‘Buffer rage’ is tech’s newest epidemic

This article was originally posted on telecomasia.net.

With cord cutting on the rise, and nearly three out of every four consumers watching streaming video daily (43%) or weekly (31%), a better understanding the implications of the “buffer rage” epidemic is essential for all members of the OTT value chain, according to IneoQuest Technologies.

Buffer rage is defined as “a state of uncontrollable fury or violent anger induced by the delayed or interrupted enjoyment of streaming video content from over-the-top (OTT) services.”

According to the research commissioned by IneoQuest, more than half of consumers (51%) who watch online/streaming video have experienced rage as a result of their video buffering.

The study revealed that two-thirds of respondents (66%) claim frustration when a video buffers, with one-in-five (21%) citing severe levels of irritation.

The study also found that more than one-in-three viewers (34%) under the age of 35 suffer from buffer rage more frequently than road rage.

In many cases, viewers were not able to begin playing streaming content at all, with 27% of respondents claiming that buffering most often occurs before a video even starts, and 34% experiencing buffering in the first 15 seconds.

This is particularly relevant when, as the study indicated, more than 40% of consumers will only wait 10 seconds or less before clicking out of a buffering video. Of these, nearly 40% will never attempt to re-watch the video.

The study also highlighted the significant need for OTT service providers to gain deeper insight into end-to-end streaming quality.

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