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

H O W   D O   I   P U T   M Y   S T R E A M I N G   M E D I A   O N  T H E  W E B ?

What do streaming host providers have to offer?

  quantify what you will need from 

A streaming service or an ISP that hosts streaming media is a very attractive choice for the hob 

a host and do your due diligence in 

byist or small business you get to do the creative part and leave most of the technicalities (and 

capital expenditures) to experts. For industrial strength, global implementations, there are enter 

investigating hosting companies. 

prise focused co locations that maintain streaming server farms and dedicated bandwidth. Like 

Ask for a free evaluation to test their 

top notch Web hosting co locations, they provide security, dedicated or shared servers, load bal 

service and talk to your friends in the 

ancing, edge caching, e commerce transaction capabilities, metrics, and reporting. Some special 

industry of their experiences  make 

ized streaming host providers also offer encoding and Web casting services. 

sure you have weighed the factors 

How do the costs compare?

of service, availability, speed, 

Several popular consumer focused ISPs host streaming content at very reasonable prices we've 

reliability, support, and quality. 

seen advertisements for as low as $9.95 per month. The costs to set up a streaming server in 

house can range from $3,500 for hardware and software (really a consumer solution) up to 

 Gene Shin

Streaming Media.com

53

$25,000 or more for an adequate corporate system, and into the hundreds of thousands of 

dollars for an enterprise level, live Web casting facility. Commercial quality hosting costs are 

likely to be thousands of dollars per month, but before you make the capital investment to do it 

in house, remember that streaming technology is rapidly advancing. Be sure to do the math to determine the 

scope of your hosting needs and investigate potential providers with care. Ask direct questions about set up 

fees, surcharges (apparent and hidden), length of contract, upgrade/downgrade fees, and reporting costs. And 

don't forget that this is an emerging industry everything is negotiable!

S H O U L D   YO U   S E R V E   YO U R   S T R E A M S   I N   H O U S E   O R   O U T S O U R C E ?

FOR ENTHUSIASTS:

FOR CORPORATE IT DEPARTMENTS:

FOR CORPORATE IT DEPARTMENTS:

If you are a hobbyist or have a very small 

You probably do not want to set up 

It may make sense to set up in house 

business, and you want to stream a few, 

in house streaming capabilities if:

streaming capabilities if:

short clips, the easiest option is to outsource. 

You lack a well developed internal network 

You already have a signifi cant internal 

Check with your ISP in addition to offering 

and a high speed (T1+) Internet 

network and high speed (T1+) Internet 

Web hosting, they may provide streaming 

connection with excess bandwidth 

connectivity with signifi cant surplus 

media hosting services ,as well. There are 

Management wants existing IT staff to 

bandwidth available on Internet uplink 

also some, primarily consumer targeted, 

focus on core competencies and/or progress 

Staff has experience in web hosting, video 

businesses offering streaming services for 

on mission critical tasks cannot be derailed 

streaming, and video conversion 

free or for very low monthly rates check 

by a new initiative and/or existing IT staff 

Network management ensures effective 

out iClips, SpotLife, StreamCode, and 

has signifi cant project backlog

bandwidth utilization 

QuickStream, to name just a few.

Staff has little or no experience with 

Organization already owns video editing 

If you're an intrepid  stream it yourselfer,  

Web hosting, video streaming, or 

suite and editing/conversion tools 

you may want to set up your own server.  

video conversion  

Data center has adequate existing server 

To stream media yourself requires a combi 

No network management function is 

resources available to provide video 

nation of hardware, software, and band 

in place to ensure availability, performance, 

streaming service 

width here are some minimum basics:

and bandwidth utilization 

Number of concurrent video streams is 

500MHz processor 

for a streaming system 

expected to be fairly consistent 

128K RAM 

No access to video editing suite and 

Bandwidth usage during peak video 

Video capture card 

editing/conversion tools 

demand will be signifi cantly less than 

Minimum 7200rpm hard drive

No

existing server resources available 

available surplus bandwidth 

Minimum connection 128K DSL 

to provide video streaming service 

Preference is to incur capital expenses 

Video editing software 

Number of concurrent video streams 

(servers, tools, software, etc.) to avoid 

(e.g., Adobe Premiere)

is likely to vary signifi cantly 

recurring charges; organization willing 

Encoding and server software (e.g.,  

Bandwidth usage during peak video demand 

to make long term investments for 

Windows Media, RealMedia, QuickTime)

is likely to exceed surplus bandwidth or 

lower costs  

compete/degrade performance of mission 

To serve a small number of streams from 

Organization is willing to spend time and 

critical applications 

your home or offi ce, you will need at least 

money to purchase equipment/software/ 

128K DSL speeds. Cable modems will suffi ce, 

Monthly cost with no capital or up front 

tools, and to build infrastructure 

expenditures for equipment or software 

IT department has existing excess staff 

namic Media

although the amount of traffi c on the network 

is preferred; organization willing to 

to implement, manage, and monitor the 

y

is unpredictable and may degrade the quality 

of the streams you provide. You defi nitely won t 

pay higher monthly costs to reduce 

streaming media solution. 

be supporting a live Webcast using a cable 

short term risk  

Organization has a clear vision of media 

modem, because you need a reliable, dedicated 

Very short timeline to implement; desire 

streaming strategy 

connection that does not fl uctuate connection 

is to begin streaming in days 

Organization is unsure of the role 

obe D

rates. By doing it yourself, you are limited to 

the backbone carrier of your ISP where your 

of streaming media

d

streams may suffer from network congestion 

Company wishes to pilot a streaming 

A

or limited bandwidth availability due to 

media program, and may bring it 

the ISP's network. 

in house after pilot is successful 

36

53    Do It Yourself vs. Outsourcing,  by Gene Shin, http://www.streamingmedia.com/tutorials/view.asp?tutorial_id=51