A method and apparatus for providing streamed media to client devices includes providing, for a client device, a variant playlist file that identifies a plurality of variant streams each corresponding to a different encoding of the same presentation but each presenting the same content having the same duration; and receiving, from the client device, a first request to provide a first set of identifiers that directs the first client device to a first set of media segments from a first variant stream of the plurality of variant streams in the variant playlist file, wherein the first set of media segments corresponds to a first encoding. The method further includes, responsive to the first request, providing a second set of identifiers that directs the client device to a second set of media segments, which corresponds to a second encoding, to use in downloading a first portion of the content.