Multiple video streams in lieu of transcoding
Twitch transcoding has a few issues. It's not always available (especially to non-partners), and it is of low quality (which is understandable considering the number of streams Twitch has to provide this service for).
After the recent support of multiple audio streams (for VoD vs. live audio) I propose Twitch add support for sending multiple video streams on the mux to Twitch. This improves multiple issues:
- No requirement for streams to have, or be provided, transcoding options from Twitch's side
- Higher quality viewing options for the client (broadcaster encoded streams of higher quality)
- Reduced load on Twitch's transcoding servers
- Broadcaster controlled stream options
With NVENC being far more sophisticated and generally available to many broadcasters, with most consumer cards supporting 2 encoding streams (and Quatro cards supporting 3+), enabling broadcasters to provide their own quality options increases stream broadcast quality and reduces/removes the need for Twitch to provide this option. This should in turn increase the number of broadcasters not using this feature to be granted Twitch transcoding.
Many broadcasters that would use this feature should be in tune with their community and requirements. A typical example of this being used:
- 5Mbit 720p60
- 2Mbit 480p30
A more sophisticated example for bigger broadcasts (eSports):
- 6Mbit 1080p60
- 4.5Mbit 720p60
- 3.5Mbit 480p60
- 1.5Mbit 480p30
Broadcasting software already has preliminary support for multiple encoding streams (OBS) and bigger broadcasts from eSports companies and events likely use expensive multi-transcoding hardware for their streams to multiple services. With Twitch supporting direct stream support from broadcasters unlike competitors like Youtube, etc. this should continue Twitch's legacy of being the higher quality platform for media broadcast.

-
itsDefrag commented
Would love to see this, and makes sense for Twitch to consider this, sounds like a win-win-WIN situation for them, the streamers and the audience.