What type of content is multicast distribution preferred for?

Multicast distribution is particularly preferred for scheduled programs or live events due to its efficiency in delivering content to multiple viewers simultaneously. When broadcasting live events, such as sporting events or concerts, the number of viewers can vary greatly; multicast allows a single stream to be sent out to many users at once, optimizing bandwidth and reducing the load on the network.

This method is especially beneficial for scenarios where many viewers are tuning in at the same time because it minimizes the duplication of data packets being sent over the network. In contrast, other types of content, like recorded programming or on-demand content, typically do not benefit as much from multicast technology since they can be streamed individually at the viewer's convenience. Additionally, short promotional videos, while they may be broadcast to multiple users, do not generally require the same level of real-time delivery or synchronization that live or scheduled programming does. Therefore, multicast distribution shines in the context of timed broadcasts, making it the ideal method for delivering scheduled programs or live events.