It's easy to take channel delivery for granted once it's working smoothly, but there's a specific process happening behind every stream you open.
Sourcing the channel feed
A provider first needs a source feed for each live channel it offers, which is then processed and encoded into a format suitable for internet streaming.
Organizing it in the channel lineup
Encoded channels are categorized and added to the provider's lineup, along with EPG metadata. See our channel list guide for more on how that organization typically works.
Serving the stream on request
When you select a channel in your player app, the app requests that specific stream from the provider's servers, which deliver it as a continuous flow of data over your internet connection.
Playback on your device
Your player app buffers a short amount ahead of what's playing and decodes the video for display, adjusting to your connection speed as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every channel come from the same source?
No — different channels typically come from different source feeds, which a provider processes and encodes individually before adding them to its lineup.
What happens when I switch channels in my player app?
Your app sends a new request to the provider's servers for that specific channel's stream, which begins delivering shortly after.
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