Austria's World Cup game: access peaks overloaded stream

The Austrian World Cup match against Jordan saw significant technical challenges due to overwhelming viewer demand. As the second half began, the infrastructure supporting the live stream experienced a critical failure. This issue affected ORF ON and access to live streams. Despite this, viewers who were already watching the stream could continue without interruption. The APA-IT, which acts as the internet provider for the ORF, was responsible for hosting these services, including ORF ON. According to an ORF statement, their online platform is generally well-prepared for high traffic situations. However, during the first half of the match, approximately 250,000 devices accessed the stream, setting a new record. The peak load at the beginning of the second half overwhelmed a single component of the setup, rendering the homepage of ORF ON inaccessible and preventing the initiation of new streams. After thorough analysis, the ORF plans to implement changes in their technical setup to prevent such issues in future World Cup matches.

The interest in Austria's World Cup debut has been notably high, especially after the opening match between Mexico and South Africa attracted over a million viewers during the first half. In contrast, the early morning match between Sweden and Tunisia on Monday drew only 43,000 fans. The ORF, as the rights holder, chose to broadcast the match against Jordan, which started at 6 a.m., a time when most Austrians were still in their daily routines. The subsequent group stage match against Argentina will be shown by Servus TV at 7 p.m. on June 22, offering a more convenient viewing time for many fans.

The decision by the ORF to show some matches at inconvenient times, despite having the rights to 52 out of 104 games, stems from long-term agreements made before the draw. According to Martin Szerencsi, the deputy head of sports at the ORF, these decisions are part of standard practice in long-term contracts. The ORF collaborates with Servus TV, alternating the broadcasting rights for Austria’s matches. For instance, the third group stage game against Algeria will be shown by ORF at 4 a.m., while Servus TV handles other matches. The ORF retains flexibility in selecting the most exciting matches for its broadcasts, particularly in group stages where they have the "first pick" in eight out of twelve groups.

The initial draw for the World Cup was somewhat of a gamble for the ORF, as the scheduling of matches influenced the potential broadcast times. If Austria finishes second in their group, they would face Argentina in the round of 16 on July 2 at 9 p.m., which would be broadcast by Servus TV. Should Austria win their group, they would play on July 4 at midnight, allowing the ORF to take over the broadcast. In case of a third-place finish, the chances are evenly split. Szerencsi noted that should Austria progress further in the tournament, all subsequent matches would be covered by the ORF, adjusting the broadcasting arrangement with Servus TV accordingly.

The quality of streaming services during the World Cup has also come under scrutiny. While the ORF claims to offer the best quality using its technology, practical experience tells a different story. The ORF's streaming service, ORF ON, occasionally provides UHD resolution with HDR support but only under specific conditions. Officially supported devices include selected models from LG and Samsung, along with Apple TV, while platforms like Google TV and Fire TV are not supported. Even on devices capable of handling UHD, users often encounter lower resolution, typically 720p50. The ORF requires a minimum bandwidth of 25 Mbit/s for smooth UHD streaming, though actual performance can vary based on network stability and hardware capabilities.

Servus TV, sharing the broadcasting rights with the ORF, offers a simpler but less refined service. Unlike the ORF, Servus TV does not provide UHD content, even in 2024. This highlights the disparity in streaming quality among providers, affecting the overall viewer experience during major sporting events like the World Cup. Despite these shortcomings, both the ORF and Servus TV emphasize the value of providing free-to-air coverage of all World Cup and European Championship matches, ensuring broader public access to the events.