Comcast says its use of newer technology that allowed it to cut television signal processing times allowed its Xfinity TV platform to deliver the lowest latency during Super Bowl LX.
The technology, called RealTime4K, was only 19 seconds behind the action at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area, the home venue of Super Bowl LX where the Seattle Seahawks took on the New England Patriots for the Lombardi Trophy.
Internal testing showed Comcast’s RealTime4K feed offered via a dedicated Peacock-branded channel on Xfinity TV was just 17 seconds behind on-field action, putting it almost on par with over-the-air television as measured separately by Stats Perform.
Broadcast TV typically has the lowest latency of any platform, given that signals have fewer hurdles to jump over before they are shown on screen. Comcast says its RealTime4K technology uses improved processes at all stages of the journey that cuts down the delivery time of a signal from a venue to a fan’s TV set at home.
“Delivering the fastest path from stadium to screen is the ultimate benchmark for live sports,” Michael Pilquist, the Vice President of Video Architecture at Comcast, said in a statement. “RealTime4K builds on our network innovation to give customers not only the most immersive picture and sound, but the speed that keeps them ahead of spoilers, texts, and social media.”
Comcast’s internal testing of other platforms was actually more-generous than data offered by Stats Perform. YouTube TV’s low-latency feed of Super Bowl LX on NBC was just 26 behind on-field action and 39 seconds if viewers watched on the regular feed, according to Comcast. Stats Perform put YouTube’s latency at 53 seconds, without clarifying whether the feed was the low-latency or normal version.
Hulu’s latency was almost comparable between Comcast and Stats Perform’s testing, with Comcast putting Hulu’s latency of the NBC feed at 48 seconds and Stats Perform reporting latency at 52 seconds.
Fubo was not measured in either test because the sports-focused streaming platform does not carry NBC’s channels and wasn’t able to offer Super Bowl LX to its subscribers.
Comcast offered its RealTime4K feed to Xfinity TV customers with a compatible X1 set-top box. Those who tried to watch the RealTime4K feed of Super Bowl LX were prompted to upgrade their Xfinity TV equipment if they couldn’t receive the channel.
The same technology is now being used to deliver native 4K feeds of the Winter Olympic Games from Milan and Cortina, with NBC offering live and same-day taped events from the games on its broadcast network, cable pop-up channels and through a limited partnership with Versant’s CNBC and USA Network.
