complex licensing and patent issues. One of the main challenges for the widespread adoption of HEVC is the involvement of multiple patent pools, which can lead to varying licensing costs. This complexity can be daunting for companies looking to implement this codec, especially when compared to older codecs like H.264.

Understanding HEVC meaning is essential, as it allows for higher quality video at lower bit rates, supporting higher HEVC resolution formats like 4K and beyond. However, the associated licensing fees may deter some businesses from adopting it.

In contrast, newer codecs like AV1 offer royalty-free licenses, making them appealing to companies looking to avoid the financial burdens of licensing fees. Evaluating HEVC vs H.264 is critical. While H.265 provides better efficiency and quality, its cost structure might not be ideal for all. Therefore, businesses must weigh their options carefully, considering both technical benefits and licensing implications before choosing the best codec for their needs.

HEVC Support Across Devices and Platforms

HEVC offers improved compression and quality compared to its predecessor, H.264, making it an attractive choice for streaming and storage. What is HEVC quality? It is significantly better at lower bitrates, allowing for higher-resolution videos without excessively increasing file sizes.

Operating Systems and Browsers

HEVC support varies across operating systems and browsers. Windows 10 and macOS support HEVC natively, but older systems may require additional codecs. Browsers like Safari support HEVC playback, while Chrome and Firefox have limited support, primarily focusing on H.264

Hardware Devices

Most modern smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs support HEVC, particularly those from major brands like Apple and Samsung. For example, Apple devices like the iPhone and iPad can decode HEVC videos efficiently. Smart TVs often come with built-in HEVC support, enhancing streaming quality.

Streaming Services

Popular services like YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+ use HEVC to deliver high-quality streams. Netflix officially supports HEVC for certain titles, improving streaming efficiency. YouTube supports HEVC for uploads, although playback may depend on device capabilities. Android devices also support HEVC, but compatibility can vary by manufacturer and model.

Potential Compatibility Issues

While HEVC offers significant benefits, compatibility issues may arise. Users with older devices or software may struggle to play HEVC content, especially if they lack hardware decoding support. Understanding the HEVC vs H.264 debate is essential when choosing codecs for various applications, ensuring seamless viewing experiences across platforms.

Hardware Acceleration and Encoding Requirements

Hardware acceleration for HEVC is crucial for efficient video encoding and decoding. This technology allows devices to process HEVC video streams faster and with lower power consumption. To fully take advantage of the benefits of HEVC, devices often rely on hardware acceleration.

Most modern CPUs and GPUs support this capability, enabling smooth playback of high-resolution videos, such as 1080p HEVC. By offloading heavy processing tasks to dedicated hardware, users experience improved performance without overloading their devices. 

When asking what is HEVC video format or what is H.265 video format, it’s essential to recognize that both terms refer to the same advanced video compression standard. The HEVC video extension enhances streaming experiences, making it ideal for applications ranging from streaming services to video conferencing, where high quality and efficient bandwidth use are vital.

Encoding Techniques and Configurations for Best Performance

HEVC offers improved video quality at lower bitrates. When working with HEVC, understanding various encoding techniques is crucial for optimal performance.

Two common methods are variable bitrate (VBR) and constant bitrate (CBR) encoding. VBR adjusts the bitrate based on the complexity of the video content, allowing for higher quality during intricate scenes and lower bitrate during simpler ones. This approach is ideal for streaming platforms, as it saves bandwidth while maintaining quality. 

In contrast, CBR maintains a consistent bitrate throughout the video. This simplifies playback and streaming but may result in lower quality during complex scenes.

To configure encoding settings effectively with HEVC software, consider the target audience and platform. For streaming, VBR is often preferred for its efficiency. Also, using appropriate resolution and frame rates can enhance playback quality. Understanding what is HEVC video extension and its capabilities can help you choose the right settings and ensure your videos are optimized for various devices, making the most of the codec extension capabilities HEVC offers.

Benefits of HEVC for Low-Latency Streaming

HEVC uses advanced compression techniques to reduce the amount of data transmitted during video streaming. By analyzing video content more effectively than older codecs like H.264, HEVC can compress files without losing quality. This means less data needs to be sent over the network, leading to faster transmission times.

As a result, users experience lower latency, making streaming smoother. With HEVC’s ability to maintain high video quality at lower bit rates, it is especially beneficial for high-resolution formats like 4K and beyond. 

By choosing HEVC, content providers can deliver better video experiences while minimizing bandwidth costs and improving overall performance for viewers.

Emerging Trends and the Future of HEVC

Emerging trends in video encoding are looking good for HEVC and its efficiency in delivering high-quality content. Its role in VR and ARapplications is significant. This is because HEVC enables the streaming of immersive experiences without excessive data use. This efficiency is vital for real-time rendering, enhancing user experiences in virtual environments.

With the constant rollout of 5G networks, the performance of HEVC streaming will improve further, allowing for higher bandwidth and lower latency. This means users can enjoy smoother playback of 4K and even 8K content.

As demand for higher resolutions, HDR content and wider color gamuts grows, HEVC will be essential. Its ability to compress large files while maintaining quality makes it ideal for streaming services that want to offer stunning visuals without overwhelming users’ internet connections. 

Overall, HEVC is positioned to meet the growing needs of modern content consumption.

Cost vs. Benefit Analysis of Implementing HEVC

When implementing a multi-CDN strategy, several important considerations come into play. 

First, upgrading your encoding infrastructure may be necessary to ensure compatibility with different CDNs. This can lead to increased processing power requirements, as efficient encoding and transcoding of video content demand more robust hardware.

Also, keep in mind potential licensing fees associated with certain encoding or streaming software. These costs can add up, so it’s essential to factor them into your budget. However, despite these upfront investments, a multi-CDN approach can lead to significant savings in bandwidth and storage. 

By distributing content across multiple providers, you can optimize resource usage and reduce overall delivery costs. In the long run, the benefits of improved performance and reliability often outweigh the initial expenses, making it a worthwhile investment for businesses seeking to enhance their content delivery strategies.

Use Cases for the HEVC Codec

HEVC is widely used in live event broadcasting, OTT services, video conferencing, and high-quality VOD content delivery. It efficiently compresses video files without compromising quality, making it ideal for delivering 4K and 8K content.

Major broadcasters and streaming platforms, like Netflix and YouTube, utilize HEVC to provide high-resolution content to viewers. For example, the BBC has adopted HEVC for live sports broadcasts, meaning that fans experience stunning visuals with minimal latency. Sports broadcasting particularly benefits from HEVC due to its ability to deliver high-quality streams quickly, meeting the demands of live events.

As more industries, including gaming and education, embrace remote interactions, the adoption of HEVC continues to grow. This codec enhances user experience with crisp, clear visuals and optimizes bandwidth usage, making it a valuable tool today.

1. Live Streaming with superb video quality

Live streaming over the internet is bigger than ever. To deliver an immersive live experience, efficiency is key.

Top-quality live streaming requires low latency. It also requires super-efficient video compression. Without these two aspects, live streams will lag and show up on-screen in subpar quality.

The HEVC codec offers significantly improved compression over older codecs. With HEVC, the average bitrate reduction is cut in half. This combination is ideal for live streaming high-resolution videos over the internet, where bandwidth is often limited.

With HEVC, businesses can provide live streams of the highest quality. Since it uses less bandwidth, more people can access it too, which can increase the viewer count. Timing is also less of an issue. The smaller file size means image data is sent more quickly. The HEVC codec makes live streams a breeze.

2. OTT (Over-the-Top) Streaming

OTT streaming is evermore popular. Essentially, OTT streaming is any video delivered directly through a streaming service. Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu are good examples.

Because the stakes are so high, with Netflix, Amazon, and others offering 4K video as standard, using the best screen content coding format is imperative. The high-quality video delivered by OTT platforms means larger file sizes and higher bitrates. Therefore using the most efficient video codec is important.

The HEVC codec shrinks video file size and reduces the bitrate. This results in high-efficiency video streaming that doesn’t impact performance. This is crucial for businesses in the OTT streaming arena.

Take sports OTT, for example. More popular than ever, diehard sports fans expect the best viewing standards. Sports fans will keep tuning in by providing a platform that supports HEVC to see their favorite teams of the highest quality.

3. Video Conferencing

In recent years, video conferencing has become a crucial element in business. Companies and businesses rely on video conferencing for important group meetings. However, streaming video with many people using different internet connections in different locations is taxing. There can be latency issues, and low video and audio quality.

Since video conferencing is increasingly important for many businesses, using the best technology available is key. Using the HEVC codec can dramatically improve video conferencing. The HEVC format helps deliver the most efficient, high-quality video. The HEVC codec helps ensure nothing is missed in those all-important meetings.

Considerations When Using the HEVC Codec

Since reading about the many benefits of using the HEVC, H.265 codec, you may be wondering what considerations you may have to take. After all, technological implementation is often multifaceted. Regarding HEVC, there are a few important considerations to take into account. However, there are methods for circumventing these considerations for complete adoption and best use.

Resource Use

Using the HEVC codec requires more computing power. And HEVC’s ability to compress and churn out high-quality video more efficiently comes at a cost. This is because compression algorithms can be complex. While it’s more efficient and effective, it requires more computing power. To effectively use HEVC, your equipment, such as your video camera and streaming platform, will have to be top-tier quality. This means businesses may need to update their hardware and software.

Businesses can manage the HEVC codec’s resources using the best, fully compatible equipment. This may mean upgrading current hardware or software if necessary. However, investing in HEVC hardware and software is worthwhile. With 4K and 8K videos becoming the new standard, using the HEVC codec is becoming a necessity.

Encoding Complications

Video encoding is a complex operation. Since compression algorithms have become increasingly complex to enable high-definition video compression, there’s a higher risk of encoding complications with HEVC. This is especially true if the hardware or software isn’t powerful enough nor fully compatible.

Businesses can smoothen the adoption of the HEVC codec by ensuring their hardware and software is up to the task. Better equipment and fully HEVC-compatible software will reduce the risk of encoding complications.

Compatibility Issues

The HEVC codec has been around since 2003. Despite this and its growing use (and necessity), compatibility issues still halt its rollout. As mentioned, the HEVC codec has more complex compression algorithms. This complexity, which does a great job reducing file sizes, is part of what makes it great. However, it’s also part of what makes compatibility problematic. Hardware and software must be powerful enough for HEVC compatibility. 

On the bright side, with major technological advances in recent years, more devices than ever are HEVC compatible. In this context, it’s only a matter of time before HEVC is truly ubiquitous.

Businesses can reduce compatibility issues by ensuring their equipment is able to use the HEVC codec. For example, many high-quality video cameras will indicate they come with the HEVC codec. Software platforms, such as those for streaming in 4K, will also indicate whether they benefit from HEVC.

Conclusion

People are watching more videos than ever. Live streaming, broadcasting, OOT. Most of this is done over the internet. And video standards are higher than ever. What’s more, as mobile devices become more powerful, people are watching more of their favorite films and shows through mobile streaming.

Businesses that want to provide their customers with the best viewing experience should incorporate the HEVC, H.265 codec. It’s more efficient and produces UHD video. Further, as technology continues to improve at an evermore rapid pace, the need for HEVC only increases. Taking advantage of the trend, beginning to implement it now, and delivering the highest quality video content is a great investment for any business.

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Dacast ensures video streaming is seamless. With total built-in support, they’re trusted by major companies globally for all their video streaming needs. With Dacast, you can live stream, broadcast, and host in one complete end-to-end solution.

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