Stream quality...

Stream quality

Stream quality refers to the quality of the image and audio transferred from the servers of the distributor to the house television on a user.

Higher-quality video such as video in high definition (720p+) requires high bandwidth and more rapidly connection speeds. The general accepted kbit/s download rate required to stream high-definition video that has been encoded with H.264 is 3500, where as standard-definition television can scope from 500 to 1500 kbit/s depending on the resolution on television.

In the UK, the BBC iPlayer deals with the major amount of traffic yet it offers HD content all along with SD content. As more people get internet connections which can deal with streaming HD video over the world wide web, the BBC iPlayer has tried to keep up with insist and speed. However, as streaming HD video takes around 1.5 gb of data per hour of video it took a lot of asset by the BBC to put into practice this on such a large scale.

For users which do not have the bandwidth to stream HD video or even high-SD video which requires 1500 kbit/s, the BBC iPlayer offers lower bitrate streams which in turn leads to lower video quality. This makes use of an adaptive bitrate stream so that if the user’s bandwidth unexpectedly drops, iPlayer will minor its streaming rate to reimburse for this.

This analytic tool offered on the BBC iPlayer site measures a user's streaming capabilities and bandwidth for free of charge.

Even though competitors in the UK such as 4oD, ITV Player and Demand Five have not yet offered HD streaming, the skill to support it is fairly new and extensive HD streaming is not impracticality. The availability of Channel 4 and Five programs on YouTube is predicted to confirm incredibly popular as series such as Skins, Green Wing, The X Factor and others become existing in a easy, straightforward format on a website which previously attracts millions of people every day.