There are two different streaming methods : HTTP streaming and RTSP streaming.

1. HTTP is the age-old protocol that you use every day when you browse the Internet. Using HTTP, you download web pages, images, sounds, and videos. An added benefit of HTTP is that it can also be used to SIMULATE streaming video. "HTTP streaming" works by "progessively downloading" a movie or video clip to your hard drive. Once your computer has enough video content, it will start playing it, making it seem as if you were actually seeing the video streamed via RTP/RTSP (see below).

2. RTP (Real-Time Transport Protocol) and RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) are new methods of viewing movies, which keeps your computer in constant touch with the server running the movie. Digital data is transferred and displayed -- then discarded once you have watched it. RTP/RTSP allows you to view LIVE events, as they occur.

It all depends on what you intend to stream. Here are the PRO's and CON's for both HTTP and RTP/RTSP:

HTTP:	PROS:	HTTP streaming is great for short movies and anything else available for repeat playback. It can be used through firewalls without any problems. Once you have viewed a movie with HTTP, you can save it to your computer for future use. With a fast connection, movies play as they download. Regardless of your connections speed, you do not lose any data, the video will be downloaded without error.
	CONS:	Live performances CANNOT be viewed with HTTP streaming. When using HTTP, you can't skip ahead; you MUST download the entire movie FIRST.
RTP/RTSP:	PRO's:	RTP/RTSP streaming is ideal for full-length movies and live events. It never uses more bandwidth than it needs, and does not leave a copy of the movie on your hard drive. Videos can be broadcast to multiple users at once, making live events accessible to thousands of users simultaneously.
	CON's:	Firewalls and NAT (Network Address Translation) can stop RTP/RTSP steaming, and once you view the video, it is gone ... it CANNOT be saved to your computer. Movies can break up if the data rate exceeds your connection speed. In addition, several media types CANNOT be streamed.

For Digital Talent, HTTP streaming has more benefits than RTP/RTSP.

Four reasons:

1. One of the biggest challenges to providing content on the Internet, is making it usable by anyone. QuickTime is completely cross-platform which means it will work for everyone, regardless of the type of computer used.

2. In addition, many people already have QuickTime loaded on their computers. As of October 2009, over 350 million copies of QuickTime 4 had been distributed to Mac and Windows users.

3. More importantly, QuickTime is downloadable for FREE! Apple distributes the QuickTime system software on the Internet, free of charge, in separate versions for the MacOS and Windows.

4. Should we ever decide to provide true RTP/RTSP streaming, Apple's streaming server software is available to us at no charge, unlike other platforms, which can cost thousands of dollars per year for a site license.

A complete tutorial and FAQ exists for QuickTime at http://developer.apple.com/quicktime

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download