Abstract. We present a framework for heterogeneous video multicasting, considering an active network in which active nodes can filter the video stream to satisfy different quality requests. As a part of this approach, we propose a heuristic algorithm for the construction of a multicast distribution tree that appropriately chooses the active nodes at which filtering is performed with the aim of, for example, minimizing the total required bandwidth. We evaluate the performance of our algorithm and compare it against two other approaches: simulcast and layered encoded transmission. Through simulation experiments, we show that a larger number of simultaneous multicast sessions can be set up with active filtering.