What is Online Video Streaming?
Online Video streaming refers to any pre-recorded or live content delivered across the internet and transmitted to client devices in real-time. Movies, TV shows, training and educational material, podcasts, etc., are prime examples of streaming content.
How does online video streaming work?
Audio, video and other multimedia data are processed and sent sequentially in data packets for instantaneous streaming. Each packet of data holds a fractional piece of the file which is then interpreted by the video player on the end user's device as audio or video and played back.
These multimedia files are instantly deleted after they are played as opposed to downloads where the files would get stored on your device.
To facilitate the process and stream without disruptions, you need a stable, high-speed internet connection, access to an OTT platform, and a compatible player or device.
Factors Affecting Video Streaming
- Latency issues: Bandwidth issues, distance, the size of streams and where they are stored are a few factors that affect network latency and cause delays in streaming.
- Network traffic: Without a proper CDN, data transmitted simultaneously can lead to congestion and downgrade the streaming performance.
- Poor network connection: Streaming to an audience with poor network conditions can lead to buffering events and unstable viewing. For example, you need at least 4 Mbps or more bandwidth to stream HD videos. However, ABR streaming can overcome bandwidth issues by optimizing stream bit rates based on network conditions.
- Client device issues: Streaming also depends on client devices' computational power and processing capacities. Video encoding and compression help improve the compatibility of streams with client devices.