Introduction

• We will be offering a complete package for both TV and radio stations in 2025. Stand by for announcements of products that provide all the basic features required by radio and TV station Web sites that want to publish media and advertisement content online. Features will include:

• Program Schedule
• Online Programs
• Talent Profiles
• Advertiser Portal
• Viewer Portal
• Community Blog

Streaming 101

The above chart shows the workflow of streaming media - from creation to streaming 

• Production - camera or AI generated content is streamed live or saved as MP4 file. 
• Uploading - The MP4 file is uploaded to a transcoding server for storage
• Converting - video file is converted into MP4 format
• Transcoding - The convered video file is split into segments for smooth streaming 
• Storage - Prepared video files are stored and ready to be pulled by the media server
• Streaming on Demand

LEGACY STREAMING MEDIA INFRASTRUCTURE

Streaming media Web sites from the past were complex and extremely expensive. Before streaming a single video, publishers had to acquire their own servers, software licenses for streaming servers, transcoding servers, and offer streams in proprietary protocols that required proprietary media servers that did not support all devices. Players were mostly proprietary until the emergence of Open Source media players. Pubishers had to decide how to serve multiple global regions with the best quality of service. 

Here is a list of servers from a legacy streaming media infrastructure:

• Web Server - public front end
• Transcoding Server - prepares video and audio content for streaming
• Storage Server - stores raw video files
• Media Server - streams video files or live streams 
• CDN
• Edge Servers

Furthermore, sites that expected large numbers of live (simultaneous) viewers, had to invest in six-figure servers and many TB of memory. 

In-house hosted streaming media server infrastructures could easily exceed $100,000.  Streaming to just 1,000 users requires a dedicated media server with 8 to 20+ cores, 64+ GB of RAM, and an SSD drive. Streaming to 10,000 viewers requires 16 to 32 cores and 128GB of RAM. To stream to 100,000 simultaneous viewers requires 32 to 64 cores and 256GB of RAM. Streaming to 1 million simultaneous viewers requires 64 to 128 cores and 512GB to 1TB of RAM. 

ADVANCES IN STREAMING MEDIA TECHNOLOGY

Today is a differnt world. When Apple decided to drop support of the old technology from its devices, the industry changed profoundly. And for the better. The process has not changed.  Web pubiishers must still create the video, upload it, transcode, store,stream and distribute video.  But everybody can now stream using standards-based protocols, Open Source players, hardware and software from thousands of developers and vendors that were locked out of the industry when it was ruled (and somewhat imprisoned-by) proprietary technology. But perhaps the biggest improvement to the industry has been the emergence of the super-CDN. These providers provide a one-stop-solution for uploading, converting, transcoding, storing, streaming, along with CDN and edge server sservices. 

Streaming Web infrastructures and still complex, but implementing them has been greatly simplified. And the cost of implementing a scalable streaming sit has been significantly reduced.

Content creators can setup a scalable streaming Web site that is capable of reaching millions, by using a super-CDN, and paying under $1,000 per year.

With the evolution of super-hosting providers or super-CDNs, content creators can suffice with a simple Web server and a CDN account.  Content Delivery Networks (CDN) offer a variety of features for small and large companies:

The net cost savings could be dramatic with a CDN.  Instead of paying approximately $4,000 to $25,000 per year for the use of virtual and/or dedicated servers, or over $50,000 for purchased servers -- pubishers can easily find CDN plans that start as low as $600 per year to support thousands of streams of high resolution content. Besides that, CDNs offer other features that would cost individual publishers hundreds of thousands to setup.  

Multimediacart Packages are fully compatible with top CDNs, along with most popular media servers and hosters.  We are committed to maintaining organic support for all popular CDNs, hosters, transcoding servers, and media servers. 

Calculating Requirements for 1,000 Streams

The amount of RAM needed to support 1,000 video viewers can vary depending on several factors, including the quality of the video stream, the efficiency of the streaming software, and the overall system architecture. However, here are some general guidelines:

Video Quality: Higher resolution streams (e.g., 1080p or 4K) require more memory compared to lower resolution streams (e.g., 720p or 480p).

Streaming Software: Efficient software can manage memory better, reducing the overall RAM requirement. System Architecture: The server’s CPU, network bandwidth, and storage also play crucial roles in handling large numbers of viewers.

For a rough estimate, a server handling 1,000 concurrent video viewers might need around 32GB to 64GB of RAM1. This estimate assumes a mix of video qualities and efficient streaming software. For higher quality streams or less optimized software, you might need more RAM.

Mediagration Software licenses grant customers a lifetime right to use our software as they see fit, without any rules or restrictions on content, other than the law of the user's jurisdiction.  Content publishers who own their own servers and software and connection contracts, have more freedom compared to those who rely on third-party providers, platforms and connections. Here are some key points to consider:

Advantages of Owning Servers and Software

1. Full Control: Publishers have complete control over their content, including how it is distributed and monetized. They can set their own rules and guidelines without worrying about external policies.

2. Customization: Owning the infrastructure allows for extensive customization. Publishers can tailor their platforms to better suit their audience’s needs and preferences.

3. Data Ownership: Publishers retain full ownership of their user data, which can be crucial for targeted advertising and content personalization. This contrasts with third-party platforms that often control and monetize user data.

4. No Censorship: Without the risk of external censorship, publishers can freely express their views and share content that might be restricted on other platforms.

5. Monetization Flexibility: Publishers can explore various monetization strategies without the limitations imposed by third-party platforms. This includes subscription models, direct sales, and ad placements.

Challenges with Third-Party Platforms

1. Restrictions and Rules: Platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and Facebook have strict community guidelines and policies. Violating these policies can lead to content removal, demonetization, supsention or deplatforming. 

2. Censorship: Third-party platforms often censor content that doesn’t align with their policies or community standards. This can limit the type of content creators can share.

3. Deplatforming: In extreme cases, platforms can completely ban users, cutting off their access to their audience and revenue streams.

4. Revenue Sharing: Many third-party platforms take a significant cut of the revenue generated by content creators, reducing their overall earnings. Mediagration products permit the publisher to capture 100% of all sales; but it allows them to split payments to as many as 100 partners for every product. 

Examples of Platform Restrictions

• YouTube: Known for demonetizing videos that don’t meet advertiser-friendly guidelines.
• Twitch: Enforces strict community guidelines, leading to suspensions for violations.
• Twitter: Has policies against certain types of speech and content, leading to account suspensions.
• Facebook: Uses algorithms to moderate content, which can sometimes result in the removal of posts that violate its standards.

By owning their own servers and software, content publishers can avoid these pitfalls and maintain greater autonomy over their content and business models.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it expensive to setup a streaming media site? No. A basic streaming video Web site can be implemented for under $1,000 per year. If the Web site uses YouTube as its exclusive source for videos; operation can be less than $700 per year. 

What is the difference in live streaming and VOD streaming sites? VOD sites offer the streaming delivery of video files. VOD publishers need only provide enough infrastructure to deliver VOD streams to limited audiences*. Live streaming sites deliver one or more live events to large audiences. You require the same or more extensive infrastructure as your on-demand servers, plus cameras, encoders and an upstream connection of 100MB or better. Live streaming require significantly more memory since viewership peaks during the most popular events. 

Is streaming video and audio secure? Yes. We enable all encrypted and non-encrypted protocols, use URL masking technology, watermarks, secure cloud storage and other technologies to deliver content securely.

How is this different from Vimeo and other Online Sites? Our software enables individuals and organizations to setup their own subscription video, audio Web sites. 

How many people can I stream video to at the same time? From one to millions. However, for a large audience, your Web server must have significant amount of RAM. 

What type of server setup do I need to stream video? If you setup your own infrastructure, you will need at least one of each - of the following server types:  1)Web server 2)Transcoding Server 3)Storage Server 4)Media Server  If you use a CDN, a streaming account will provide transcoding, storage and streaming. 
 
Can I stream HD, 4K, 8K or 12K Video? Yes, but it requires the right infrastructure. We provide support for 4K, 8K and 12K. 

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*Limitations include the time of day, audience time availability, audience consumption over  24 hour or greater period, audi