BitTorrent Peer-to-Peer Live Video Streaming Service Being Tested

Tweet

BitTorrent is among the more popular means of sharing files and media online. But aside from just file-sharing, the developers of the file-transfer platform are currently experimenting with video streaming.

BitTorrent is a popular protocol for transferring big files, because of the decentralized nature of transfers. With BitTorrent, there is no central server that acts as repository of files, but bits and pieces of data are downloaded from other peer computers within the network. With this, entities sharing files can save on bandwidth and server load. However, the developers of BitTorrent are currently testing the platform in other applications, particularly streaming.

BitTorrent has partnered with Dean Guitars in streaming this Friday’s NAMM Jam event, a heavy metal festival to be held at The Grove of Anaheim. BitTorrent wants to test whether streaming through peer-to-peer sharing is viable. Developers say that this will eliminate the need to setup expensive server infrastructure and pay for bandwidth in live-streaming events. With BitTorrent live streaming, the network workload is distributed among peer computers who are part of the so-called swarm. The peer-based architecture will use resources like storage and bandwidth, and automatically adjusts according to demand and availability.

The limitation here, of course, is that the live-streaming event should have a minimum number of users for the peer-sharing protocol to work at optimal levels. As such, BitTorrent is testing its new protocol every 8 p.m. on Fridays, and has been inviting DJs to stream music live from their headquarters. This time, organizers have invited live bands, and BitTorrent is hoping to gain enough traction among music fans and event producers, as well.

Is BitTorrent the future of streaming media? If BitTorrent streaming gets enough traction from among consumers and platform developers, it might be one good way to circumvent the need for expensive server and bandwidth infrastructure in delivering on-demand and live content to Internet TVs.