问题
is m3u8 file a single file maintained in server for live streaming? is MPMoviePlayerController enough for live streaming to show a TV channel? what are the other possibilities? I have verified the Apple Document
回答1:
The m3u8 file is the playlist for Apple HTTP live (or VoD) streaming. It contains URLs to the .ts files which normally contain 10 seconds of audio/video each. You can put the .m3u8 URL into the iPhone's browser and it will play the live stream. Here's the sample contents of a live stream's .m3u8 file:
#EXTM3U
#EXT-X-TARGETDURATION:10
#EXT-X-MEDIA-SEQUENCE:1
#EXTINF:10, no desc
media-000001.ts
#EXTINF:10, no desc
media-000002.ts
#EXTINF:10, no desc
media-000003.ts
回答2:
To answer your first question "m3u8" is the file extension used but the Unicode version of an "m3u" file:
The unicode version of "m3u" is "m3u8", which uses UTF-8 unicode characters.
m3u on Wikipedia
I don't know enough about file streaming to be able to answer your remaining questions.
来源：https://stackoverflow.com/questions/4992331/purpose-of-m3u8-file-in-http-live-streaming