NewTek TriCaster Studio - Manual (Page 248)

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specified port. Once this connection is established, additional network ports may be opened as
required (since the Encoder established the connection, not the server.)
Advantages:

Easy to connect to the provider. There are no requirements for open ports on your local
system, or public IP’s. In addition, firewalls do not get in the way.
Disadvantages:

Live streams that have no viewers are still consuming bandwidth. From a provider point
of view, it is possible that all of our bandwidth could be utilized with no viewers.
However, that is more theoretical than practical.

Some external streaming providers prefer to Pull streams, as re-connection can
performed from their end automatically if necessary. But in many venues system
administrators are very reluctant to configure their system with an open port to have
your stream Pulled from.
11.4.3 STREAMING MEDIA PROVIDERS
Using a commercial streaming media provider (sometimes referred to as a Content Delivery
Network, or simply ‘CDN’) bypasses otherwise high-bandwidth requirements for the encoding
computer. When you have made arrangements for a streaming media provider to distribute your
stream, the encoder only needs enough bandwidth to get a single a/v stream to the provider. All
end users connect to the provider to view the stream.
Most streaming providers have access to massive bandwidth (and often, with a few hours notice,
they can scale up your allotment on demand to meet a special need.) Since your local bandwidth
is really only used for uploading a single stream, you can send a high quality stream, secure in the
knowledge that it will not degrade as soon as a second viewer attempts to see it.
HINT: If you need to find a good streaming service provider, ask TriCaster customers for
recommendations in the NewTek discussion forums.