A   S t r e a m i n g   M e d i a   P r i m e r :    

I N T R O D U C T I O N   &   C O N T E N T S

Introduction

  studies have shown that 

visitors to sites with streaming 

Streaming media adds engaging motion and sound to the Web experience, increasing 

site stickiness, interactivity, and retention. Streaming allows timely, dynamic content to 

media remain up to twice as 

be seen by a larger, even global audience, helping to cost effectively disseminate informa 

long as they do at sites without 

tion, to address new markets, and to bring your corporate culture closer to far reaching 

media content 

constituencies. Streaming in its truest form, can help to protect video content from being 

 pirated  and misused.

  interest by enterprises is 

Streaming media is no longer merely a promise. Streaming is here today. 

changing rapidly as they begin 

This Primer won't tell you everything about this rapidly emerging technology, but it 

to realize that utilizing streaming 

will give you an overview of the opportunities and the pitfalls, the costs, and the basics. 

media can increase the reach, 

You'll fi nd out what makes streaming different, and how you can use compelling stream 

impact, timeliness, and cost 

ing media content to make your Web sites more dynamic. At the very least, you'll learn 

effectiveness of key communica 

enough to be an informed member of a work group planning and executing streaming 

tions with employees, customers, 

implementations. But, even if you are a complete beginner, you'll fi nd out how easy 

it can be to edit, encode, and integrate streaming video into your own Web site. And, 

partners, and suppliers. 

if you are already creating video productions, this Primer will introduce you to the 

 The Aberdeen Group

1

state of the art streaming media technologies you can use to extend your content to 

the Web, and to confi dently share your productions online. 

Contents

WHAT IS STREAMING MEDIA?                                3

PRE PRODUCTION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

JUST WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO STREAM?  . . 3

PRODUCTION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

WHY DO I WANT TO STREAM?  . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

POST PRODUCTION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

WHAT MAKES STREAMING 

OUTPUTTING STREAMING MEDIA  . . . . . . .30

MEDIA DIFFERENT?  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

HOW DO I PUT MY STREAMING

WHO'S STREAMING IN THE 

MEDIA ON THE WEB?                                              34

REAL WORLD?  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

PUBLISHING STREAMING MEDIA  . . . . . . . .34

HOW DOES STREAMING WORK?                        10

INTEGRATING STREAMING MEDIA  . . . . . . .37

WHERE DO STREAMS COME FROM?  . . . . .10

HOW CAN ADOBE HELP ME 

WHAT ALL DO I NEED TO MAKE MY

CREATE STREAMING MEDIA?                               39

PRODUCTIONS STREAM? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

HOW TO PURCHASE 

HOW DOES IT GET THERE FROM HERE?  . .15

ADOBE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS  . . . . . . . . . .40

HOW DO I MAKE (GOOD) 

FOR MORE INFORMATION                                    41

STREAMING MEDIA?                                                19

WHAT AFFECTS STREAMING 

GLOSSARY                                                                    42

MEDIA QUALITY?  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

namic Media

THE STREAMING MEDIA WORKFLOW  . . . .20

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1  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/en/archive/casestudies/hewlett/default.asp,  Using Streaming Media for Competitive Advantage,  Aberdeen Group, Inc., December 2000