Why low latency matters in sports streaming (and how to achieve it)

In sports, everything can change in a split second – a buzzer-beater shot, a penalty kick, a sudden-death point. For fans, being in the moment is everything. But if you’re streaming the match and the goal is already trending on Twitter before you even see it, the magic is lost.

That’s why low latency is a fundamental part of the fan experience. Latency is measured in milliseconds, but even a delay of a few seconds can break immersion. Whether you’re broadcasting football, tennis, esports or motorsports, reducing the time between the action and the audience is no longer optional. High latency means fans are watching the past, not the present – and they know it.

In this article we’ll explain why low latency matters so much in sports streaming, what causes delay and – most importantly – how to reduce latency and give your viewers the real-time experience they expect.

What is streaming latency?

Latency refers to the time between the live event and the moment it reaches the viewer’s screen. For example, if a goal is scored at 18:03:15 and the viewer sees it at 18:03:30, there’s a 15 second latency. This time delay is the latency experienced by the viewer.

In a perfect world everyone would see the action instantly. But in reality, various technical processes – from camera capture, to encoding, packaging, CDN delivery and player buffering – introduce delays. Measuring latency involves tracking the delay introduced at each stage of the streaming pipeline.

Types of latency:

Glass-to-glass latency: from the camera lens to the viewer’s screen

End-to-end latency: often used interchangeably with glass-to-glass

Playback latency: affected by player buffering, device performance and app logic

Traditional broadcast methods (like satellite or cable) typically introduce 3–7 seconds of latency. In contrast, standard streaming protocols like HLS or MPEG-DASH often produce 20–60 seconds of delay when not optimised.

Low latency networks: the backbone of real-time sports streaming

Delivering a truly live sports experience takes more than fast encoders or optimised video players – it requires a network infrastructure designed to prioritise speed, stability and proximity. Without a low-latency network, even the most advanced streaming technologies will struggle to meet viewer expectations.

At the core of this are Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), which cache video at edge servers closer to viewers. This reduces propagation delay, limits network congestion and ensures faster, more stable delivery, especially during peak moments like goals or game-winning shots.

But proximity isn’t everything. A modern low-latency network must also support:

• Chunked transfer encoding for faster segment delivery
• Fast cache refresh cycles
• Optimised routing and minimal hops
• Edge computing to process and adapt content near the user

Many CDNs now offer native support for low-latency protocols like LL-HLS or LL-DASH and real-time analytics help detect and fix issues before viewers notice.

In short, low-latency networks are the silent engine behind seamless, real-time sports streaming. Without them, even the best content won’t reach fans fast enough.

Why low latency is critical in sports streaming

1. Spoiler-free experience

We’ve all been there: you’re watching a close match and suddenly your phone buzzes with a push notification: “GOAL!”… 20 seconds before you see it happen.

High latency increases the risk of spoilers from:

• Social media feeds
• Live chats
• Mobile notifications
• Friends or neighbours watching on faster devices

Low latency helps maintain suspense and keeps the experience authentic.

2. It’s essential for in-play betting

Live betting relies on real-time video. If the stream is delayed, it creates unfair advantages and risks for both users and bookmakers.

In betting, a window of opportunity can last milliseconds. To support in-play wagers, latency needs to be under a few seconds, or better yet, sub-second.

3. Fan expectations have changed

Modern sports fans are digital natives. They’re used to instant notifications, fast-loading apps and real-time updates. A delay of even 10 seconds in your stream can feel like a lifetime, especially when every second counts. The “live” in live streaming means now, not 30 seconds ago.

4. Gives platforms a competitive advantage

Users compare streaming apps and speed matters. If your app is consistently behind the competition, people will notice and might switch. Offering ultra-low-latency streaming is about building trust and loyalty with your audience. Superior application performance, enabled by low latency, helps your platform stand out in a crowded market.

What causes streaming latency?

Streaming latency builds up across every stage of the video delivery pipeline. From the moment an event is captured to the instant it appears on a viewer’s screen, small delays can accumulate into noticeable lag. Here’s where and why latency occurs:

1. Capture and encoding

It all starts with the live video feed being captured by cameras and encoded into a digital format suitable for streaming. This process involves compressing large amounts of video data – especially for high resolutions like 4K or HDR.

• Hardware or software encoding speed plays a major role.
• Higher compression levels reduce bandwidth but take more time.
• Processing power and presets (real-time vs archival) affect latency directly.

If this step isn’t optimised, delays here will ripple through the rest of the pipeline.

2. Segmenting and packaging

Once encoded, the video is divided into small chunks, usually 2 to 10 seconds long, and packaged into formats like HLS or DASH.

• Longer segment durations increase latency because the player must wait for an entire segment before playback begins.
• Protocol switching (e.g., between HLS and LL-HLS) can also introduce extra delay if not configured properly.
• Packaging tools and buffer settings must be tuned for low latency delivery.

3. CDN delivery

Next, the content is delivered via a Content Delivery Network (CDN) to reach viewers. Delays here can result from:

• Geographic distance between viewer and CDN edge node
• Network congestion or insufficient bandwidth
• Inefficient routing or excessive number of hops
• Cache misses, forcing data to be retrieved from the origin server

The quality of the CDN setup, including edge computing and smart caching strategies, has a major impact on overall latency.

4. Playback and buffering

On the viewer’s end, the video player buffers a portion of the stream before playback to avoid stalling due to unstable network conditions.

• Larger buffer sizes mean more delay, even if the video plays smoothly.
• Jitter (inconsistent delivery timing) can cause extra buffering.
• Device performance (especially on mobile or smart TVs) and app logic can also affect latency.

Players must balance minimal buffer size with playback stability, adapting in real time to varying conditions.

How to achieve low-latency sports streaming

1. Use low-latency streaming protocols

Standard HLS and DASH protocols were designed for stability and scale, not speed. But newer variations offer much lower latency:

• Low-Latency HLS (LL-HLS): Apple’s extension of HLS, compatible with most iOS devices, can reduce latency to 2–5 seconds.
• Low-Latency DASH (LL-DASH): Similar to LL-HLS but more flexible, widely used across platforms.
• CMAF (Common Media Application Format): Helps standardise low-latency packaging, allowing for faster chunked delivery.
• WebRTC: Ideal for sub-second latency (like in live auctions or video calls), though not always scalable for mass viewership.
• SRT (Secure Reliable Transport): A strong option for contribution feeds and ultra-low-latency delivery between ingest and backend systems.

2. Minimise segment duration

Many streaming platforms use 6–10 second segments. Reducing this to 2 seconds or less allows the player to begin playback sooner. This also reduces how much data needs to be buffered at once, enabling faster playback. Combined with chunked transfer encoding, this can reduce latency dramatically.

3. Optimise encoder settings

Speed-optimised encoders (hardware-based or tuned software settings) can minimise the time spent processing video. Use fast presets and tune for live environments instead of archival quality.

4. Use a low-latency CDN

Not all CDNs are created equal. A low-latency CDN with edge servers close to your viewers, chunked transfer support and optimised cache refresh settings is essential. Edge computing can also reduce latency by processing data closer to the viewer, minimising the distance data has to travel. Optimise your CDN config for maximum network performance. Some CDNs even offer LL-HLS and LL-DASH out of the box.

5. Fine-tune your player buffering

Buffering protects against playback hiccups, but too much buffer adds delay. Minimising player buffer size also helps reduce latency jitter, resulting in a smoother viewing experience. Configure your video player to dynamically adjust based on network quality, using the lowest safe buffer size without causing playback failures.

6. Monitor and test constantly

Achieving and maintaining low latency isn’t a one-time task. Use real-time monitoring tools to track latency across devices, regions and network conditions. Regular testing helps you stay ahead of regressions or sudden bottlenecks.

Final thoughts

In live sports, every second counts. Whether it’s about avoiding spoilers, enabling real-time bets, or delivering an interactive fan experience, low latency is a game-changer.

While traditional streaming setups may accept a 30+ second delay, the sports industry is pushing the envelope — aiming for latency under 5 seconds, or even below 1 second in certain scenarios.

By choosing the right technologies and partners, and by optimizing each stage of the streaming pipeline, you can bring your viewers closer to the action than ever before. And in the world of sports, that makes all the difference.

Looking to improve the performance of your sports streaming app? Reach out to learn how we help platforms reduce latency and deliver world-class viewing experiences.