Online video has grown in direct correlation with rising internet connection speeds.  Video files are huge compared to text files.  It takes lots of speed and bandwidth to make online video viewing work.  We are at a stage now where online video works well for most people but there is room for much improvement.

As speed and bandwidth continue to increase, watching video online will become easier and more therefore common.  One thing that is really helping is the installation and use of fiber optic cable.  Fiber optic cable has a lot more capacity than older cables, like the common co-ax.

To shed more light on this subject, I did a Q&A with Cliff Lee, media relations manager for Verizon Telecom.   Cliff does a great job of explaining the importance of internet speeds, how it is all changing, and what this means for you.

1.     Please give some real world examples of what difference it makes to have faster/slower internet connection speeds.
For online video needs, if you are trying to upload a 500 MB video through a Cable Internet service provider at 2Mbps, it will take 33 minutes.  If you are using FiOS (fiber optic) at 20Mbps, it will take less than four minutes.
With the FiOS 50M/20M speed tier, you can download 10 songs of 50 megabytes in size in about 8 seconds and a two-hour DVD of 1.2 gigabytes in size in less than 4 minutes, while you can upload 200 digital photos (250 megabytes in size) in about 90 seconds or a 1-gigabyte, 20-minute HD home movie in less than 7 minutes.
The same goes for posting a video clip. If you want a post a 5 MB video clip on your blog, it will take you 20 seconds with Cable and two seconds with FiOS. While that doesn’t seem like a huge difference, it will definitely save you time if you want to post more than one video at a time.

The company I represent, Verizon offers visual examples here comparing the differences for uploading photos, downloading movies and music and playing online games.

2.     If I am putting video up on the Web, what can I do to make sure the most number of people have success viewing it?
If you are uploading video, keep in mind that file size is a critical factor in how well the masses will be able to watch your video.  From a technical standpoint, it is good to upload videos that are compressed well in order to give a small file size while not degrading the resolution of the video.  If the video contains lots of fancy effects and moving video, the file size can get quite large.  Compressing videos like that can be tricky but it is amazing how new compression methods keep a quality resolution while stick knocking down the file size for a good internet delivery.
From a marketing standpoint, the best way to get high viewer numbers is to get as many people as possible to upload it to their own blogs or social media sites, e.g. Twitter, Facebook. Send your video to people who might be interested in the subject, and post it to your own social media pages to get the word out.  Take advantage of the viral nature of the internet.  If you have your video on You Tube, spend some time socializing in the community and spread your video around among your friends.  If a video is on a sharing site with lots of other videos, it takes some effort to get it seen.

3.  Can you explain the differences between the different types of internet service?  How do you know which type of Internet service is best? (cable vs. DSL vs. fiber optic Internet)?
There are a few things to consider when picking the right Internet service – speed, reliability and price among them.
First, get the Internet speed that best fits how you use the Internet. If you are into downloading/uploading videos and photos, you’ll want faster speeds to make accessing and sharing these large files easier. FiOS (a fiber optics based service) provides download speeds at up to 50Mbps and the fastest upload speeds available, at up to 20Mbps. Speeds available from Cable and DSL Internet service providers vary by company, and generally are slower than what FiOS can deliver.
FiOS, as both a standalone and bundled Internet service, is comparably priced with cable while offering higher upstream and download speeds in most markets.  In terms of reliability, FiOS is again the better option because it provides 100% fiber optics directly to your home. This means greater bandwidth for sending and receiving information. Cable Internet, on the other hand, is shared by potentially hundreds of users.  This means during times when more of your neighbors are online, you’ll have less reliable Internet speeds. DSL technology, such as Verizon High Speed Internet (HSI), also offers a dedicated line benefit by bringing your Internet connection to your home via a standard telephone line.  This means you’ll receive consistent speeds, no matter when you surf, day or night.
Many Internet service providers offer “bundles” – combining Internet, TV and phone service in one plan – at a lower price.   Verizon is the only national Internet Service Provider to offer a bundle of Internet, TV, home phone and wireless phone services for both its FiOS and High Speed Internet networks in its Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets. More information and prices for the Verizon bundles is available at www.verizon.com/bundles Shop around to see which bundle package provides the best price for you based on your Internet, TV viewing and phone usage needs.

4.     Why are both upload and download speeds critical to accessing and sharing large files (ie videos, photos, etc.)?
It’s not fast unless its fast in both directions — downstream and upstream. Upload or “upstream” refers to the rate that information is transferred from your computer to the Internet. Examples of uploading are sending emails, documents, videos or photos. Download or “downstream” refers to the speed at which you receive data from the Internet. Examples of downloading are reading a Web page, downloading a program, song or video or receiving email.
Generally, the faster your Internet connection, the faster you’ll be able to upload and download files. While many Internet service providers focus on offering fast download speeds, make sure you’re also getting fast upload speeds, if you want to be able to send large files quickly.

5.     How do you know what speed you have?
You have a couple options. You can contact your service provider or you can check your speed through any number of Web sites.  Simply search for “Internet speed test.”

6.     Beyond getting a different service, is there anything you can do to make the process work better or faster?
There is not much we can do to make our Internet connection faster without getting a different service, or ordering a faster connection speed with your current provider. However, you can make sure you have more available bandwidth by cleaning up your computer.

For example, setting up a firewall can help stop unwanted applications to access the Internet. You can free up your bandwidth with a few small tricks. For example, run disk defrag, a virus scan, clear your recycle bin, reset your home network and upgrade your computer, among other things. These simple rules will definitely help improve your Internet connection.

7.     Why do some videos play well and others don’t?
A couple of factors may be involved. You might not have the latest Internet browser or video plug-in installed.  Or, the site hosting the video might have a lot of traffic when you’re trying to watch a particular video. In some cases, the problem may be that you are trying to watch a video using a shared Cable Internet service provider during peak usage time. As more of your neighbors are online using the same Cable service provider, your experience may be affected.  This isn’t an issue for FiOS or DSL customers.

When a video sputters and stops and starts, that is usually because your internet connection speed is just not quite fast enough for that particular video.  Some online video files are bigger than others and it isn’t always easy to tell just by the length of the video, although that is one indicator.

8.     What is the difference between the different download/streaming methods?
They both involve downloading video to your computer, but when you stream, you can start watching video instantly rather than having to wait for the entire file to finish downloading. But, this can lead to choppy video performance if your Internet connection isn’t up to par.

Thanks for reading Video Production Tips and thanks to Cliff Lee from Verizon Telecom for this information.

Lorraine Grula