cause delays or outages just when engagement peaks. Scalability challenges arise from high concurrent demand, increasing use of 4K, HDR and multi-angle streams, as well as unpredictable spikes in viewer activity. To meet demand, platforms are adopting cloud-native architectures that scale resources dynamically. Peer-to-peer (P2P) CDNs distribute content across users, offloading central servers and enhancing reliability. This keeps streams stable and responsive when the stakes are at their highest. n Device compatibility Fans now expect seamless viewing across smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, consoles and more. But a fragmented device ecosystem makes consistent performance a challenge. Different platforms have their own requirements. Meanwhile, viewers often switch between devices mid- stream or cast from mobile to TV, which adds complexity. ABR helps by tailoring delivery to device capabilities and connection quality. Cross-platform protocols like WebRTC standardise playback across browsers, OSs and hardware to deliver consistent, glitch-free viewing wherever fans tune in. Sports streaming without limits While improvements in delivery and adaptive streaming enhance performance, codecs remain the foundation. Next-generation solutions like VVC represent a leap forward, offering up to 50% better compression than HEVC and enabling the same video quality with half the data. By reducing both latency and buffering at the source, VVC helps platforms deliver seamless, high-quality streams across devices and networks. For broadcasters and platforms, getting this right isn’t just about meeting expectations, but setting the standard for what comes next.
impacts high-stakes cases like live betting, where timing is everything. Several factors contribute to this: slow internet, network congestion, centralised routing and the strain of delivering ever-higher video quality. To address this, the industry is embracing smarter tech. WebRTC and Selective Forwarding Units (SFUs) enable sub-second latency by distributing streams without re- encoding. Edge computing reduces transit time by processing data closer to the viewer. Meanwhile, next-gen codecs such as Versatile Video Coding (VVC) lower latency via parallel processing and efficient compression. These innovations are helping to bring viewers closer to the action, making the experience more immersive than ever. n Buffering Buffering results in brief pauses when video playback catches up to the data stream, and it’s a source
of great frustration for fans. In live sports, buffering breaks the immersive flow of the game and risks fans missing critical moments. It’s caused by network instability, bandwidth limitations, fluctuations in bit rate and device performance issues. To combat this, adaptive bit rate streaming (ABR) adjusts video quality in real time, based on connection strength. Low-latency protocols like HTTP/3, QUIC, LL-HLS and LL-DASH reduce set-up delays and packet loss. Efficient codecs like VVC shrink file sizes, lowering bandwidth demands and improving stream resilience. Together, these solutions help ensure fans stay in the moment. n Scalability Major events like the Super Bowl can draw hundreds of millions of viewers at once. Sudden surges, sparked by dramatic finishes or betting windows, can overwhelm infrastructure and
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