Watching Video over the Web: Part 1: Streaming Protocols

TLDR

US consumers spend nearly five hours daily watching TV, most of which remains broadcast while time‑shifted viewing rises, one‑third use DVRs, and more are moving toward Web‑based streaming and downloads. In this first part of a two‑part article, the authors describe conventional and emerging streaming solutions using Web and non‑Web protocols.

Abstract

The average US consumer watches TV for almost five hours a day. While the majority of viewed content is still broadcast TV programming, the share of the time-shifted content is on the rise. One-third of US viewers currently use a digital video recorder like device, but trends indicate that more consumers are migrating to the Web to watch their favorite shows and movies. Increasingly, the Web is coming to digital TV, which incorporates movie downloads and streaming via Web protocols. In this first part of a two-part article, the authors describe both conventional and emerging streaming solutions using Web and non-Web protocols.