Whether you are an individual content creator or own an enterprise live streaming platform, the process of online video hosting can be a challenging task. From uploading heavy file sizes to distributing them in cross-device compatible formats can be an ordeal if you do not opt for a professional online video hosting service.
In this post we will talk about the indispensable video hosting features to look out for in a live server.
When you visit a website, your desktop, laptop or phone connects to a server, which then “serves” you the website. All websites need a hosting solution for viewers to open a webpage. So, hosting can be referred to renting server usage from a company that is responsible for storing and delivering online content.
Online video hosting is a service that allows users to upload, host, organize, manage, and deliver live streaming and VOD content online. It greatly simplifies your streaming experience. Hosting on a SaaS platform like Muvi Server makes storing, managing, and delivering your video content easy.
Also Read: 5 Reasons to Host your Videos on Muvi Server
Online video hosting is used by individuals and organizations from myriad backgrounds like content creators, vloggers, educational institutions, medical institutions, and businesses that specialize in media distribution, like television networks, studios, radio stations, and OTT streaming platforms. Online video hosting software is meant for professional broadcasting and is mostly suitable for enterprise audio/video platforms.
Scalability refers to the ability of the cloud computing architecture to increase or decrease its functions by handling its resource requirements according to the workload capacities while also retaining performance. For an enterprise video streaming platform that deals with a global audience, it certainly requires an auto scalable live server to handle sudden traffic spikes during peak hours. Therefore, an auto scalable cloud streaming server is almost indispensable if you want your video streaming platform to quickly accommodate any fluctuations in stream demand.
A sudden change in capacity can result from either an increase in streams being published to your platform or a fluctuation in the number of viewer connections. Therefore in such a situation, it’s important to opt for a server that is not overwhelmed by sudden traffic spikes and is capable of handling concurrent streams.
No point in online video hosting without proper monetization options. Monetization tools are an essential feature for enterprises who are interested in making money from their live streams or video on demand content. Generally, content owners monetize videos in three ways: subscriptions (SVOD), pay-per-view (TVOD), or advertising (AVOD). Each of these monetization models can be lucrative when used appropriately.
Keeping the requirements of professional video streaming platforms in mind, Muvi Server lets you monetize your content in whichever way you feel is most suitable. Be it PPV, subscription or ad-based, our cloud streaming server is multiple monetization enabled.
A powerful live streaming CDN or Content Delivery Network is another important feature for enterprise video streaming solutions. Basically, a CDN consists of a network of servers located at different points and is responsible for distributing live streams and video on demand (VOD) content to users around the world.
Nowadays, rich streaming content demands better performance from content providers, such as lower latency, improved load times, minimal disruptions and higher transfer speed. However, in such a demanding scenario, a single CDN is often prone to suffer from problems such as outages, vulnerability to DDoS attacks, disruptions, etc. Having multi CDN inbuilt, during network congestion, peer-to-peer content delivery takes the charge by reducing the number of HTTP requests that the server has to handle. The result is consistent higher quality streams for all viewers and enhanced scalability and geographic coverage.
With Muvi Live, it is possible for you to choose the live streaming server nearest to your broadcast location. This ensures faster and secure delivery of buffer-free livestream from multiple cameras & platforms to devices across destinations.
For more information, check out Stream from the Nearest Server
Also Read: Live Streaming Latency: A Glass to Glass Analysis
The next important feature for online video hosting is an HTML-5 Online Video Player. Having an in-built HTML-5 online video player in your live server serves many advantages as these players are widely compatible and support all devices, be it mobile, laptops, smart TVs or computers. Today, common streaming devices include tablets and smartphones to desktops, and smart televisions.
Muvi Live’s customizable Online Video Player (OVP) has unique features like video cards, subtitles, dual audio, responsive design, cross browser and cross device compatibility, and an embed option that allows you to insert it and integrate with virtually any 3rd party website and mobile or TV apps!
Online video hosting is impossible without adaptive bitrate streaming. It is indispensable to connect with users who are viewing your live streams. Adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) is a technology wherein the video player automatically adjusts the quality of a video according to the available bandwidth, network conditions, and user’s device performance.
Rather than creating one live stream at one bitrate, Muvi Live creates multiple streams at different bitrates and resolutions that allows for playback on different bandwidths. The media server then sends the highest-quality stream possible for each viewer’s device and connection speed. Due to this feature, mobile viewers of your video streaming platform with poor connections don’t have to wait endlessly for your content to load. For those plugged into high-speed internet, a higher resolution alternative will be played. Needless to say, adaptive streaming provides an excellent user experience as there is no buffering during playback.
Also Read: SD, HD and 4K- Streaming Video Resolutions Explained
Depending on your needs, it can be challenging to find the right video hosting platform for you. However, if you identify your streaming goals and the features you’ll need to achieve these goals, the majority of the task will be completed. In this blog, we have summed up the must-have features required for online video hosting of your live streams.
Not streaming with Muvi Live yet? Why not take a 14-Day Free Trial to understand our product. We’ll have your online video platform set up and running in a matter of minutes!
Written by: Sreejata Basu
Sreejata is the Manager for Muvi’s Content Marketing unit. She is a passionate writer with a background in English Literature and music. By week Sreejata spends her time in the corporate world of Muvi, but on weekends she likes to take short hiking trips, watch movies and read interesting travelogues.
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