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0 pointsocdtrekkie1y ago0 comments

So the issue is that Netflix gets its performance from colocating caches of movies in ISP datacenters, and a live broadcast doesn't work with that. It's not just about the sheer numbers of viewers, it's that a live model totally undermines their entire infrastructure advantage.

See: https://openconnect.netflix.com/en/

0 comments

stingraycharles1y ago

Correct, this is not Netflix’ regular cup of tea, and it’s a very different problem to solve. They can probably use their edge caches, but it’s challenging.

1 more reply

bushbaba1y ago

Not sure I fully buy that. The “live” stream is rarely “live”. It’s often a highly cached buffer that’s a few mins from latest. Those in isp caches can still help here.

sgarland1y ago

I wonder how effective it would be to cache live events with a delay. Write to the tail, read from the head.

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_dark_matter_1y ago

I don't think that live doesn't work with caches. No one watching live would care about a O(s) delay, which is highly amenable to caching at ISPs and streaming changes from there to downstream clients. Offhand I'd say that would support O(ms) delay but no less.

h4l1y ago

That model still works for streaming. You have a central source stream only to the distributed edge locations, then have clients only stream from their local edge location. Even if one region is overwhelmed, the rest can still work. Load on the central source is bounded.

ethbr11y ago

I'm curious if the root cause is more variable than usual latency.

Sample size 1, but...

I saw a ton of buffering and failure on an embedded Netflix app on a TV, including some infinite freezes.

Moved over to laptop, zero buffering.

I assume the web app runs with a lot bigger buffer than whatever is squeezed into the underpowered TV.

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pinkmuffinere1y ago

Damn that sucks. I wonder if they could have intentionally streamed it 5 min late? I don’t have all the context around the fight though — maybe a competing service would win if Netflix intentionally induced delay?

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tnvmadhav1y ago

they will learn :)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

stingraycharles1y ago

Correct, this is not Netflix’ regular cup of tea, and it’s a very different problem to solve. They can probably use their edge caches, but it’s challenging.

1 more reply

bushbaba1y ago

Not sure I fully buy that. The “live” stream is rarely “live”. It’s often a highly cached buffer that’s a few mins from latest. Those in isp caches can still help here.

sgarland1y ago

I wonder how effective it would be to cache live events with a delay. Write to the tail, read from the head.

2 more replies

_dark_matter_1y ago

h4l1y ago

ethbr11y ago

I'm curious if the root cause is more variable than usual latency.

Sample size 1, but...

I saw a ton of buffering and failure on an embedded Netflix app on a TV, including some infinite freezes.

Moved over to laptop, zero buffering.

I assume the web app runs with a lot bigger buffer than whatever is squeezed into the underpowered TV.

1 more reply

pinkmuffinere1y ago

1 more reply

tnvmadhav1y ago

they will learn :)

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse