H.264 Licensing Fees Skyrocket: Major Streamers Face 45x Cost Increase

Via's new H.264 streaming fee structure marks a dramatic shift from decades of negligible licensing costs to a tiered system with top-tier platforms now facing $4.5 million annually. While existing licensees retain their original terms, new entrants to the streaming and cloud gaming markets confront substantially higher barriers to entry. This restructuring could reshape competitive dynamics in the streaming industry, particularly affecting startups and emerging services.