1. A server for providing rule-based dynamic server-side streaming manifest files to enable flexible video playback, the server comprising: a processor configured to: receive, from an application executing on a first client device, a request to provide a first video content for playback; evaluate a plurality of rules for the first video content; generate a dynamic manifest file referencing a plurality of content video segments corresponding to the first video content; and provide the dynamic manifest file to the application in response to the request, thereby enabling the application to playback the first video content for output on a display by interpreting the dynamic manifest file.