Content delivery network (CDN) - effective way to deliver media to large audience

Content delivery network (CDN) providers offer hosted services for delivering on-demand video across high-performance, reliable networks. It is the most effective way to deliver streaming media to the largest possible audience without the hassle of setting up and maintaining your own streaming server hardware and network.

Flash Video Streaming Service (FVSS) built with Adobe Flash Media Server and integrated directly into the CDN delivery, tracking, and reporting infrastructure is one of the most popular ways to deliver streaming video. Flash Video Streaming Service delivers FLV files.

All FVSS providers offer the following capabilities to help ensure the best delivery for your Flash Player compatible video content:

• Built-in load balancing and failover to scale video even in the heaviest traffic
• Video streaming that starts the instant viewers click Play
• A high-performance network that ensures video isn't clogged up on the Internet
• Automatic tracking and report generation at the click of a button
• Flexible bandwidth and storage based on client needs

Leading CDN providers

• Akamai is the leading global service provider for accelerating content and business processes online. Akamai effectively delivers both on-demand and live streaming in FLV format for the largest global media and entertainment companies. Serving over 2Gbps of FLV streaming traffic daily, the Akamai Edge Platform can easily scale to meet the skyrocketing demand for streaming media that has reinvented how the world experiences the Internet.
  
• Limelight Networks
  Limelight Networks is the leading CDN for digital media. Limelight's global content delivery services are designed for on-demand and live delivery of video, music, games, and social media to broadband and mobile audiences. Limelight leads the industry in "Delivering the Digital Lifestyle."

CDN providers: FVSS authorized partners

• ChinaCache is the largest CDN service provider in China. ChinaCache provides a series of media services, including on-demand and live streaming and other interactive video services, for customers in the areas of media, gaming, and Web 2.0 websites. The integration of Adobe FVSS technology in ChinaCache's CDN enables delivery of high-performance and high-quality video services.
  
• DutchView
  As one of Europe's largest broadcast facilities companies, DutchView provides film and sound recordings for broadcasting on television, radio, and the Internet as well as post-production, encoding, and storage of these recordings. DutchView aims to be the preferred full-service provider, making use of state-of-the-art technology and communication solutions.
  
• EdgeCast offers a superior, cost-effective global content delivery service that gives customers a competitive advantage in the delivery of digital media. EdgeCast's world-class content delivery platform provides customers the cost benefits and flexibility of controlling their own CDN while liberating them from bandwidth contracts, capital investments, and operational hassles.
  
• Highwinds offers a powerful, reliable means for quickly and successfully moving content at a global level. The company's high-performance RollingThunder network consists of a 10Gbps dedicated backbone connecting 16 data centers, bandwidth capacity of over half a terabit per second, and direct peering connections to more than 700 service provider networks globally.
  
  Adobe and Highwinds have partnered to offer hosted services for delivering live and on-demand video for Flash Player through the Highwinds CDN.
  
• Internap is a leading Internet solutions company that provides "The Ultimate Online Experience" by managing, delivering, and distributing applications and content with unsurpassed performance and reliability. With a global platform of data centers, managed IP services, a content delivery network, and content monetization services, Internap frees its customers to innovate and create new revenue opportunities.
  
• Internet Initiative Japan (IIJ) was founded in 1992 as a pioneer in the commercial Internet market in Japan. Since that time, the company has continued to take the initiative in the network technology field, playing a leading role in the growth of Japan's Internet industry.
  
  IIJ will continue to provide a one-stop solution that meets your business needs, with leading-edge technologies and comprehensive strength that can only be found within the IIJ Group.
  
• J-Stream Inc. offers cost-effective, high-quality services to companies such as broadcasters and other content providers to enable them to deliver live or on-demand streaming content to a wide range of users.
  
• Level 3 Communications has integrated Flash Media Servers into its CDN platform. Level 3 Flash Video Streaming provides high-performance solutions for Flash Player compatible on-demand and live video. The service is offered globally and delivered over the Level 3 Internet backbone, one of the world's largest and most connected IP networks.
  
• Mirror Image Internet's patented global network reliably streams video to users around the world, regardless of location or traffic bursts. With comprehensive capabilities and an easy-to-use web-based management tool, the Mirror Image single-source solution enables companies to easily publish, manage, deliver, and analyze their streaming media activity.
  
• Qbrick, the European choice for global distribution, is the only B2B full service provider within streaming media solutions in Scandinavia. Reach worldwide audiences and launch new communication initiatives with Qbrick solutions. Whether it's on-demand or live broadcast, Qbrick streams content flawlessly. Qbrick's CDN supports all media formats, including FLV.
  
• Velocix is the world's leading Digital Asset Delivery Network, a new generation of CDN designed to meet the rich media needs of the 21st century Internet. The Velocix delivery network is relied on globally by owners of large digital assets — including video, software, and games — to provide unparalleled quality of service and delivery performance, with affordable economics. Velocix does all this while providing new levels of control over the global digital asset distribution chain.
  
• Weebo is the Italian-based reliable, powerful, and geographically distributed CDN engineered to manage complex multimedia streaming distribution all over the world. Weebo offers a scalable and secure way to grant fail-safe access to business and entertainment content, live or on-demand, and provides tailor-made services for every customized requirement. Bring your company to the stage, reach large media audiences, and enjoy the show.