The advent of streaming has reshaped sports broadcasting, bringing about a complex landscape where keeping track of which service airs which games is just one challenge. For instance, NFL games will be spread across 10 different channels and streaming platforms this season, while the NBA will see a major shift with new media rights deals starting in the 2025-26 season.
A less discussed impact of this shift is the delay inherent in streaming services compared to traditional cable, satellite, and antenna broadcasts. This delay can be particularly annoying in an age of fantasy sports, live betting, and constant notifications, where any lag can spoil major plays and moments.
Fortunately, YouTube TV users have a straightforward solution to mitigate this issue if they are watching on their TV. To decrease the broadcast delay, open the YouTube TV app on your TV, go to the three-dot menu in the lower-left corner, and select “Broadcast delay.” Choose the “decreased” setting to reduce the delay and bring your viewing experience closer to real-time.
From my own experience testing this feature on Apple TV, Roku, and Google TV, the adjustment appears effective without introducing significant buffering or quality issues, regardless of whether you are on T-Mobile’s 5G Home Internet or a Verizon office connection. However, this setting is not available for YouTube TV’s mobile apps or web-based streaming.
While this adjustment won’t completely eliminate the delay, it does bring your feed closer to live action. For instance, during some international basketball games, the TV stream was about 8 seconds ahead of the YouTube TV app on my iPad, and early Olympic soccer coverage showed a 4 to 5-second lead over my MacBook Pro’s Chrome browser stream.
If you experience any issues with this setting, reversing the change should help resolve them, although it may result in a slightly greater delay. As the NFL season kicks off, this minor tweak could make a notable difference in enhancing your sports viewing experience at home.