A system and method for delivering content objects over the Internet to an end user system with a content delivery network (CDN) is disclosed that allows for intelligent bandwidth determination for content streams. A content object is delivered with the CDN using the Internet. When a content object is requested by an end user media player, characteristics of the access network, the content object and/or the CDN are used to choose an suitable algorithm. The algorithm then determines a bitrate for delivery of the content object to the end user media player. Ultimately, the content object is transmitted at the bitrate to the end user media player.