Why is the live stream delayed?

You may hear people around you celebrating a goal before you see it, or receive a score notification while the ball is still in midfield on your screen. You may also notice that the match on your smart TV is a few seconds behind the «thmanyah app» on your phone or the satellite broadcast.

A short delay in live streaming over the internet is expected and does not necessarily mean there is a problem with your account or internet connection. The video and audio pass through several production and technical stages before traveling from the stadium to your screen.

#How does the broadcast get from the stadium to your screen?

The live stream does not begin when you press Play on the «thmanyah app». Before the match reaches your device, it goes through the following stages:

1. A specialized production provider produces the match feed at the stadium, including cameras, audio, directing, replays, graphics, and on-screen information.
2. The signal is sent to the production provider’s broadcast center, where the video and audio are checked and the final feed is prepared.
3. thmanyah receives the final feed as the broadcaster, monitors it, and prepares it for different devices and video quality levels.
4. The stream is sent through a Content Delivery Network (CDN), which delivers it to viewers through multiple servers and routes.
5. The stream finally reaches your device through your internet service provider and the network you are using.

Each stage adds a small amount of time to the broadcast journey, and latency can begin or increase at any point. The final viewing experience may also vary depending on your device, app version, internet service provider, and the delivery route used.

#What are the common causes of live stream delay?

1. Preparing the match feed at the source:
The video and audio are first produced at the stadium, then the signal is checked before being delivered to thmanyah. If the final feed reaches us with an existing delay, we cannot recover the time that passed before we received it. However, we monitor these cases with the production provider and work with them to reduce their impact.

2. Preparing the stream for different devices:
After receiving the feed, we prepare it to work across smart TVs, phones, tablets, and web browsers, with different quality levels suitable for varying connection speeds. This stage includes processing the video and audio, compressing the video, and preparing it for secure and stable internet playback.

3. Delivering the stream over the internet:
The stream does not travel from thmanyah’s systems to every viewer through a single route. It passes through a Content Delivery Network, then through your internet service provider, before reaching the network connected to your device. These routes may vary depending on your location, internet provider, device, and network conditions during the match.

4. Buffering to keep playback stable:
The video player needs to keep a short portion of the stream buffered before displaying it. This helps the match continue playing when there are minor fluctuations in the connection. Reducing this buffer can lower latency, but it also makes the stream more vulnerable to interruptions and buffering. Streaming services therefore need to balance how quickly the action reaches you with maintaining stable playback.

5. Differences between devices and operating systems:
Each device may process the stream differently. This means you can watch the same match on two devices at the same time and see the action appear a few seconds earlier on one of them. This can be affected by the device type, operating system, app version, video player, and how the device manages buffering.

#Why can a smart TV be behind a phone?

The stream on a smart TV may be a few seconds behind the «thmanyah app» on a phone because the delivery path, processing, and playback method can differ between devices.

This difference alone does not mean there is a problem with your account or internet connection, particularly if playback is stable and the video and audio remain synchronized.

When using Cast or AirPlay, an additional step is introduced between your phone and TV. This can create additional latency depending on both devices and your home Wi-Fi network, separately from the underlying live stream latency.

#What is the difference between latency and buffering?

Live stream latency means the match is playing smoothly, but what you are seeing reaches you after the event has happened at the stadium or after it has appeared on another device.

Buffering means the video stops, a loading indicator appears, the video quality drops, or part of the stream repeats during playback.

Buffering may be related to your internet connection, device, app, or content delivery network. A short time difference while the stream continues playing normally does not necessarily indicate a technical issue.

#Why can the delay increase while watching?

The gap from the live broadcast may increase if:

1. Your connection becomes unstable and the player needs to buffer additional video.
2. The app resumes playback from where you stopped instead of returning to the current live point.

#Can live stream latency be eliminated completely?

Internet streaming cannot reach every device and every viewer at exactly the same moment.

At thmanyah, we work to reduce latency as much as possible while maintaining stable video and audio. Reducing latency to the lowest possible level can make the stream more sensitive to even small connection fluctuations and increase the likelihood of buffering.

The best viewing experience therefore depends on balancing how quickly the action reaches you with uninterrupted and stable playback.

#What should I do if the delay is unusually long?

1. Make sure you have not paused the match or gone back to an earlier moment.
2. Exit the match and start it again to return to the closest available point to the live broadcast.
3. If you are using Cast or AirPlay, try opening the «thmanyah app» directly on your TV.
4. Make sure the «thmanyah app» and your device’s operating system are updated to the latest available versions.
5. Restart the app and your device.
6. Try watching on another device to check whether the delay is specific to one device.
7. If the delay is accompanied by buffering or repeated interruptions, check the stability of your internet connection and try using a wired connection on your TV when available.

#FAQ

1. Why do I receive a goal notification before I see the goal?
Score notifications and data travel through a different route from video. They are also much smaller and do not require video and audio processing. As a result, the notification may arrive before the moment appears in the live stream.

2. Is internet streaming delayed compared with satellite TV?
Internet streaming may arrive after the satellite broadcast because it goes through additional stages of video preparation, compression, distribution, and processing on your device. This difference alone does not indicate a problem with the stream.

3. Is there a fixed amount of live stream delay?
No. There is no single delay that applies to every match, device, or viewer. The difference can vary depending on the signal source, stream preparation, delivery route, device, internet service provider, and viewing method.

4. Does it mean there is a problem if my TV is behind my phone?
Not necessarily. A smart TV may be a few seconds behind because of differences in the stream delivery route, video player, and how each device processes the content.

5. Why does the delay vary from one viewer to another?
Each viewer may be using a different device, internet provider, and delivery route. As a result, the same moment may appear for one viewer before another, even when both are watching the same match.

6. Does faster internet eliminate live stream delay?
A fast and stable connection helps reduce buffering and maintain video quality, but it cannot eliminate the time required to produce the signal, prepare the video, distribute it, and play it on your device.

7. Does using Cast or AirPlay increase the delay?
Cast or AirPlay may add additional latency because the stream needs to pass between two devices and depends on your home Wi-Fi network. For comparison, try opening the «thmanyah app» directly on your TV when available.

8. Is the delay related to my account or subscription?
Usually not. If the match is playing normally but reaches you a short time after the live action, this does not typically indicate a problem with your account or subscription.