When millions of viewers from around the world tune in to watch the Super Bowl, or the UEFA Champions League final, the internet is pushed to its limits. When managed poorly, these peaks in demand for bandwidth can lead to buffering, latency and reduced quality of experience (QoE). And often, the moment a live stream starts buffering, viewers are gone. To stay out of the buffer zone and ensure clean, high-quality streams, content publishers and distributors must engage smart solutions that address these challenges seamlessly. At System73, our predictive network monitoring and root-cause analysis capabilities make it possible to identify potential disruptions before they impact viewers using our autonomous, proactive, AI-driven solution. 

Network congestion can be a revenue killer. But our solution is designed to foresee any potential bottlenecks, and drive traffic to your viewers along the fastest pathway thanks to its predictive network monitoring and root-cause analysis capabilities. Let’s explore. 

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Rising demands in live content delivery

Delivering consistently high-quality streaming content is no small feat, especially during major live events that draw audience numbers in the millions. When demand surges, expectedly or unexpectedly, networks can struggle to keep up, which leads to congestion, and in turn, outages and poor viewing experiences. A recent example occurred during the 2023 Oscars ceremony, streamed live by Hulu, when viewers experienced widespread streaming issues across the U.S., including pixelation, freezes and crashes. 

Incidents like these are often caused by CDN congestion, leading to a bottleneck in traffic that occurs when content delivery networks become overwhelmed. As more viewers demand high-resolution, low-latency streams, the strain on infrastructure intensifies. Without proactive network monitoring and optimization, content providers risk damaging their reputation and losing valuable audience engagement. As we’ve explored in other blog articles, this can lead to reduced revenue, not just through loss of subscriptions, but also through loss of advertising opportunities. 

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A spotlight on predictive network monitoring and root-cause analysis

To address these challenges, System73 offers a proactive, AI-powered solution designed to keep content running through the network smoothly, even during periods of peak demand. By continuously monitoring network performance in real time, System73’s Data Logistics Platform identifies congestion points before sending any traffic towards that specific pathway. Using advanced algorithms, the platform analyzes each ASN router along the delivery path, from the CDN to the end user.

This enables the system to pinpoint the root cause of slowdowns, whether it's a congested route, a misconfigured node or an overloaded server. Once identified, the Platform automatically reroutes data through the fastest, most reliable path available (which is not necessarily the shortest path), to ensure viewers enjoy uninterrupted, high-quality streams with minimal latency. This intelligent, adaptive approach not only improves the viewer experience, but also enhances network efficiency and reduces operational costs. 

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A proactive streaming strategy for long-term success

Our approach goes beyond reacting to network issues to proactively anticipate potential disruptions. By leveraging predictive network monitoring and AI-driven root-cause analysis, the Data Logistics Platform can foresee potential congestion points before they impact performance. This strategy allows System73 to dynamically adjust data routes, by offloading up to 80% of traffic from congested CDNs by intelligently utilizing centralized peer-to-peer (P2P) networks to maintain smooth and reliable content delivery. 

This is particularly valuable in remote or underserved regions where traditional infrastructure struggles to keep pace with demand. By distributing content more efficiently, System73 ensures seamless streaming experiences for up to 94% of viewers, regardless of their location. For content providers, this proactive strategy translates into measurable benefits, including minimal outages and buffering issues. Improved network efficiency leads to lower operational costs, while a consistently smooth viewing experience encourages audience retention and long-term engagement. 

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For more insights into trends in live streaming and content consumption, or to find out more about our content delivery solutions, visit system73.com.