Banished by buffering: Fans warned of traitors spoiler lag

• Up to 10 million faithful fans are expected to tune in to The Traitors final tonight[1], but those live-streaming are being warned of a spoiler lag
• Data reveals that streaming can leave viewers with as much as a 45-second delay compared to traditional TV[2], leaving time for big moments ruined by group chats and social media
• One in four Brits (25%) says spoilers ruin the experience for them[3], and experts are advising fans to disconnect unnecessary devices and mute notifications before the roundtable
• Uswitch broadband expert Richard Dowden shares top tips on how to avoid a traitorous connection and ensure a smooth stream for the series finale

As an expected 10 million faithful fans gear up for The Traitors final this week[1], experts are warning anyone live-streaming the episode to watch out for ‘spoiler lag’. Between lagging WiFi and instant social media updates, the big reveal could be ruined by a notification before the scene even plays out.

Uswitch data reveals that streaming can leave viewers with as much as a 45-second delay compared to traditional TV[2], which is more than enough time for meme-worthy roundtable chaos to hit group chats or social media first. Slow or lagging broadband only makes this worse for fans, as one in four (25%) Brits say spoilers “ruin the experience” for them[3]. 

Ahead of the final, Uswitch broadband expert Richard Dowden is sharing his top five tips to avoid accidental spoilers when streaming: 

• Go old school with an aerial: The simplest way to eliminate "traitorous" delays is to watch via a traditional TV aerial. Digital terrestrial TV travels faster than a stream, which has a much longer digital journey to reach your screen.
• Silence the traitors (and your friends): Mute all app notifications and group chats. You don't want a banishment ruined by a friend’s reaction before it happens on your screen. This is especially vital if you’re at a watch party, as different venues may experience varying levels of lag
• Stay off the socials: Avoid the temptation to scroll through social media during the broadcast. Unless you are hunting for spoilers, the speedy nature of Instagram and TikTok means the winner will likely be trending before your stream catches up.
• Watch out for heavy-usage devices: If others in your home are gaming or streaming, your connection speed will drop. Consoles like Xbox or PlayStation are notorious bandwidth hogs - disconnect any unnecessary devices to ensure your stream stays as close to "live" as possible.
• Don’t let casting betray you: Try to watch directly through your Smart TV app rather than casting from a phone or laptop. Every extra step, such as sending footage from one device to another, adds layers of delay that could spoil the big reveal.

Richard Dowden comments: "Even on the fastest broadband, digital streams lag behind live action. This ‘spoiler lag’ happens as internet delivery requires extra processing steps that traditional aerial TV doesn’t have. 

"If you're 100% faithful to avoiding spoilers, a cable TV connection may be the best option for you, as it will come with the minimum live-lag time. At present, Virgin Media is the only provider offering this in the UK. 

"To stream in HD or above, you will generally need a broadband connection offering at least 25mbps download speeds to avoid buffering. For a connection that won’t betray you mid-episode, plug an Ethernet cable straight into your router for the smoothest stream.”

Visit Uswitch to compare the best broadband deals and check your speed with Uswitch’s speed test tool.

ENDS