When do you need low-latency HTTP live streaming?

Online entertainment has experienced significant growth, particularly in live streaming and video on demand, partly accelerated by the pandemic, with projections indicating a continued trend toward digital-first premieres. This evolution presents challenges, notably in latency, as online delivery can lag behind traditional broadcasting, affecting live sports and other time-sensitive content. To address this, the industry is adopting low-latency technologies like Apple's low-latency HLS format, which promises faster delivery times crucial for maintaining viewer engagement, especially when competing with the rapid dissemination of information on social media. Use cases for low-latency streaming are diverse, including real-time voting, online quizzes, betting, and telemedicine, all benefiting from reduced delays. Modern CDN architectures, embracing pull models, are pivotal in supporting these advancements, enabling immediate deployment of new protocols and fostering real-time processing capabilities, thus enhancing the overall user experience and engagement.