Glossary: 8 terms to understand in the streaming world

If you are starting in the streaming world, let us explain that its terms are not as complex as they seem. Here we summarize it with the 8 most necessary, starting with the essentials.

1. Streaming

Streaming allows real-time distribution of audio, video, and multimedia content over the Internet, whenever the user wishes. This technology simultaneously transfers digital data so that the end consumer receives everything as a continuous stream and in real-time (hence its name: stream means flow).

2. End-to-end

An end-to-end solution is generally applied to the digital technology industry. It refers to a service's ability to deliver the customer's complete solutions, comprehensively, without intermediaries or external companies.

3. OTT

OTT stands for Over-the-top. Specifically, OTTs are those platforms that transmit information, generally video streaming, to multiple devices with Internet access. Thus, there are paid examples such as Win Sports Online (sports), Hulu, and Netflix (miscellaneous), in addition to OTT platforms that provide an exclusive audiovisual content service. YouTube also falls into this category, but at no cost.

4. OVP (Online Video Platform)

The OVP concept is used in streaming, which refers to solutions for delivering and transmitting video content based on the cloud. In other words, an OVP is a tool that allows content to be managed and distributed in a simple way to various devices.

5. VOD

VOD stands for Video-on-demand. Currently, VOD services are based on the philosophy that "I see what I want to see when I want to see it." Virtually all OTT services offer VOD.

6. CDN

A Content Delivery Network or CDN is a system that operates based on a network of interconnected computers that distribute huge amounts of digital data to thousands of users simultaneously. Thanks to the use of these interconnected servers, a CDN system avoids the loss of information and allows for a more stable transmission of streaming, among other things.

7. HD

A term that is on almost everyone's mind: high definition. HD content has higher than standard resolutions, ranging from 1280 × 720 to 1920 × 1080 pixels (720p and 1080p, respectively). Today, a streaming service without HD is considered obsolete.

8. DRM

This is the acronym for Digital Rights Management. The term DRM is also known in Spanish as an anti-copy program. It is used in streaming services to protect the content from being broadcasted on various platforms from possible copies or restrict unauthorized access.

Mediastream is an example of a company that offers end-to-end solutions to the streaming needs of your business, compatible with most ISPs in Latin America and the world, protecting your content via DRM and other security methods, ensuring the best streaming resolution in HD with a secure and stable transmission thanks to its CDN networks.