Abstract: Methods and systems for adaptive streaming cost management are described. A processing device can request slices of media content for playback on a media player from a first media source using adaptive streaming. Delivery of the slices of media content to the media player can incur a first cost. The processing device can determine a performance of the adaptive streaming of the media content from the first media source. The processing device can request subsequent slices from a second media source over the network when the performance of the adaptive streaming meets or exceeds a performance threshold. Delivery of subsequent slices to the media player from the second media source can incur a second cost that is less than the first cost. The processing device can request the subsequent slices from the first media source when the performance of the adaptive streaming is not at or beyond the performance threshold.

Abstract: Methods and systems for advertisement insertion into streaming media content are described. In one method, an advertisement insertion tool receives a first indication of a start time of where an advertisement is to be inserted into media content and a second indication comprising at least one of an end time of the advertisement or a duration of the advertisement. The advertisement insertion tool inspects a first original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the start time to locate a first key frame at or prior to the start time and creates a first new slice comprising the media content of the first original slice up to the start time. The advertisement insertion tool inspects a second original slice of the media content that contains the media content at the end time to locate a second key frame at or prior to the end time and creates a second new slice comprising the media content of the second original slice after the end time until an end of the second original slice.