# How often does your streaming buffer? \[Poll\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2021, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900 "2021-10-04T23:38:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/41 "2021-10-06T01:35:42Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > Well, with Netflix there aren’t “channels” but yes it buffers when I start watching something. I didn’t think this was what the OP was getting at though? I was picturing buffering that interrupts the program partway through. In the OP, I was just asking about when watching a show. The additional question came to me later but I didn’t think it worthy of starting its own thread. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/42 "2021-10-06T08:08:20Z")
Oops. I missed that you were the OP. I think a short period of buffering when you select what you want to watch is normal. Buffering that interrupts the show means the connection isn’t streaming fast enough to stay ahead of the program though. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/43 "2021-10-06T08:09:28Z")
“In an evening…” ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/44 "2021-10-06T14:05:26Z")
Another vote for none, or close enough to none that I voted none anyway. Gigabyte plan from Comcast and the TV is near the router (TV is actually connected via ethernet but also has a Fire Stick on wifi). ---
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/45 "2021-10-06T19:51:32Z")
Hawaii here. Voted 1-5 but that would be more accurate for a two week period and closer to once or twice. Might be a popular show or bad weather or technical problems with the provider. Most connections to Hawaii (Oahu) are satellite or ocean cable. I’m surprised the signal is so robust actually. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/46 "2021-10-06T21:36:29Z")
Most days it is zero. If I encounter buffering, it’s usually because something is amiss and I need to restart either the router or the eero or the TV itself. And we don’t have especially good wi-fi (not bad, either, just “regular”) through u-verse. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2021, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/47 "2021-10-06T21:43:48Z")
I said zero, but Youtube occasionally buffers. It’s rare with everything else (Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV, Prime, Disney+). Looks like the unlikely choice is the most popular. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/48 "2021-10-07T00:23:01Z")
I am surprised at the results but it seems that the culprit might be YoutubeTV. Now that I think about it, I don’t really have buffering with the other providers. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/49 "2021-10-07T03:46:49Z")
> [@Richard\_Pearse](#): > > “In an evening…” Then almost never. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/50 "2021-10-07T14:25:39Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > I am surprised at the results but it seems that the culprit might be YoutubeTV. Now that I think about it, I don’t really have buffering with the other providers. I have YouTubeTV and don’t have that issue. 🤷🏼‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2021, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900/51 "2021-10-14T13:02:14Z")
I’ve no idea how often any of my streaming video content buffers; it’s not often enough to really notice. Streaming _audio_, OTOH… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-often-does-your-streaming-buffer-poll/951900.md?page=2)