What is Streaming Media?

streaming and listening to audio files

Streaming media is viewing sound and video transmitted over the internet as a continuous ‘stream’ rather than having to wait for the whole thing to download before being able to watch it. Major developments to computers and their networks, with technologies such as Broadband mean that streaming media is now very common, practical and affordable.

A media stream can be on demand like the BBC I player where you can watch programmes when you want to or it can be streamed live in real time. Concerts are sometimes broadcast live over the internet around the world like the Live Aid concert event. On demand media streams can be available for a long period of time, and are stored on a server. Live streams are only available at one particular time when the event is taking place.         

Types of Streaming Media Technologies

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streaming_media#Streaming_ media_technologies