November 1, 2000

Screaming streaming

It's clear that streaming media delivered via the Internet is a compelling application, even in an era when many people still can't get broadband service. In fact, as broadband deployment spreads, users will be able to count on receiving live streaming audio and video. Already, you can type the keyword "streaming" into Yahoo and pull up dozens of listings for audio/video streaming services, and we've covered the codec and delivery technologies regularly (see "Squeeze plays," and "Hot & streamin'").

Across the Atlantic, streaming-media fans are looking forward to the christening of a pan-European Internet backbone that can ensure latency-free delivery to the last mile. Global TeleSystems (GTS), Compaq, and Microsoft have teamed up to create what they hope will be Europe's largest streaming-media service.

Based on the GTS Ebone optical Internet backbone network, Microsoft's Windows Media Service, and Compaq's server technology, the new service is built on a broadband optical fiber network that covers close to 10,850 miles—reaching 38 cities in 14 countries. The service is now being piloted in London, with the lofty goal of quickly expanding to 1 million streams.

Back in the States, Anystream has just added live Webcasting to its flagship encoding product, Agility Enterprise. The new feature allows broadcasters, content delivery networks, ISPs, and other content producers to integrate multiple live Webcasts into their streaming media production.

According to Anystream, the product can capture multiple simultaneous events in uncompressed digital formats for immediate, on-demand use. The captured events stream to the Internet in real time in a choice of user-defined compressed formats and bit rates. The big plus: producers can distribute content, such as highlights or replays, to a broader range of audiences right away—without having to wait until the conclusion of the event.

—Leah Jiorle