Video Streaming: Protocols, Delivery, and Monetization
Video Streaming: Protocols, Delivery, and Monetization Video streaming lets people watch movies and videos on phones, tablets, and computers without downloading large files. It rests on three pillars: a protocol to move the data, a delivery network to reach users, and a monetization plan to fund the service. Protocols Two families drive most of the traffic: HLS from Apple and MPEG-DASH, both designed to adapt video quality as network conditions vary. HLS is common on iOS devices and many browsers; DASH is widely used in professional systems and supports a wide range of codecs. Modern setups also use CMAF as a shared container to reduce bandwidth and simplify packaging. Low-Latency HLS (LL-HLS) and Low-Latency DASH help cut delays to a few seconds, which matters for live events. Ingest often uses RTMP, SRT, or WebRTC before transcoding to adaptive formats. The result is a single stream that can reach diverse devices with minimal rebuffering. ...