Streaming video hosting allows individuals to stream live media from their hosted site or from your own web site. The streaming video host will then store the media on its servers, and provide code to allow others to embed that media and act as a media server. Because many users do not have personal web space, web video hosting services are becoming increasingly popular, especially with the explosion in popularity sites like Myspace and Facebook.

Stickam is one of my favorite streaming video hosting sites. You can sign up for free and get your own streaming video channel. You will need a digital video camera to capture your streaming video, but then Stickam will stream your video for you.

The idea for Stickam (pronounced Stick-cam) is simple: Without having to pay a dime or install any sketchy software, you can fire it up and start a streaming video. All you need is a decent broadband connection and, of course, a webcam. More audacious souls “go live” — Stickam lingo for enabling your webcam. A small window will appear in your browser with a video of you — What else? — staring at a video of you in your browser.

uStream is a another streaming video hosting service. It’s video streaming is very similar to Stickam and it allows you to stream video directly from your site.