Windows Media Station file (*.nsc) is the session description file for Microsoft's Media Stream Broadcast

Media Stream Broadcast

The Media Stream Broadcast protocol allows the multicast distribution of Advanced Systems Format content over a network for which multicasting is enabled...

 (MSB) protocol.

Introduced with Microsoft NetShow

NetShow

NetShow was Microsoft's framework for network broadcasting, intended to compete with RealNetworks RealMedia. It is now renamed and marketed under the Windows Media umbrella....

 2.0, the file extension .NSC stands for NetShow Channel, the former name of the service. NSC files are text files that contain stream configuration information enabling NetShow clients to connect to a multicast

Multicast

In computer networking, multicast is the delivery of a message or information to a group of destination computers simultaneously in a single transmission from the source creating copies automatically in other network elements, such as routers, only when the topology of the network requires...

 stream coming from a NetShow server. NetShow 2.0 was the first commercial streaming media

Streaming media

Streaming media is multimedia that is constantly received by and presented to an end-user while being delivered by a streaming provider.The term "presented" is used in this article in a general sense that includes audio or video playback. The name refers to the delivery method of the medium rather...

 system to support multicast

Multicast

In computer networking, multicast is the delivery of a message or information to a group of destination computers simultaneously in a single transmission from the source creating copies automatically in other network elements, such as routers, only when the topology of the network requires...

 streaming. Windows Media Services

Windows Media Services

Windows Media Services is a streaming media server from Microsoft that allows an administrator to generate streaming media . Only Windows Media, JPEG, and MP3 formats are supported...

 is Microsoft

Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...

's latest product for generating multicast

Multicast

In computer networking, multicast is the delivery of a message or information to a group of destination computers simultaneously in a single transmission from the source creating copies automatically in other network elements, such as routers, only when the topology of the network requires...

 streams and these proprietary

Proprietary software

Proprietary software is computer software licensed under exclusive legal right of the copyright holder. The licensee is given the right to use the software under certain conditions, while restricted from other uses, such as modification, further distribution, or reverse engineering.Complementary...

, partially encrypted NSC files are still used.