Deploying Low Latency Streaming To Enhance Video Streaming Services

Deploying Low Latency Streaming To Enhance Video Streaming Services

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically accelerated the adoption of on-demand and live video streaming services. As a result, the past year witnessed a dramatic surge in online video consumption, both in professional as well as personal settings. 

People have now incessantly begun streaming video news, esports, and with that, online video has even replaced trips to the gym and fitness centers for workout routines and exercise. 

There’s absolutely no doubt that the prediction of post-covid situations can’t be truly made and it is almost unknown as to how much our daily lives would return to pre-COVID normalcy. So what does it mean for live and on-demand video streaming services and how should businesses prepare to maximize their operations and growth? In this article, we will shed light on the new-age video streaming solutions and their impact on the rapid adoption of digital media and online content consumption.


Online Video Consumption: Then Vs. Now

Video popularity was already on the rise before the pandemic struck. According to Cisco research, it is estimated that by the next year, nearly 82% of all created content will indubitably be video. To that, COVID-19 has fuelled an already ravenous appetite for digital media and video content.  

It is not just the established video streaming players or OTT platforms that are undergoing an increased rate of traction. Relative newcomers and startups are also feeding viewer’s rampant demands for videos. 

In 2019, the global video streaming market was valued at $42.60 billion. However, the numbers are projected to proliferate at a rate of 20.4% CAGR from 2020 to 2027. 

The video streaming industry is reacting by introducing a pool of new streaming services. These neoteric solutions are accompanied by a massive wave of acquisitions. A majority of traditional video companies such as Comcast, Fox, NBC, and Viacom are all making bets on the progressive future of video streaming app development services by purchasing or building streaming platforms or launching ventures of their own.

Also Read: The Future Implications of OTT And Connected TV

Facing The Video Streaming Challenges

Live video streaming is an evolving business model in sectors such as gaming, online auctions, casinos, in-event sports betting, and sports streaming applications that allow users to watch live sporting events together and interact with each other via chat or text. 

The inclusion of additional features and social interactivity capabilities have been made possible by ultra-low latency streaming in amalgamation with methods to share videos and data online. Such additions have the potential to significantly fast-track the adoption of online applications.

Challenge: Latency In Video Streaming

In the majority of online video streaming formats, significant latencies are inherent. It ultimately causes live streams or live events to lag by around 30 seconds or even more. 

Beyond viewers’ annoyance, latency in video streaming is an inhibitor and should be replaced with ultra-low latency solutions for making online video streaming a more engaging and immersive experience. 

Truncate The Delay in Live Video Streaming

As live events and real-time video streaming continue to progress to OTT platforms, delivering new and interactive digital experiences to viewers is the next goal is viewer engagement. However, live interaction and latency remain the prime challenges.

In order to preeminently reduce latency, there have been remarkable advances in some of the most standardized practices or approaches: DASH, WebRTC, and HLS.

WebRTC is an open-source technology that offers real-time communication and is backed by Apple, Google, Microsoft, and others. It can be used to deliver streams worldwide with even less than a second of latency and is best-suited for developing interactive real-time applications. 

WebRTC is emerging as the leading and the most sought-after option for scaling the delivery of live video content which can be further incorporated into the social and audience experience.

On the other hand, DASH and HLS media formats deliver a noteworthy portion of live events today and are also compatible with a plethora of modern consumer devices and platforms. 

Without the low-latency options for delivery, these formats usually incur nearly 10 seconds of latency and in some cases, up to 30-60 seconds of latency. It is crucial to note that both DASH and HLS have options for low-latency video streaming delivery, which can be leveraged at different stages of app development and usage. 

Both of these formats are promising enough to deliver streams to supporting devices and platforms with latencies as low as 3 seconds! They can easily match broadcast delivery latency which makes these formats extremely ideal for streaming major live events such as live news or live sports to a large audience.

Create Video Streaming App With Oodles Technologies

At Oodles Technologies, we help digital media providers and streaming businesses to deliver engaging and optimum video experiences to their viewers across the globe. With a team of seasoned and highly qualified video streaming experts & app developers, we provide the right blend of video streaming services to enable you to prepare for the next era of video streaming. If you are looking to build a video streaming app, feel free to drop us a line. Our experts will get back to you within 24 hours.