Streaming has become the default way audiences consume live sports, news, and entertainment. Yet two persistent problems undermine the experience: delays compared to real-time, and video quality degradation even on high-bandwidth connections. Akamai and Harmonic are bringing new solutions to these challenges.

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Breaking Down Delay with LL-HLS

Ari Weil, VP of Product Marketing at Akamai, pointed to advances in Low Latency HTTP Live Streaming (LL-HLS). By breaking video into smaller segments, streams can adapt dynamically to network conditions and device capabilities. “What chopping things up into smaller segments allows media providers to do is adapt the latency of a stream based on factors like connectivity, round-trip time, and device performance,” he explained. The result: streams that are closer to the live action, without buffering or interruptions.

Weil also noted that this enables new monetization models. Media companies could offer premium tiers with near real-time access, while maintaining slightly longer delays for mass audiences to ensure stability.

Harmonic’s Edge: Quality Plus Ad Insertion

Jean Macher, Sr. Director of Global SaaS Solutions at Harmonic, emphasized that quality includes latency. “We’ve been supporting low latency HLS from the get-go,” he said, highlighting the complexity of combining low latency with server-side ad insertion at scale. Harmonic has refined this capability over years of powering global events.

Macher added that Akamai’s Connected Cloud infrastructure provides the networking foundation for consistently low latency across continents. By layering Harmonic’s low latency applications on top, broadcasters can deliver professional-grade video without compromise.

Together, Akamai and Harmonic are setting a new standard for live streaming—one where delay and quality issues no longer define the viewing experience.