Streaming Media Support
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What is streaming media?

Use Streaming Media Services to publish and distribute FLV and MP4 video files. Other media such as audio (MP3) or SWF files must be delivered using progressive downloading from your ACC web site. Please, read the Streaming Request Procedure before submitting a request for Streaming Services.

There are two different ways to deliver video media from a web page or your Blackboard site: Streaming and progressive download.

Streaming media is video or other media that is constantly received by, and displayed to users while it is being delivered by the provider. YouTube is public streaming media. ACC provides an educational option for faculty to deliver video instruction.

What is the difference between streaming and progressive download?

Progressive downloading simulates streaming fairly well and most end-users would never know the difference. However you need to be aware that the progressive download is not a secure method since the video file is saved on the end-user's computer. You do not need a streaming server to use progressive downloading. You can deliver your video from your ACC web directory.

How do you decide to use streaming services or progressive downloading delivery of your videos?

Property Streaming Progressive Downloading
Format FLV, MP4, MP3 FLV, MP4, MP3, MOV, and SWF
Copyright Media is protected
No media download is available

No copyright protection
File is downloaded to user's computer
Shelf-life Long term Long or short term
Length of video Long (Usually a large file size) Short (Small file size)
Encoding Constant bit rate (CBR) and use bitrate and player standards Variable bit rate (VBR) and use any player.