Multicast Streaming

Multicast is a network technique in which a single stream is distributed to many receivers at once. Instead of building a separate connection for every viewer, the sender puts the data onto the network once; multicast routers and switches make sure the stream only arrives where receivers have subscribed via IGMP.

That makes multicast remarkably efficient for live television and video in large networks: hundreds of rooms or screens watch the same broadcast while the network transports only one stream.

The technique requires network equipment that supports multicast and careful configuration. Once set up, it is the most scalable way to distribute live video within a location.