Millions of households in the UK are increasingly embracing online streaming services over traditional TV methods like aerials and satellite dishes. Recent data from Sky indicates a growing preference for its broadband-powered Glass TV and Stream Box, leading in new sales. The introduction of Freely, a new platform offering live TV via the internet, further underscores the shift towards streaming.
The convenience, vast content library, and straightforward DIY setup of streaming platforms have fueled the ongoing revolution in home entertainment. However, a notable drawback for viewers, especially sports enthusiasts, is the delay experienced when watching live events on services like BBC iPlayer, which can range from 30 to 40 seconds. This delay can prove frustrating, particularly during fast-paced sports matches.
Acknowledging this issue, Sky has taken steps to minimize latency with a recent update to its streaming devices, significantly reducing the delay to just a few seconds. In a bid to keep pace with competitors, the BBC has confirmed its efforts to address this challenge by working on similar solutions.
The BBC explained that while the delay on iPlayer has decreased in recent times, it still hovers around 40 seconds, affecting the real-time viewing experience, especially for sports and events with active social media engagement. To enhance viewer satisfaction, the BBC is focusing on “low latency streaming” to narrow the delay gap and maintain high-quality streaming performance.
The BBC is currently developing these improvements and inviting iPlayer users to participate in testing before an official rollout. Owners of 3rd and 2nd generation Amazon Fire TV Sticks, as well as Samsung’s CU8000 and CU8500 TVs, can access the iPlayer Beta experience in their settings to enjoy reduced lag during streaming.
During the initial trial phase, viewers can test the low latency streaming feature on BBC Two between 9am and 5pm by enabling ‘iPlayer beta’ in settings and setting their location to England or Scotland. The BBC aims to evaluate the performance of low latency streaming under real-world internet conditions and intends to expand the trial based on user feedback and performance assessments.
