In September 2008, Adobe commissioned Forrester Consulting to examine the total economic impact and potential return on investment (ROI) that enterprises may realize by increasing their investment in media streaming using Adobe Flash Media Server.

The difference between media streaming and progressive download lies in the server software and network protocol that transmit the media. For organizations with only a web server, it may be simpler to distribute media using progressive download--especially where file size is relatively small--because it leverages existing infrastructure. However, this study shows that an investment in media streaming can lead to important business benefits, such as greater network efficiencies, better content protection, and enhanced audience engagement.