Millions of households in the UK are increasingly transitioning to streaming services over traditional TV aerials and satellite dishes. Sky’s latest data reveals that their Glass TV and Stream Box, both utilizing broadband, are the preferred choices for new customers. Additionally, the emergence of Freely, offering live TV via the internet, further strengthens the trend towards online content consumption.
The seamless experience, vast content library, and easy DIY setup of streaming platforms continue to drive their popularity without any signs of decline. However, a common frustration among viewers, especially sports enthusiasts, is the noticeable delay in live broadcasts.
For instance, services like BBC iPlayer can have delays of up to 30-40 seconds, causing disruptions when watching sports events like football, rugby, or tennis. Sky has addressed this issue by reducing latency on their streaming devices to just a few seconds, aiming to enhance the viewing experience.
In a bid to compete, the BBC has acknowledged the latency issue on iPlayer and is actively working on reducing delays. While the delay has decreased recently, it still stands at around 40 seconds, affecting the real-time viewing experience, particularly for live sports and events with substantial social media engagement.
The BBC is focusing on “low latency streaming” to tackle this challenge while maintaining high-quality content delivery. They are currently developing this solution and offering iPlayer users the opportunity to test the low-latency feature before its official rollout.
Owners of 3rd and 2nd generation Amazon Fire TV Sticks, as well as Samsung CU8000 and CU8500 TV owners, can access the iPlayer Beta experience in their settings to try out the reduced lag feature. The initial trial will run on BBC Two during specific hours for users who opt into the beta testing in their settings and set their location to England or Scotland.
The BBC emphasized that this trial will help assess the performance of low-latency streaming under real-world internet conditions and may expand the trial based on its success. This initiative aims to enhance the viewing experience for audiences and adapt to changing consumer preferences in the digital age.
