Live sports streaming latency shows significant improvements

DTG Report Highlights Significant Improvements in Latency for Live Sports Streaming in 2024

The Digital TV Group (DTG) has today released its latest analysis, showcasing notable improvements in live sports streaming performance across three major events in 2024: Wimbledon, the Olympic Games, and the Paralympic Games.

The study examined device performance, latency, and accessibility features, compared with 2023 live events, providing critical insights into the current state of IP-delivered live sports content. However, while the report highlights significant progress, it also reveals ongoing disparities, with some well-known branded devices still experiencing delays of more than a minute.

Key Findings:

• Year-on-Year Improvements Indicate Progress, but Challenges Remain:
  • Average latency for BBC iPlayer improved significantly from last year’s Coronation coverage (55.9 seconds) to 40 seconds during the 2024 Olympics, a 15.9-second improvement.
  • Sky Glass exhibited the lowest latency among IP streaming platforms, leading across all three events.
  • Premium brand Smart TVs showed some of the highest delays, with certain devices exceeding one minute of lag. Notably, the worst-performing device on one PSB stream was one of the best on the other, highlighting the need to address inconsistencies.
  • Android devices had the highest latency, with delays approaching one minute in some cases.
  • Console-based streaming demonstrated the greatest improvement, with a latency reduction of over 34 seconds compared to 2023.
• Broadcast Consistently Outperformed IP Streaming:
  • Traditional broadcast methods (DVB-T2, DVB-S2) maintained the lowest delays, consistently outperforming IP streaming services across all tests.
• Accessibility Testing Revealed Inconsistencies:
  • Subtitles were generally accurate across both broadcast and streaming platforms, but some devices experienced issues with enabling subtitles during live streams.
  • The Channel 4 app showed notable inconsistencies across the devices on test, with some lacking options for live TV.
• Enhancements in User Experience:
  • Several devices now offer proactive prompts for switching to higher-quality UHD streams, boosting user engagement and satisfaction.
  • The analysis identified a need for further improvements in app functionality to ensure consistent accessibility features across devices.
• Power Consumption Insights:
  • Preliminary power consumption testing indicated differences between DVB-T2 mode and IP streaming, suggesting a need for expanded analysis as the industry transitions further towards IP-based delivery.

“This analysis underscores the progress we’re seeing in reducing latency for live sports streaming, bringing the viewer experience closer in line with traditional broadcast standards,” said Ranjeet Kaur, Programme Director at DTG. “While our findings show clear improvements, particularly with platforms like Sky Glass and console-based streaming, there’s still work to be done to ensure consistent performance across all devices and services. With the growing demand for seamless, real-time access to live events, the industry must continue to focus on reducing delays and enhancing accessibility features.”

The report highlights both the progress made and the challenges that remain in delivering a reliable, real-time streaming experience. DTG calls on industry stakeholders to continue prioritising latency reduction, improving user experience, and addressing inconsistencies in device performance and accessibility features.

DTG Members can contact the DTG Testing team for detailed performance results of specific devices or platforms.