What is streaming media?
On the Internet, there are two different ways to hear and view audio and video content. The first is to download the file you want to your local machine. The benefit to this method is that you then have a copy of the file stored on your computer. The downside is that these files are often very large, taking up a lot of space on your computer, and can take a long time to download. The second method is to access the file through streaming.
Streaming Media or Streaming refers to a delivery method of audio and video files via the internet for viewing. Content is compressed and sent over the internet through a constant stream of data to be viewed using a player that uncompresses the content for viewing. The constant stream of data builds up a buffer (a temporary memory area), which allows the media to play continuously during changes in internet access (for example, decreases in speed and bandwidth). The downloaded content of a stream is not saved to the local machine in any lasting way. These streaming media players can be web browser plug-ins for viewing on webpages or a stand alone software program (i.e. Windows Media Player, Quicktime, VLC, etc.). There are a couple of major benefits to Streaming Media. The first is that it allows users to view large video files on-demand without having to download the large files to their local machine. This saves both storage space and time. The other benefit is that because users are not downloading files to their local machine, streaming is a good option to protect intellectual property and maintain copyright permissions. There are two major categories of Streaming Media:
- Live Webcasting or Live Broadcast Streaming
- On-Demand Streaming or Hosted Streaming
What is live webcasting?
This type of streaming refers to the content, including audio, video, and graphics, of a live event being broadcast in real-time through a stream accessible for viewing via the Internet. This approach allows people to view a live event remotely from their computer.
Does Events & Video Production offer live webcasting?
Yes. Events & Video Production can provide live streaming of events in High Definition. Currently, this service is most commonly used for large, Medical Center wide events such as Town Meetings and The State of the Medical Center. We do have the ability to do this almost anywhere within the Medical Center, so if you are interested in this service, please place a request through our online request form, here. We also have the ability to record these events and provide a file that can be used for On-Demand Streaming after the event has ended.
What is on-demand webcasting?
This type of streaming means that files are uploaded to a server and stored there. Once uploaded, these files are hosted there so that users can then access them anytime through the streaming delivery method, making them accessible on-demand. The benefit to this method is that audiences can view the material at their own convenience. Two popular examples of this type of hosted or on-demand streaming are the services offered by YouTube.com and Vimeo.com
Does Events & Video Production offer hosted streaming or on-demand streaming?
No. Events & Video Production does not provide hosted streaming of video files ourselves, because OSU's Media Services already provides this service. For any video we create, we can provide a digital file optimized for uploading and processing by Media Services. Once we deliver the file to you, the process of submitting it for hosted streaming through Media Services is simple. Just have your OSU lastname.# username and password available and go to https://drm.osu.edu/upload. Then follow the Brief Instructions section on the first page. From there you will be able to upload your video and manage other videos you've uploaded.