It's binary, the exact same process which delivers this text to your screen delivers video files to the embeded video player, all the rendering of that data is done in the client. The stress that goes on this server in particular is the number of http requests, PHP execution and SQL queries, not the bandwidth of the image files etc. For the sake of performance at a client level I do however use CSS and image Sprites to try deliver most of the files hosted on the server in one big single http request because one big file is far less client (and to a certain extent server) intensive than many small files - I imagine it's same with one big file being delivered for video streaming. Quite a few years ago I used to run a big flash streaming site where all my flash content was hosted on proxy hosts because my ISP was sensitive over bandwidth, I was able to get away with storing the big flash files on the cheapest ****ey $3 a month servers because the relative number of http requests was low and there was no php/mysql processing, so it required hardly any server resources (CPU, RAM) outside of the bandwidth pipe.
It would only cost a fortune if they had to build their own datacentre, which they obviously don't, it'd cost them ****all bandwidth-wise/server-wise hosting a site like that. My guess is that their plan for making money would be what Dan suggested, they're tracking connections to the site with the aim of sending threatening letters about watching stuff online and fining people. Saying that, accessing it with a proxy is fine, so am going to watch the Lego film and eat pizza here
****s, they've probably just uploaded the ****ty cam copy that's available, was looking forward to watching it Gambol is just impressed because he's really old.
Tried to watch the new series of Hannibal from that site on my phone and as soon as I clicked on it my phone went mental . Virus alerts all over the place . I scanned my ohone and it had more trojans in it than Helen . Think I'll give this wan a body swerve .