How to achieve zero latency in your video streams

For media executives, delivering high-quality, low-latency video isn’t just a technical goal. In an industry where streaming quality can make or break viewer engagement, it’s crucial for business success. Still, many content providers struggle to meet rising viewer expectations around video latency. If this sounds like you, it’s time to explore the causes of high video latency, and how low-latency solutions can help you attract more viewers, boost engagement, and increase profitability.

What is video latency?

Video latency, also called streaming latency or network latency, is the time delay between when an event occurs and when it’s displayed on a viewer’s screen. In the context of live streaming, latency can significantly impact the viewer’s experience and engagement. That’s why, as the low-latency video streaming market grows, content providers are increasingly focused on reducing this delay to create more immersive and interactive viewing experiences.

Common causes of streaming latency

To truly understand the definition of network latency, you need to understand what contributes to it. Understanding these causes is the first step in developing strategies to minimize stream latency and improve streaming performance.

Network congestion

Network congestion occurs when there’s more data being transmitted through a network than it can handle efficiently. This oversaturation leads to slower data transfer rates and increased video latency, which can result in buffering, reduced video quality, and time delays. Content delivery networks (CDNs) and adaptive bitrate streaming can help minimize the effects of network congestion, but they don’t always eliminate the problem.

Insufficient bandwidth

Bandwidth is the maximum rate at which data can be transmitted over an internet connection. When the available bandwidth doesn’t meet the video stream’s requirements, it leads to increased streaming latency. This issue can occur at various points in the streaming process, from the content provider’s upload capacity to the viewer’s download speed. Maintaining low-latency video depends on having enough bandwidth at all stages of the streaming pipeline.

Server location

The physical distance between the streaming server and the viewer can also increase overall latency because data traveling longer distances takes more time to reach its destination. This is why many low-latency live video streaming services use geographically distributed server networks to reduce the distance the data needs to travel and improve the quality of the stream no matter where viewers are.

Streaming quality settings

While viewers generally prefer higher-quality video, it comes at the cost of increased processing time and data transfer: Low- and ultra-low-latency video require more data, which can increase latency. Balancing video quality with latency requirements is a key consideration if you want to deliver the best possible viewing experience.

Encoding and decoding delays

The process of encoding video for streaming and decoding it on the viewer’s device introduces additional latency. More complex encoding methods may provide better compression and quality, but come at the cost of increased processing time. Similarly, the capabilities of the viewer’s device can affect decoding speed, potentially adding to the overall video latency.

Benefits of low-latency video streaming

As the low and ultra-low-latency video streaming markets continue to grow, businesses are seeing plenty of benefits.

Enhanced user experience

Low-latency streaming improves the viewer’s experience by providing near-real-time content delivery, which is especially important for live events, sports broadcasts, and interactive programs. After all, no one wants to get a text from a friend about a goal they haven’t seen yet. A faster experience means more satisfied customers – and higher engagement rates and revenue growth.

Improved interactivity

Ultra-low-latency video streaming is a game-changer for broadcasters, who can engage in real-time interactions with viewers. This is especially valuable for applications like live gaming streams, virtual events, and interactive educational content. When viewers can participate in live polls, Q&A sessions, and other interactive elements without feeling disconnected, the experience is more dynamic and engaging.

Competitive advantage

Viewers are increasingly sensitive to delays, especially in sports and live event streaming, and video latency can be the difference between tuning in or dropping off. Why stick with your stream when they can just go somewhere else? A seamless experience differentiates you from the competition – making you the provider they turn to when their other streams aren’t working out.

Best practices for reducing video streaming latency

Reducing video latency will improve your streaming performance and deliver a better viewing experience. Here’s how to do it.

Optimize encoding settings

Efficient encoding decreases the time needed to process and transmit video data, reducing video latency while maintaining quality. Making your encoding more efficient involves selecting appropriate codecs, bitrates, and frame rates that balance quality and speed. Implementing adaptive bitrate streaming can also help optimize the viewing experience across different network conditions.

Utilize edge computing

Edge computing distributes computing resources across a network of edge servers, which are closer to where the data is actually produced and consumed. It brings processing closer to the data source, reducing the distance data needs to travel and lowering streaming latency. It’s a great approach for executives who need to reach large, global audiences.

Implement low-latency video streaming protocols

Choosing the right streaming protocol might be the most important piece of the video latency puzzle. Traditional streaming protocols like HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) and DASH (Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP) are widely supported but can introduce latency. New low-latency video streaming protocols like WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication), SRT (Secure Reliable Transport), and CMAF (Common Media Application Format) are designed specifically for low- and ultra-low-latency video streaming.

Choosing the best low-latency streaming solution

As the demand for real-time content delivery continues to grow, executives are under pressure to solve the problem of video latency. You need to understand not only what latency in streaming is, but how to fix it. Thankfully, streaming technology is only getting better, and it’s easier than ever to deliver high-quality, low-latency video to global audiences.

Whether you’re looking to enhance live sports broadcasts, improve interactive streaming experiences, or simply stay ahead in the competitive landscape, LTN has low-latency video streaming solutions to meet your needs. With LTN, you can be confident your content will reach viewers with minimal delay and maximum impact. Reach out for a demo today to see how we can help you stay ahead of the streaming curve.