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    Science Facts: Why Does Live Streaming Of Shows Have A Lag?

    By Vishal kumar
    1 Jun'23  6 min read
    Science Facts: Why Does Live Streaming Of Shows Have A Lag?
    Synopsis

    If you are watching a live stream of a game while your friend is watching the same game on television, you may experience a few seconds of delay. This delay can be attributed to several factors, including those covered in the chapter on communication systems of Class 12 and further studied in the field of electronics and communication engineering. In this article, we will delve into these factors to understand why such delays occur.

    Science Facts: Why Does Live Streaming Of Shows Have A Lag?
    Synopsis

    If you are watching a live stream of a game while your friend is watching the same game on television, you may experience a few seconds of delay. This delay can be attributed to several factors, including those covered in the chapter on communication systems of Class 12 and further studied in the field of electronics and communication engineering. In this article, we will delve into these factors to understand why such delays occur.

    Since the revolution of digitisation, live streaming has become increasingly popular as a means of broadcasting events, shows, and interactive content to audiences around the world. However, you may have noticed that live stream broadcasts often exhibit a noticeable delay compared to traditional television broadcasts. This raises the question: why is a live stream slower than a television broadcast?

    To understand the reasons behind this disparity, we need to explore the underlying factors that affect the speed of live streams. Live streams involve the encoding, transmission, and delivery of audio and video content over the internet, while television broadcasts rely on established infrastructures like cable or satellite systems. These differences in technology and transmission methods can contribute to varying levels of latency and delay between the two mediums.

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    What Is Live Streaming And How Does It Work?

    It is the process of delivering real-time audio and video content to viewers via the internet, allowing them to watch events as they happen, which is known as live streaming. While the specifics vary based on the platform or service used, the overall live-streaming workflow includes many critical components:

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    • Capture and Encoding: Capturing audio and video content is the initial stage in live broadcasting. This can be accomplished by using cameras, microphones, or other real-time recording equipment. The acquired footage is next encoded, which is the process of transforming raw audio and video signals into a digital format that can be transferred over the internet. Encoding also includes compressing the data to make it easier to transmit.

    • Streaming Software or Hardware: To facilitate the live streaming process, specialized software or hardware is often used. This software or hardware helps manage the encoding, compression, and transmission of the live stream. It may provide features such as adjusting video quality, adding overlays or graphics, and integrating with streaming platforms.

    • Internet Connection: A stable and reliable internet connection is required for live broadcasting. The encoded audio and video data are delivered over the internet from the streaming software or hardware to the streaming server. The smoothness and stability of the live stream can be affected by the quality of the internet connection.

    • Streaming Server: The streaming server acts as an intermediary between the content source and the viewers. It receives the encoded audio and video data from the streaming software or hardware and distributes it to the viewers who are connected to the server. The server manages the transmission of the data and ensures that it reaches the viewers in a timely manner.

    • Content Delivery Network (CDN): In some cases, a CDN may be used to enhance the delivery of the live stream. CDNs are networks of servers distributed geographically to reduce the load on the main streaming server and improve the streaming performance. They help ensure that the stream is delivered efficiently to viewers by routing the data through the server closest to each viewer.

    • Viewer Access: Viewers can watch the live broadcast on a variety of platforms or devices, including websites, mobile apps, and streaming services. They can view the live broadcast on their internet-connected devices, such as smartphones, tablets, PCs, or smart TVs, in real-time. The data from the streaming server is received by the viewer's device, which decodes it to display the audio and visual content.

    How Do TV Broadcasts Work?

    Television broadcasts involve transmitting signals from a television station to a TV using various physical media. Cable and over-the-air (OTA) networks are the primary means of transmitting these signals.

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    First, the television station encodes the audio and video signals into a broadcast signal. This signal is then transmitted using a robust antenna, which emits electromagnetic waves carrying the encoded content. For OTA networks, viewers can receive these signals using a TV antenna, which captures the waves and sends them to the TV for further processing.

    The broadcast signal is received by the cable service provider for cable networks. They distribute the signal via a network of cables that connect to the houses of subscribers. Subscribers use cable boxes or televisions with built-in cable tuners to decode the feed. The received signal is decoded to extract the audio and video data, regardless of the transmission mechanism. This decoding procedure entails reversing the compression used during encoding, allowing the television to recover the original content. Finally, the audio and video content is displayed on the TV for users to watch and enjoy.

    Why Is A Live Stream Slower Than A Television Broadcast?

    Till now we have learned about live streams and TV broadcasts and how they both work, now we will discuss. Factors affecting the speed of live streams.

    > Transmission Method: Dedicated transmission infrastructure, such as broadcast towers or satellite systems, is often used for television transmissions. These systems are designed to deliver content to a large number of viewers in an efficient and timely manner. Live streaming, on the other hand, is dependent on internet-based transmission, which can be hampered by factors such as network congestion, signal intensity, and bandwidth limits. Because of the dependence on internet connectivity, there may be delays in delivering the live broadcast to viewers.

    > Signal Latency: Live streams involve encoding, transmitting, and decoding audio and video data in real time. Each of these steps add some latency to the overall process. Encoding and compressing the live content takes time, and decoding it on the viewer's device also requires processing time. This latency can result in a delay between the live event and its display on the viewer's screen.

    > Network Congestion: Live streaming is dependent on public internet infrastructure, which is shared by many users and services. When there is a significant demand or congestion on the network, such as during popular live events (like the IPL finale or the UEFA Championship), the speed and delivery of the live broadcast can suffer. Network congestion can cause buffering, pauses, or slower data transmission rates, resulting in live stream delays when compared to a television broadcast.

    > Playback Buffering: To ensure smooth playback, live streaming platforms often employ buffering techniques. A buffer temporarily stores a portion of the live stream on the viewer's device, allowing for smooth playback even if there are variations in network speed. However, buffering introduces an additional delay between the live event and its display on the viewer's screen.

    > Device and Software Limitations: A computer, smartphone, or smart TV used for live streaming may have hardware or software constraints that affect the streaming experience. Older or less powerful devices may struggle to perform real-time decoding and rendering of the live stream, resulting in slower playback as compared to a dedicated television broadcast receiver.

    It's important to note that with advancements in technology and improvements in internet infrastructure, the gap between television broadcasts and live streaming in terms of speed and quality has significantly narrowed. However, the inherent nature of live streaming over the internet can still introduce some delays compared to traditional television broadcasts.

    Also Read - Why Does The Time Of Sunrise And Sunset Change Everyday?

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