GridNetworks & Global Media Services merger to bring GridCast TV to the big time, hopefully
By Richard Lawler 
posted Apr 20th 2009 2:33AM
posted Apr 20th 2009 2:33AM
HD streaming mavens GridNetworks have merged with Global Media Services to create what they term as the "first comprehensive streaming and media services platform." We know GridNetworks is all about peer-to-peer GridCasting delivery tech that would let many view lag-free high definition streams over the Internet, and it seems that GMS is all about putting on live streaming events, so this should let them keep doing that, but in even higher quality. The first media company/brand/event to take advantage of this pairing? We're still waiting to hear that.
Wow, very exciting news.
Well, not really I just wanted to be the first one to comment an anything for once.
Ha Ha I was first
Gridcasting (or any other P2P video delivery service) does *NOT* guarantee that you will have a better experience with streaming video, in fact, it cannot even guarantee that you have any experience worth watching..
1. P2P video delivery is not about speed. There is no faster route between you and the thing you want to watch than through a direct connection through the pipes of your ISP.
2. P2P video must deliver the exact same number of bits that you would need in a direct connection for you to have the same experience. It actually creates MORE traffic on the ISP network because of the additional overhead of communication/coordination, the fact that the video in its entirety must now be served upstream (even if from many points), and lost packets.
3. ISPs hate P2P video because it doubles utilization of the network through those upstream deliveries, breaking their business model so they will (and are) blocking/shaping P2P traffic of any kind.
4. P2P streaming fails miserably in the face of congestion because it cannot be shaped, classified properly, and controlled. This means that it suffers delivery latency like any other network but because it is video, and presumably you want it glitch free, the experience is even worse. Nobody cares if the latest software patch pauses while downloading but it absolutely ruins a video experience.
5. Given that above is all true (and they are) then the only thing p2p video streaming (gridcasting) delivers as a positive result to anyone is that it lowers the cost of the person doing the delivery as they can bypass the mechanisms that are available (CDNs, transit agreements, etc) that allow the professional media companies to deliver a competent experience.
After reading my own post I realize that it comes off as pretty harsh. My intention was to clear the air for the consumer who thinks that it is some sort of miracle solution. There are lots of good applications for P2P video but it has to be part of a coordinated, and planned effort which includes the ISP and transit networks as part of the equation. Being an anarchistic solution to a solvable problem is not the answer.
Further, P2P video does have tons of practical applications in closed environments (schools, corporations, etc) where network bandwidth is relatively high (Gige), largely available, and the cost of doing a traditional deployment (caching servers) is prohibitive. It makes a great low cost alternative for the distribution of concierge video services as it lowers the server and infrastructure (server, storage, quality of network switches,etc) costs.