Streaming Services

Stream All Formats: Streaming provides a quick and easy way to deliver media over the Internet without the viewer having to download the media prior to playback. C I Host supports the following streaming media types from one account: Windows Media, Real, QuickTime and MP3. There is no need to open separate accounts for each media type.

24x7 Account Access: C I Host allows customers to manage their media account online, including upgrade, downgrade, content management, support and media reports. Customers can manage their media through the Web and/or via FTP.

Instant Scalability: C I Host's network has over 5000Mbits+ of aggregate bandwidth instantly available to meet your site demanding needs. All of our media servers are clustered and load balanced allowing your media to receive unlimited hits and downloads. Its unlimited, you don't have to ask, its there when you need it!

Pre-Event Planning: Live events are important, and C I Host recognizes this. As we prepare for your event we do not want to leave any details out of our planning process. Included within our pricing model is time dedicated to planning your event. Every live event gets complimentary hardware design, consultation and pre-event planning with pre-event stress/load testing of all equipment and software. What we will do is create in our laboratory the stress and the connectivity load that your event will create. This ensures that the equipment will hold up to any load you place on it.

C I Host offers 2 types of Streaming Services, "On-Demand" and "Live." Interactive Services, also known as "webcasting" is a term that describes the transmission of specially encoded digital multimedia content-audio, video, animation, graphics, photo images, and text-over the Internet to end users. Streaming files begin to play immediately and are discarded after playback, so no permanent storage is necessary on the computers of those watching the stream.

Live streaming is the broadcast of an event in real time over the Internet. On-demand streaming is the playback of a stored file that is accessed via a link embedded on a Web page. With on-demand streaming, a Website visitor can access a streaming file at any time they wish. With on-demand streaming there is no finite limit relative to the maximum number of users that can download a video at any particular time. However, with live streaming a media server DOES have a finite number of available streams. This means you must cluster multiple media servers if you expect your live event to draw a significant crowd.

1. Interactive "On-Demand" Services

   "On-Demand" files are files that are pre-encoded and placed online and are not served until a customer demands it. These file-types can come from:

   1. Video, from videotape, electronic file, or transmission via cable or satellite, is delivered to C I Host broadcast operations center where it is converted to streaming media files through a process known as encoding.

   2. The encoded video files are then transferred to our streaming media servers.

   3. A link to the encoded files is placed on the customer's website.

   4. When an end user clicks on the link, the streamed video is played directly to their computer providing seamless, non-branded access to the content.

2. Interactive "Live" Services

   "Live" streaming files are files that are encoded in real-time. A user can connect to a stream and see just what someone actually there would see. There are several steps involved in streaming live content:

   1. Live footage is filmed with a video camera from a boardroom, or concert hall.

   2. Video signal is fed from the camera to an on-site server or PC, which is connected to the Internet (ideally via a high-speed connection such as a DSL, ISDN or T-1 line if costs permit).

   3. Live feed is transmitted to C I Host broadcast center.

   4. Feed is relayed to users via C I Host high-speed fiber-optic/satellite network.

• Acceptable Media

  • HD Beta
  • Digital Beta
  • VHS
  • S-VHS
  • DV
  • DVCam
  • Mini-DV
  • Mini Disc
  • DAT
  • VCD
  • DVD
  • CD
  • AVI
  • MOV
  • MPEG
  • MP3

• Formats

  • Windows Media
  • Real Media
  • QuickTime
  • MPEG

• Bit Rates

  • 16 Kbps up to 1.5 Mbps