Initiating a unicast stream based on a triggering event associated with a node receiving a multicast stream

Mechanisms for initiating a unicast video stream in response to a triggering event from a client node receiving a multicast video stream are disclosed. A distribution node communicatively coupled to a plurality of client nodes multicasts a first video stream of a program encoded in a first format to the plurality of client nodes. The distribution node detects a triggering event associated with a first client node of the plurality of client nodes that is receiving the first video stream. In response to the triggering event, a second video stream of the program encoded in a second format is unicasted.