HLS Streaming Support
We are excited to announce the addition of HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) as a supported protocol for delivering recorded media.
We strongly recommend that all technology partners, particularly those currently utilizing direct MP4 streaming, switch to the new HLS streaming option as soon as possible. HLS offers significant performance and efficiency improvements over legacy protocols.
Why Switch to HLS?
- Improved Performance: HLS allows for media segments to be streamed immediately upon request.
- Reduced Latency: It eliminates the need for full video construction before playback can begin.
Deprecation Notice: Direct MP4 Streaming
While direct MP4 streaming remains available today, we are officially initiating a deprioritization roadmap for this method.
| Streaming Protocol | Current Status | Future Status | Technical Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| HLS | Recommended/Preferred | Maintained/Enhanced | Segmented streaming for immediate playback. Highly efficient. |
| Direct MP4 | Deprecated | Deprioritized | Requires additional memory and computational overhead to construct the full video from fragments before streaming, increasing latency and resource use. |
Next Steps for Partners
Please consult our updated Viewing Recorded Video and Audio guide for implementation details on integrating HLS streaming into your platforms. We will continue to support the MP4 protocol during this transition, but expect performance degradation on the MP4 endpoint as resources are reallocated toward our preferred HLS service.