What is a Video Streaming Server and How Does It Work?

High-quality video content is crucial for any business. According to the G2 article, “ 55+ Powerful Streaming Statistics to Know in 2024” states,  $43.97 billion is the expected video streaming revenue in 2024. So it’s high time that we learn the nuances of delivering high-quality video streaming. 

Just like engaging with news, sports, and remote education,  online videos streamed through video hosting platforms are growing in popularity.  For content creators, artists, gamers, or business owners who want to host videos online or live stream, all they need is a top-notch video streaming server.

This server provides the needed bandwidth and storage to manage and publish your videos online. However, relying on a third-party service provider is always much easier and more cost-effective than building your server, managing it, and bearing all the additional costs in case something goes wrong.

Today, we will discuss what a streaming server is, its features and benefits, and your options for hosting your video content.

What is a Video Streaming Server?

A video server is a web server that allows you to host videos online with its built-in RTSP( Real Time Streaming Protocol system) functionality system specifically designed to host live or on-demand video to internet-enabled devices.  With video streaming software,  videos are encoded and converted into different data formats. Once converted to data, it will sent from the origin’s server to the viewer’s computer. 

If you have cloud-based server streaming, the viewer need not store the video file on their computer or their hard drive. Instead, the cloud server delivers data as they can stream and watch the video while the file transmission is in progress.

How Does Video Streaming Server Work? 

Before you start streaming your video content to your audience, you should know how it works, and learn it is not rocket science.  A video streaming server always needs the media or the video files it can deliver to the player. The process requires a server, the media, and the player; all three make video streaming possible on a user’s device.

When viewers want to stream a media, they go to the Online video platform and click the file to access it. This action carries a request to the video storage server, where the server fulfills the request, and the viewer can stream it on their device.

Many steps occur in between, such as sending the right format, right resolution, breaking down the file into several small pieces, etc. This entire process takes place so fast and smoothly that it’s not noticeable to viewers.

Many video streaming platforms also use a powerful CDN that makes delivering the media file even faster and smoother without any buffering. 

7 Features to look for in Video Streaming Server 

Different streaming servers provide various features; however, some elements are must-haves. Below, we have mentioned the top 7 features to look for while you are planning to host your videos in a hassle-free video streaming server. 

#1 Scalability

Look for this feature, especially if you are a business with large resource requirements. Scalability refers to the ability to provide additional resources when required. If, in the future, you need more bandwidth or storage space, you can check with your service provider and acquire the same.

#2 Video Quality

Good content is always prominent; however, the content quality also matters. Viewers are always inclined toward videos that are of high quality, such as HD and 4K. So, check with your service provider for the highest streaming quality.

#3 Adaptive Bitrate Streaming

Another major feature is the ability to adapt to network conditions. This feature is also known as ABR or adaptive bitrate streaming. ABR ensures that your video gets streamed regardless of the Internet quality of your viewers by adapting to the possible video quality.

#4 Video Transcoding

Transcoding is the feature that converts your video into various formats and resolutions so they can suit multiple devices and network conditions anytime.

#5 Security

Always go with a streaming host that ensures you important security measures. While looking for the service, check for features like AES encryption, DRM, SSL Certificate, HTTPS, etc. This would keep your videos from any unauthorized access and downloads.

#6 CDN Integration

Next is to look for a content delivery network, aka CDN. This is a network of servers that are distributed in various geographical locations. A CDN’s job is to ensure the fastest delivery of the users’ requests so the wait time can be minimized and there will be no buffering.

#7 Analytics

If you want your content to be a success, it’s important to measure its performance. With analytics, you receive critical insights about different aspects of your videos’ performance. As a result, you get to know your viewers’ behavior, how well they are engaged with your content, which videos are the most watched, and other important information.

Now that you’re familiar with video streaming servers and their key features beneficial for your business, continue scrolling to uncover their top benefits and understand their significance.

Top 5 Benefits Of A Video Streaming Server

Every business needs a top-notch video streaming server if they choose to multiply their ROI with video marketing. Isn’t it interesting to know how much difference a video streaming server can make in your video delivery and your business growth? 

Instant viewing without downloading

Even if it is larger files, your audience need not download them to view them, instead, they can access and enjoy real-time without any wait time related to downloading. CDN and Akamai facilitate immediate playback and enhance user experience and convenience.

Minimal RAM usage

Video streaming server optimizes RAM usage by preventing excessive memory consumption by boosting performance. The lesser the RAM usage, the smoother the operation and better resource allocation, enhancing overall server reliability. By conserving RAM resources, streaming servers can handle concurrent streaming requests more effectively, providing a seamless viewing experience for users.

Increased viewership

One of the top benefits of a video streaming server is its increased viewership for a larger audience. Without compromising the playback quality of the video, it can accommodate growing viewer numbers. It highly benefits the business and creators as they can achieve larger exposure in a short span. 

Increased revenue and cost efficiency

A video streaming server contributes to increased revenue and cost efficiency by optimizing content delivery and minimizing operational expenses. It helps them to monetize content through subscriptions, pay-per-view models, or advertisements and can generate revenue streams efficiently. It also allows for flexible resource allocation, ensuring cost-effective management as viewer numbers grow. 

Increased audience engagement

Delivering high-quality, uninterrupted viewing experiences can significantly boost audience engagement, reducing retention and bounce rates. Many platforms offer additional features like live chat, interactive polls, and viewer analytics, fostering real-time interaction and deeper connections with audiences. This not only cultivates brand loyalty but also drives overall brand success.

Arent these points worth the hype? Isn’t it a thumbs-up sign to move forward with a video streaming server? Hold on! we help you save the trouble, you still have more to know before you get started. By the time you reach the end, you will be well-equipped to start using a video streaming service.

Who Needs a Video Streaming Server?

A video streaming server is a boon to anyone wanting to host online video content. A server makes it possible to stream the content instantly and without buffering, which leads to credibility, improved brand image, and overall recognition.

You need a video streaming server if:

• You want to host video content for entertainment, marketing, educational purposes, or religious services.
• You are an elite YouTuber, public personality, filmmaker, or fitness content creator.
• You are a podcaster, video creator, musician, artist, or game developer.
• You want to establish a brand presence through video content.
• You want to offer live-streaming services to engage with your audience.
• You want to organize online events such as concerts or conferences.
• You want to monetize your videos and generate revenue.
• You want to provide religious services or sermons virtually.

Even if your role as a creator wasn’t mentioned above, if you still have the curiosity and drive to obtain insight or want to use a video streaming server, you can go ahead with it. So, did you find your slot up there?

5 Best Video Streaming Hosting Providers in 2024

Here is what you need to know next about video streaming hosting providers. We have listed out a detailed comparison and an in-depth analysis of 5 major platforms and how they are going to help you facilitate your video streaming process with the best server.

1. GUDSHO

GUDSHO stands out as a leading video hosting platform, boasting the best video streaming servers. It caters to business leaders, artists across various fields, and video-centric brands, providing comprehensive solutions for streaming, hosting, managing, marketing, and monetizing videos.

With GUDSHO, creators can seamlessly stream premium content to global audiences while nurturing their video content. The platform offers robust hosting and distribution capabilities for videos of any style and genre, backed by a suite of ready-to-stream tools designed to perfection and elevate business ideas.

Creators can leverage GUDSHO’s tailored, high-tech solutions for video streaming, marketing, event promotion, and monetization to significantly expand their subscriber base and amplify their impact.

Key Features

• The built-in HLS Video Player offers viewers sharper and more defined picture quality through its integrated HTML5 video player capable of streaming in 4K resolution. 

• Video compatibility across various screens with HD resolutions from a wide range of popular video formats like  MP4, MPEG, FLV, AVI, etc.
• Uninterrupted streaming with adaptive bitrate-based streaming for buffer-free video delivery regardless of the user bandwidth.

• Popular Akamai video CDN to facilitate stutter-free streaming with the fastest payback for a rich viewing experience. 

• The advantage of streaming video content at its best on various platforms like web, mobile, laptop, tablet, smart TV, and more.

• VOD (video on Demand) and live stream to help you deliver your business goals at viewers’ convenience. 

• AES video encrypted video streaming to provide a strong layer of security to prevent piracy.

2. IBM Video Streaming

IBM’s video streaming servers offer a comprehensive suite of features designed to enhance audience engagement. With capabilities for simulating live, auto-archiving, and managing video-on-demand content, these servers are tailored to meet various needs. Whether streaming virtual events, executive town halls, marketing product launches, or other content, IBM’s servers are exclusively built for privacy, reliability, quality, and scalability.

Powered by IBM Watson AI, these servers provide automated closed captioning and search functionality, further enhancing the user experience. IBM offers two distinct video streaming solutions: IBM Enterprise Video Streaming and IBM Video Streaming, allowing users to choose the platform that best aligns with their specific needs and business goals.

Key Features

• The platform offers AI-driven video search and content transcription functionalities, empowering users to conduct keyword searches within a library based on AI insights, thereby enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of content discovery.

• Stream videos to massive audiences without compromising on streaming quality. Easily integrate with corporate directory systems for single sign-on, or utilize email authentication to enable individual user tracking. 

• Access video content and digital events directly, or leverage APIs to integrate the experience into a custom-built event microsite.

• Enable both live streaming and video-on-demand options to expand viewing possibilities, with automatic bitrate switching for an improved viewing experience.

•  Real-time chat and Q&A modules, complete with built-in user management, moderation tools, emojis, and user upvoting to encourage viewer engagement.

• Utilize multiple CDN (content delivery network) switching options for enhanced global reach and scalability. 

• Leverage AI capabilities for speech recognition to enable automatic captioning on live broadcasts and online videos.

3. Twitch

Twitch is a dynamic live streaming platform that unites millions of users to engage in various activities and explore a wide array of content, ranging from Gaming to Creative categories such as Music, Art, Food & Drink, Outdoor activities, and Just Chatting.

Utilize this versatile video streaming server to broadcast your content and provide your audience with an immersive viewing experience. If you’re seeking an accessible platform that caters to diverse interests, Twitch is the ideal choice.

Key Features

• Twitch enables creators to broadcast content in real-time, promoting  interaction between creators and viewers through live chat, emotes, and donations.

• Live chat, subscriber-only chat, and channel points foster engagement between viewers and creators or brands.

• Creators can monetize premium content through various avenues, including subscriptions, donations (via bits), ad revenue sharing, and affiliate and partner programs.

• Creators can personalize their channels with branding, banners, panels, and emotes, helping them establish a unique identity.

• VOD  enables creators to save and share past broadcasts and highlights with their audience.

• Promote video content into genres such as Games, IRL (In Real Life), Music, Esports, and various creative forms, making it easier for viewers to explore content. 

4. Brightcove

Brightcove is a leading streaming technology company empowering brands, creators, artists, and services to build followers, drive brand recognition, generate leads, increase revenue, and engage with viewers. As an Emmy Award-winning streaming platform, Brightcove is renowned for its exceptional streaming quality and high-tech solutions.

With a diverse range of solutions such as Marketing Studio, Communication Studio, and Media Studio, Brightcove enables users to stream content seamlessly tailored to their specific needs. Whether it’s executing marketing campaigns, facilitating internal communications, or distributing media, it  provides comprehensive tools and support to enhance the streaming experience.

Key Features

• Benefit from fast encoding in the cloud, supporting a wide range of formats including 4K, UHD, and HEVC files, ensuring optimal video quality.

• Enhance live stream performance with low-latency partners and API integration.

• Supported formats include H.264, HEVC/H.265, WMV, MPEG-4, MP4, HLS, MPEG-DASH, MSS, VP9, and more, ensuring unmatched file compatibility for input and output.

• Streamline your workflow with a well-documented API, an easy-to-use API request builder, integration libraries, and world-class support, providing an elegant and extendable solution.

• Integrate seamlessly with leading ad management solutions such as Google Ad Manager and Freewheel to maximize monetization opportunities.

• Combat ad blockers effectively with Brightcove’s SSAI technology, allowing you to seamlessly stitch ads into your live events and linear streams

5. Wowza

Wowza is an embedded video platform designed for solution seekers. As a fully-featured platform, Wowza serves as your single-source solution for viewer engagement, all supported by Wowza’s proven performance in providing end-to-end video solutions for both live video and VOD streaming.

With industry-leading solutions, Wowza empowers you to seamlessly embed video into mission-critical applications, catering to the needs of growing startups and fully scaled enterprises alike.

Drawing on Wowza’s extensive expertise in streaming technology and its advanced VOD capabilities, businesses can deliver exceptional video experiences without limitations.

Key Features

• Offers low-latency streaming solutions that deliver unparalleled speed, reliability, quality, and resiliency.

•  Streaming Engine featuring Apple Low-Latency HLS, to maintain the high quality of traditional HLS.

• WebRTC in Wowza offers real-time communications capabilities through simple APIs. 
• SRT (Secure Reliable Transport), ensures  high-quality and secured video delivery that prevents  packet loss, jitter, and fluctuating bandwidth.

• Wide range of encoding formats and streaming protocols, many of which can be utilized to achieve low-latency streams. 

• Custom global CDN with a 99.9% uptime, ensuring reliable content delivery worldwide.

Have you gathered enough information to understand what these five platforms offer? We hope you’ve found what you’ve been looking for, and that you’re ready to choose a platform to start your video streaming journey soon.

Video Streaming Server Options to Consider

When setting up a server to host your videos online for streaming purposes, there are a few ways by which you can achieve it. Let’s talk about the most common methods here-

#1 Create Your Own Streaming Server

This one gives you your server, where you have to manage every single aspect of having a streaming server. You have to do the coding or hire a team of experts to build it for you. You need to have a dedicated team to handle any malfunctioning in the server.

Since it needs you to build a server from scratch and have a team around the clock, this is one of the most expensive options. The server might lack needed infrastructure, security features, updates, and maintenance, all of which lead to failures often.

Also, if you do not involve technologies like CDN and ABR, it might not provide the fastest streaming to your viewers. You might also not enable cloud-based storage, due to which the server would not be scalable.

#2 Using Third-Party Applications Or Platforms

Another way to access a streaming server is to rely on a third-party application such as Azure Media Services. With this, you would only be paying for the resources you would use instead of creating your infrastructure. You get to access low-latency HLS streaming and some integrations. These providers are also more secure than having your streaming server. 

Third-party applications, however, have their downsides, such as requiring developments, not having an innovative interface, no option for getting additional services, etc. 

#3 Opting For Video Content Management System

If you want something more user-friendly where you can easily manage a large amount of data and understand the functionality effortlessly, video CMS is the next option.

Hence, those wanting to have something more advanced than a standalone streaming server should opt for video CMS. The CMS system has top-notch security features, scalability, new-age technologies, and more. Some video CMSs also facilitate content creators to monetize their videos and earn from them.

#4 Using GUDSHO To Stream Videos

Among the best CMSs, GUDSHO is a premium video platform that supports video hosting, live streaming, video marketing, video CMS, video security, video analytics, live to VOD ,and video monetization perfect to deliver any video content online. They use premium CDNs like Akamai to fulfill your viewers’ requests instantly. They also utilize ABR technology on the platform, which lets every viewer stream the videos regardless of their Internet quality.

With GUDSHO, you don’t have to worry about any technical difficulties since their customer support is 24/7. Redefine your online video experience with HD streams like never before. 

Here is the link to learn more about their services, pricing plans, and everything else.

Conclusion

Utilizing a dedicated streaming server can greatly benefit content creators and businesses by providing viewers with instant access to video content without lagging issues. While owning your own streaming server may initially seem appealing, it may not be the most convenient option to implement.

As someone looking to host videos online, it’s important to consider a video streaming CMS. You can explore the platforms listed and make comparisons based on factors such as top-notch security measures, innovative features, multiple revenue streams, and more.  We hope your video streaming experience is as breezy as your ideas!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)