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What is video CDN?

Video CDN (Content Delivery Network for video) is a specialized CDN configuration optimized for delivering live streams and video-on-demand (VOD) content at global scale. Unlike the Video Streaming platform, Video CDN does not transcode your content—it simply caches and distributes your already-prepared video streams through 210+ edge locations worldwide.

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Video CDN vs Video Streaming Platform

Understanding the difference between these two services is crucial for choosing the right solution:
What it does:
  • Caches and delivers your already-prepared video streams
  • No transcoding – just distribution
  • Works with HLS, DASH, FLV, MP4 and all other formats
Choose Video CDN if:
  • You already have HLS/DASH/FLV streams ready
  • You handle transcoding on your own servers
  • You need advanced CDN features (geo-blocking, secure tokens, custom domains)
  • You want full control over encoding settings
  • You need to reduce origin bandwidth costs
Example use cases:
  • You have a media server producing HLS streams
  • You’re migrating from another CDN provider or adding Multi-CDN
  • You need geo-restrictions or custom access policies
  • You want to offload bandwidth from your origin servers

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Supported video formats

Video CDN supports multiple streaming protocols and formats:
FormatLiveVODUse Case
HLS (HTTP Live Streaming)✅✅Most common, wide device support, Apple-native
MPEG-DASH✅✅Industry standard, great for non-Apple devices
HTTP-FLV✅✅Ultra-low latency (1-3s), high concurrency, popular in Asia
MP4❌✅Direct downloads, progressive playback

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Low-latency streaming capabilities

Gcore Video CDN supports ultra-low latency delivery for live streaming: Low-Latency HLS (LL-HLS)
  • 2-4 second glass-to-glass latency
  • Native support on iOS and modern browsers
  • Uses CMAF segments with immediate streaming
Low-Latency MPEG-DASH (LL-DASH)
  • 2-4 second glass-to-glass latency
  • Broad device compatibility (Android, Smart TVs, web browsers)
  • Requires Chunked-Proxy module activation
Both protocols use Gcore’s Chunked-Proxy technology to stream content immediately as it’s received from the origin, eliminating the typical “store and forward” delay. This reduces latency from 10-15 seconds down to 2-4 seconds. Learn more: Low-Latency MPEG-DASH

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Key features

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Global CDN delivery

  • 210+ edge locations across 6 continents
  • Automatic routing to nearest edge server

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Optimized for video

  • Sliding window caching for live streams (RAM-based)
  • Range request support for efficient seeking
  • Large file optimization for VOD delivery
  • Origin shielding to reduce origin load by 80-99%

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Security and access control

  • Geo-blocking: Restrict content by country
  • Secure tokens: Time-limited authenticated URLs
  • Referrer validation: Prevent unauthorized embedding
  • IP access control: Whitelist/blacklist specific IPs
  • DDoS protection: Built-in protection against attacks

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Advanced configuration

  • Custom domains (CNAMEs)
  • Custom cache rules per file type
  • HTTP/2 and HTTP/3 (QUIC) support
  • WebSocket support for interactive features
  • Real-time statistics and monitoring

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Get started with video CDN

1

Choose your format

Determine which streaming format you’re using:
2

Request activation

Contact Gcore Support to activate video streaming for your CDN account. Provide:
  • Your domain and company name
  • Content type (sports, education, entertainment, etc.)
  • Sample stream URL
  • Expected viewer geography
  • Broadcasting license or content compliance policy
3

Create CDN resource

Follow the simple setup guide to create your video CDN resource.
4

Configure caching

Set appropriate cache TTLs for your video files:
  • Playlists (.m3u8): 1-2 seconds (live) or 5-60 seconds (VOD)
  • Segments (.ts, .m4s): 60 seconds (live) or 1-24 hours (VOD)
5

Test and deploy

Test your stream with the CDN URL and deploy to production when ready.

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Use cases

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Live Sports Broadcasting

  • Deliver sports events to 100K+ concurrent viewers
  • Enable geo-restrictions based on broadcasting rights
  • Use origin shielding to protect origin from traffic spikes

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Educational Platforms

  • Stream online courses and webinars globally
  • Implement secure tokens for paid content access
  • Use custom domains for branded experience

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Entertainment & Media

  • Deliver movies and TV shows on-demand
  • Implement geo-blocking for regional licensing
  • Use secure tokens to prevent unauthorized sharing

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User-Generated Content

  • Scale video delivery for social platforms
  • Handle spiky traffic patterns efficiently
  • Reduce origin bandwidth costs by 80-95%

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Pricing

Video CDN pricing is based on:
  • CDN traffic volume: Pay for bandwidth delivered to viewers
  • CDN subscription tier: Any paid CDN plan
  • Optional features: Origin shielding, custom SSL certificates
Legal requirement: Streaming activation requires approval from Gcore support to ensure compliance with content licensing and copyright laws.

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Next steps

Quick Setup Guide

Simple guide to create your first Video CDN resource

HLS Streaming

Configure HLS live streams and VOD delivery

FLV Streaming

Ultra-low latency streaming with HTTP-FLV

Video Streaming Platform

Need transcoding? Check out our all-in-one solution

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Additional resources