How much data in audio stream?

Does anyone know how much data is your typical 5.1, 7.1 audio stream?

I was just curious because if your desire was to encaplate that data stream and send it somewhere I would need to know the original bitstream size.

Ie. device that would send audio as a stream over a network to another device that would then send it on to an audio output device.

The question is how much bandwidth would one need to stream the compressed data in the end.

Wow that's a lot of data. I think it would be nice if there was a "mobile" version of the higher bandwidth streams. Something that stayed under 3 mbs but still gave you 5.1 or 7.1 sound.

Not asking it to be perfect but just passable. this could allow for ability to stream via internet from one device to another. Some people have more then one home or wish to enjoy their media on the go... I'm not happy with todays media devices that allow you to do this audio wise. Sure you get ok Video but the audio is allways 2.0.

the HDMI to ethernet is using the cable to send... not converting it to an IP data stream that could be transmitted over wifi or the internet that I have seen. (actaully used one one and while it's cool it's really just a fancy cable extender)

I'm thinking more about something like what a Slingmedia SlingCatcher and slingbox do. The probelm is you loose a lot of the audio data accross the link. Endup just using the DSP to process the 2.0 sound into 5.1 using one of the modes on the receiver. WOuld have been nice if some of the surround sound data was sent over.