What does Latency mean?
Latency is the delay associated with data travelling through a system or network path. A common network measurement is round-trip time, which includes the journey out and back. That number is different from the total delay between a live event and its appearance on screen.
Why it matters
Encoding, packaging and player buffering can add delay beyond the network itself. A low ping therefore does not guarantee a near-instant live picture or uninterrupted playback. Interpret the measurement alongside throughput and timing variation, and note which destination was tested. A test server can follow a different path from the media.
A practical example
Two televisions on one router can show an event at different moments because their players hold different buffers. Their internet latency need not be the main difference.
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Related terminology: Language-specific programme category, League table.
For practical setup and troubleshooting, browse the journal or support guides.