A method, comprising: generating a first video stream for storing digital content encoded at a first playback quality, wherein the first video stream includes a plurality of first key frames, each first key frame in the plurality of first key frames is associated with a different encoded sequence of the digital content, and each first key frame in the plurality of first key frames is located within the first video stream at a first temporal distance from an immediately preceding first key frame also included in the plurality of first key frames; generating a second video stream for storing the digital content encoded at a second playback quality, wherein the second video stream includes a plurality of staggered key frames, each staggered key frame in the plurality of staggered key frames is located within the second video stream at the first temporal distance from an immediately preceding staggered key frame also included in the plurality of staggered key frames at an offset distance relative to an immediately preceding first key frame located within the first video stream, wherein a first switch point for switching download of the digital content from the first video stream to the second video stream corresponds to one of the staggered key frames; and generating a third video stream for storing the digital content encoded at a third playback quality, wherein the third video stream includes a second plurality of staggered key frames, wherein each key frame in the second plurality of staggered key frames is located within the third video stream at the first temporal distance from an immediately preceding key frame also included in the second plurality of staggered key frames at the offset distance relative to an immediately preceding staggered key frame located within the second video stream, wherein the first playback quality is higher than the second playback quality, and wherein the second playback quality is higher than the third playback quality, wherein download of the digital content is switched from the first video stream to the second video stream after a segment of an encoded sequence has been played, and wherein the offset distance comprises half of the first temporal distance, and a length of the segment is half of the first temporal distance; wherein each encoded sequence comprises a segment including one key frame and one or more non-key frames and another segment including only non-key frames. generating a first video stream for storing digital content encoded at a first playback quality, wherein the first video stream includes a plurality of first key frames, each first key frame in the plurality of first key frames is associated with a different encoded sequence of the digital content, and each first key frame in the plurality of first key frames is located within the first video stream at a first temporal distance from an immediately preceding first key frame also included in the plurality of first key frames; generating a second video stream for storing the digital content encoded at a second playback quality, wherein the second video stream includes a plurality of staggered key frames, each staggered key frame in the plurality of staggered key frames is located within the second video stream at the first temporal distance from an immediately preceding staggered key frame also included in the plurality of staggered key frames at an offset distance relative to an immediately preceding first key frame located within the first video stream, wherein a first switch point for switching download of the digital content from the first video stream to the second video stream corresponds to one of the staggered key frames; and generating a third video stream for storing the digital content encoded at a third playback quality, wherein the third video stream includes a second plurality of staggered key frames, wherein each key frame in the second plurality of staggered key frames is located within the third video stream at the first temporal distance from an immediately preceding key frame also included in the second plurality of staggered key frames at the offset distance relative to an immediately preceding staggered key frame located within the second video stream, wherein the first playback quality is higher than the second playback quality, and wherein the second playback quality is higher than the third playback quality, wherein download of the digital content is switched from the first video stream to the second video stream after a segment of an encoded sequence has been played, and wherein the offset distance comprises half of the first temporal distance, and a length of the segment is half of the first temporal distance; wherein each encoded sequence comprises a segment including one key frame and one or more non-key frames and another segment including only non-key frames.