Interdigital’s head of video lab Lionel Oisel joins FEED to discuss tackling the core technical hurdles of live sports streaming Levelling the playing field
F rom the first televised baseball game in 1939 to today’s UHD mobile streams, sports have long driven the evolution of media technology. But as fans migrate from traditional TV to digital platforms, the pressure to deliver seamless, real-time experiences that rival – or surpass – broadcast quality has never been greater. Despite the explosion of sports streaming services, lots of technical hurdles still pose serious challenges, especially during live events. From global broadcasts like the World Cup to lower-league football matches on niche platforms, the demand for flawless performance is high. A single buffering wheel or lagging frame can turn a season-defining moment into a missed opportunity. Notably, Interdigital’s recent research ›› Making sure to deliver a seamless stream isn’t just a technical necessity, but is essential for engagement, revenue and brand reputation ‹‹
with Parks Associates found that 31% of sports viewers aged 18 to 24 cite poor video quality, lag and bandwidth limitations as common frustrations. To meet the rising expectations of audiences, platforms must tackle four critical challenges: latency, buffering, scalability and device compatibility. When these issues arise, they erode user trust and compromise what makes live sports so compelling: immediacy, drama and high-stakes excitement. A new era of viewer engagement Live sports’ move to streaming signals a major shift in media consumption, with streaming now overtaking traditional pay TV. Since 2020, the number of US households with traditional pay TV has dropped from 62% to 42%, while subscription video services now reach 89%, up from 76% five years ago. This shift goes beyond convenience. It reflects a move towards more personalised, user- controlled viewing. Sports fans are a particularly high-value audience. Today, 40% watch sports exclusively via streaming, while another 30% combine streaming with broadcast. These viewers are more engaged and spend more – up to $111 a month for sports-specific services, compared to $64 among non-sports streamers. Sports remain unique in a streaming
ecosystem increasingly dominated by on-demand content. With 84% of fans watching at least one live game weekly and 30% of Americans betting on sports, demand for low-latency, reliable streaming is significant. For broadcasters, making sure to deliver a seamless stream isn’t just a technical necessity, but is essential for maintaining engagement, revenue and brand reputation. What are the core challenges? To meet growing viewer expectations, streaming platforms must solve four perennial challenges: n Latency This refers to the lag between real- time action and what viewers see, and high latency can be especially disruptive. Fans often follow games while messaging friends or browsing social media, and no one wants a spoiler before seeing the moment unfold for themselves. Latency also
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