Streaming video on the internet has become the norm for many people. Video streaming has replaced cable TV and movie rentals, and people prefer streaming video services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Hulu. But, did you know that the most commonly used technology for video streaming is MPEG? While MPEG technology is quite efficient, it comes with a cost. This is where some start to ask the question- is it possible to stream video on the internet without using MPEG technology?
MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) is a video compression standard that is used to reduce the size of digital video files. Without MPEG, the video files would be too large to stream. MPEG uses lossy compression, which means that some of the details in the video are lost to create a smaller file size.
While MPEG technology dominates the video streaming industry, there are alternatives. In theory, it is possible to stream video without using MPEG. The challenge is finding a way to do it efficiently and cost-effectively. Two alternatives to MPEG that are gaining popularity are WebM and AV1.
WebM is an open-source video format created by Google that is designed to be used in web browsers. WebM uses VP8 or VP9 video codecs for video compression, and it uses Vorbis for audio compression. Google programs such as YouTube and Google Drive support WebM. WebM makes it possible to stream videos on web pages without requiring any external plugin.
AV1 is another open-source video compression format that was developed by the Alliance for Open Media, a consortium of companies including Google, Mozilla, Netflix, and Amazon. AV1 can reduce the size of video files by 30% or more compared to MPEG, and it can support resolutions up to 8K. AV1 uses a bitrate-based approach, which means that it optimizes the compression based on the available bandwidth at the time of streaming.
While WebM and AV1 are gaining popularity, they are still not widely used in the industry. The reason for this is that MPEG is still the most efficient and cost-effective compression technology. MPEG is supported by most devices and applications, making it the most accessible way to stream video. Streaming with MPEG is also easier due to its broad adaptation, unlike the other two methods which require dedicated players for compatibility.
Streaming video on the internet without MPEG is possible, but it comes with some downsides. First, streaming without MPEG requires a higher bitrate to maintain the same video quality. A higher bitrate means that more data must be transmitted during streaming, which can lead to higher costs for the internet service provider and the user. Secondly, it requires more powerful hardware to encode and decode the video file during streaming. This can also drive up the cost of streaming as users must have compatible devices to stream the videos.
In conclusion, streaming video on the internet without MPEG is possible, but it comes with some tradeoffs. WebM and AV1 are two promising alternatives to MPEG, but MPEG still dominates the industry due to its efficiency and accessibility. As technology continues to evolve, it is possible that we will see new and improved methods for streaming video. But for now, MPEG remains the king of video streaming technology.