This World Cup has turned into a social event highlighted by gatherings with friends for each Spanish match. As La Roja plays, the excitement fills the air, compelling everyone to stop what they’re doing. Pulling the TV onto the porch, setting out chairs, and preparing snacks becomes the norm. However, one worry looms: how can you prevent the neighbor from spoiling the thrill of the game by announcing a goal before you see it?
In our recent match, a lack of a coaxial antenna cable led us to stream through the Movistar Plus+ app. Streaming notoriously arrives later than the signal from digital terrestrial television (DTT). This isn’t as bothersome under normal circumstances, but during high-stakes games like the World Cup, a delayed signal can be disruptive—especially when the lag stretches beyond a minute. Thus, it’s essential to understand why streaming has this delay and explore possible solutions.
The Traditional Antenna vs. Streaming Delay
While traditional television via antenna isn’t instantaneous, the delays are minimal—usually between five and ten seconds. This small cushion allows networks to react quickly to any inappropriate incident during a live broadcast, ensuring all viewers experience the match consistently in real-time. However, streaming introduces a different dynamic that complicates this experience.
The Journey of Streaming Signals
Streaming video takes a considerably longer path from the stadium to our devices. Initially, the image is captured, then it undergoes encoding and transcoding before distribution via the internet. Finally, it is decoded on the viewer’s device. Each of these steps contributes additional time to the overall latency, making streaming inherently slower.
Most streaming services leverage protocols like HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) or DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP). Rather than transmitting a continuous stream, these protocols break the video into segments of two to ten seconds. To prevent interruptions during potential connection issues, the player downloads and buffers several segments ahead. This focus on fluid playback results in additional seconds of delay.
Network latency and transcoding time add to the problem. For instance, estimates suggest an overall delay of 25 to 40 seconds can occur from the time a play happens until it appears on a viewer’s screen. This delay may cause frustration, especially during major sporting events when fans receive goal alerts on their mobile devices well before they actually see the play unfold on streaming platforms.
Seeking Solutions to Streaming Delays
Reducing this delay without sacrificing image quality or stability remains a significant challenge for streaming platforms. Each service employs its own distribution networks, resulting in variable delays for different platforms. Nevertheless, advancements in technology are on the horizon.
New “low latency” versions of existing protocols, such as LL-HLS and LL-DASH, have emerged. These technologies enable players to begin downloading and displaying video fragments even before their complete capture. This innovation has the potential to minimize delays from 15-30 seconds to as little as two to five seconds, significantly enhancing the viewing experience during live events.
Some networks have already begun implementing these advancements with promising results. For instance, Sky Sports launched a low-latency version of its channel that reduced lag by 20 seconds. Similarly, the BBC has conducted trials with its iPlayer, assessing how low latency performs within current internet frameworks.
What Can You Do to Combat Delays?
While these improvements are being developed, the practical advice remains to turn on your antenna whenever possible to avoid missed goals. Additionally, steer clear of social media and messaging apps during critical moments to prevent spoilers. With the excitement of the World Cup, these small precautions can ensure you enjoy every goal as it happens.
Cover image | Wemax Projectors (Unsplash) and RTVE