What is Streaming
Media?
Streaming media
is a method of making audio, video and other multimedia available
in real-time, with no download wait, over the Internet or corporate
Intranets. Streaming media consists of specially encoded video hosted
on a streaming media server being viewed by a web audience through
a streaming media player.

Benefits of
Streaming Media
Adding streaming media to your web site provides these competitive
advantages:
- Entertains while it informs and motivates
- Demonstrates products and services in action
- Keeps people at your site longer attracting advertising
- Breaks through the clutter of text based web sites
- Enhances branding by reinforcing image created in other media
- Appeals to heavy web users who purchase products on-line
Types
of Streaming Media
The three most popular types of streaming media are RealMedia, WindowsMedia
and QuickTime. Each type has advantages and disadvantages depending
on the application and audience. See the demos
to learn more.
Broadband
Broadband refers to Internet connections that are faster than the
common 56 kbps consumer modem connections. Many workplaces and schools
have broadband network access to the Internet. Now, a growing number
of consumers are establishing broadband connections to the Internet
at home using a cable modem or DSL. These connections can be 5 to
30 times faster than a 56k modem. Faster connections significantly
improve the quality of listening to audio and watching video over
the Internet.
US
Broadband Users as a % of Total Internet Users
1999-2003 (Millions)
|
Year
|
Broadband
Users
|
Total
Internet Users
|
Broadband
Users as a % of Total
|
|
1999
|
2.50
|
58.00
|
4%
|
|
2000
|
5.51
|
75.75
|
7%
|
|
2001
|
10.98
|
90.00
|
12%
|
|
2002
|
17.77
|
103.88
|
17%
|
|
2003
|
25.09
|
118.25
|
21%
|
Source: eMarketer,
2000