Delivery — HLS, DASH, HTTP-TS, SRT, RTMP, UDP and RIST

Each channel can have any number of outputs, configured in the channel editor. There are two kinds:

• viewer outputs — players, apps and CDNs pull the stream from the Castreon server (HLS, LL-HLS, DASH, HTTP-TS);
• push outputs — Castreon sends the stream to another server (SRT, RTMP, UDP, RIST).

Viewer addresses

After saving, the channel page shows the ready-to-copy addresses under Delivery. For a channel with the short name channel1:

<domain> is the Public domain in Settings → Instance (for example tv.yourdomain.com:33400). Access to these addresses can be restricted with Allowed addresses and with the Token for players.

HLS

The most compatible format: mobile apps, browsers, Smart TVs, set-top boxes. Settings:

• Container — automatic (TS for H.264, fMP4/CMAF for HEVC and AV1, as Apple players require), or chosen manually;
• Segment duration (s) and Segments in playlist — shorter segments mean lower delay, but more requests.

With a profile that has several qualities, HLS delivers ABR: the player switches quality by itself based on the connection.

LL-HLS

Low-latency HLS: 0.4-second parts served from memory, typical delay of 1–3 seconds with an LL-HLS compatible player. LL segment duration (s) must divide the HLS segment duration.

DASH

For DASH players (for example on Android and some Smart TVs). The same output also publishes an HLS-CMAF variant.

HTTP-TS

A continuous MPEG-TS stream over HTTP, for set-top boxes and IPTV players (VLC, Enigma2, Kodi). It starts instantly and can carry copied DVB subtitles.

Push outputs

For all push outputs you fill in the Destination address and the Quality sent (a push output carries a single stream; by default the first quality of the profile). If the destination goes down, Castreon reconnects automatically, and the panel shows an alert while the output is not sending. A failed push does not stop the channel nor the other outputs.

SRT

Reliable transport over the internet, with recovery of lost packets and optional encryption.

• connects (caller) — Castreon sends to an SRT server that is listening: srt://203.0.113.20:9000
• listens (listener) — Castreon waits for the partner to connect to it: srt://0.0.0.0:9000?mode=listener
• optionally latency=… (milliseconds) and passphrase=… (AES encryption — the same on both ends).

RTMP

For platforms that receive RTMP (media servers, streaming platforms): rtmp://server/app/key. RTMP cannot carry DVB subtitles.

UDP

Unicast or multicast in a managed network: udp://239.1.1.1:1234. For a headend or a DVB multiplex, use a profile with constant bitrate (the Feed to another headend recipe) and, if required, fill in the MPEG-TS identifiers (service ID, transport stream ID, PIDs) — there the channel is identified by numbers, not by name.

RIST

Professional contribution transport, with recovery of lost packets:

• Mode — Listen (listener) waits for the sender; Call (caller) connects to it;
• Profile — Main (recommended, with encryption) or Simple (old equipment, without encryption; the port must be even);
• Buffer / latency (ms) — how much time RIST has to recover lost packets (50–30000);
• Password and Encryption (AES-128 or AES-256) — the same on the sender and the receiver.

If your partner sent you a complete RIST address, use Paste a RIST address: it is split into the fields automatically.

RIST can also be used as a channel source, with the same options.