Incident: Channel Nine's 9Now Live Streaming Technical Glitch During NRL State of Origin Opener

Published Date: 2019-06-05

Postmortem Analysis
Timeline 1. The software failure incident happened on the night of the NRL State of Origin opener, just after 8pm [85697]. Therefore, the software failure incident happened on the night of the NRL State of Origin opener, on June 5, 2019.
System 1. Channel Nine's 9Now live streaming platform [85697]
Responsible Organization 1. Channel Nine [85697]
Impacted Organization 1. Thousands of NRL fans who missed the opening stages of the NRL State of Origin opener [85697] 2. Channel Nine, the broadcasting company, faced a barrage of complaints and backlash on social media due to the live streaming technical glitch [85697]
Software Causes 1. Overwhelming demand on the 9Now platform led to technical difficulties during the early stages of the NRL State of Origin opener live stream, causing screens to go black and viewers to miss the first 20 minutes [85697]. 2. Channel Nine attributed the failure incident to unprecedented demand on their streaming service, indicating that the infrastructure was not able to cope with the excessive number of viewers trying to access the live stream [85697].
Non-software Causes 1. Overwhelming viewer demand leading to technical difficulties [85697] 2. Lack of server capacity to handle excessive demand during a premier sporting event [85697]
Impacts 1. Thousands of furious footy fans missed the opening stages of the NRL State of Origin opener due to a live streaming technical glitch, causing frustration and anger among viewers [85697]. 2. Fans watching via live stream on their phones, desktops, and laptops missed the first 20 minutes of the game, leading to a significant disruption in their viewing experience [85697]. 3. The technical difficulties experienced during the early stages of the game resulted in a flood of complaints on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, highlighting the extent of the impact on viewers [85697]. 4. Channel Nine faced backlash and criticism from fans due to the live streaming bungle, with viewers expressing disappointment and anger over missing a significant portion of the game [85697]. 5. The failure to provide a seamless live streaming experience for such a premier sporting event like the NRL State of Origin opener not only affected the immediate viewing experience but also raised concerns about the reliability and preparedness of Channel Nine's streaming platform for future events [85697].
Preventions 1. Implementing load testing to simulate high traffic volumes and ensure the streaming platform can handle the expected demand [85697]. 2. Enhancing server capacity and scalability to accommodate spikes in viewership during popular events like the NRL State of Origin [85697]. 3. Conducting thorough pre-event checks and rehearsals to identify and address any potential technical issues before the live stream begins [85697].
Fixes 1. Implementing better server capacity planning to handle overwhelming demand during peak times [85697]. 2. Conducting thorough testing and quality assurance checks prior to major events to ensure the stability of the live streaming service [85697]. 3. Improving communication with users by providing timely updates and transparent information about technical issues [85697].
References 1. Social media posts from frustrated viewers [85697] 2. Twitter statement from Wide World of Sports addressing the issue [85697]

Software Taxonomy of Faults

Category Option Rationale
Recurring one_organization (a) The software failure incident having happened again at one_organization: The incident of the live streaming technical glitch during the NRL State of Origin opener on Channel Nine's 9Now platform is mentioned to have happened before. Fans complained that the same problem marred last year's Origin series as well, indicating a recurring issue within the same organization [85697]. (b) The software failure incident having happened again at multiple_organization: There is no specific mention in the provided article about the software failure incident happening again at multiple organizations.
Phase (Design/Operation) design (a) The software failure incident in the article was primarily due to the design phase. The failure was attributed to overwhelming viewer demand on Channel Nine's live streaming platform during the NRL State of Origin opener. Fans experienced technical difficulties, black screens, buffering, and crashes right at the kick-off time, indicating that the system was not adequately designed to handle the high demand. The article mentions complaints about the platform's inability to cope with excessive demand, the recurrence of similar issues from the previous year, and fans suggesting that Channel Nine should have anticipated and prepared for the demand based on past viewership numbers [85697]. (b) There is no specific information in the articles pointing to the software failure incident being caused by factors related to the operation or misuse of the system.
Boundary (Internal/External) within_system (a) within_system: The software failure incident in this case was primarily due to overwhelming demand on the Channel Nine live streaming service, causing technical difficulties and black screens for viewers trying to watch the NRL State of Origin opener [85697]. The failure originated from within the system's capacity to handle the high volume of users accessing the live stream simultaneously.
Nature (Human/Non-human) non-human_actions, human_actions (a) The software failure incident in the news articles was primarily due to non-human actions, specifically overwhelming viewer demand causing technical difficulties during the live streaming of the NRL State of Origin opener on Channel Nine's 9Now platform. Fans experienced black screens and missed the first 20 minutes of the game due to the live streaming glitch, which was attributed to unprecedented demand on the platform [85697]. (b) While the failure was mainly attributed to non-human actions, there were mentions of human actions contributing to the incident as well. Fans expressed frustration and anger towards Channel Nine on social media platforms, criticizing the network for not ensuring the platform could cope with excessive demand and for the poor service quality. Some fans blamed Channel Nine for the failure, demanding better preparation and service quality for such premier sporting events [85697].
Dimension (Hardware/Software) software (a) The software failure incident reported in the articles was primarily due to overwhelming demand from viewers, which caused technical difficulties during the live streaming of the NRL State of Origin opener on Channel Nine's 9Now platform. This overwhelming demand led to thousands of furious footy fans missing the opening stages of the game [85697]. (b) The software failure incident was attributed to technical glitches in the live streaming service provided by Channel Nine. Viewers reported that the live stream was working fine until just after kick-off when screens went black, causing many to miss the first 20 minutes of the game. Complaints on social media highlighted issues such as constant buffering, crashes, and black screens, indicating software-related problems with the streaming service [85697].
Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) non-malicious (a) The software failure incident in this case appears to be non-malicious. The failure was attributed to overwhelming demand on the live streaming service provided by Channel Nine during the NRL State of Origin opener. Users experienced technical difficulties, missed the opening stages of the game, and faced issues with buffering and crashes on the 9Now app [85697]. The failure was described as a "live streaming technical glitch" and a "live streaming bungle" caused by the high demand for the service, rather than any malicious intent to harm the system.
Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) poor_decisions (a) The software failure incident related to the NRL State of Origin live streaming technical glitch on Channel Nine was primarily due to poor decisions. The incident was attributed to overwhelming viewer demand, which Channel Nine blamed for the epic fail. Fans expressed frustration and anger towards Channel Nine for not being able to handle the excessive demand, with some pointing out that similar problems had occurred in the past year as well. The failure was exacerbated by the fact that fans missed the first 20 minutes of the game, leading to a significant backlash on social media and other platforms [85697].
Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) development_incompetence, accidental (a) The software failure incident in the news article can be attributed to development incompetence. The failure was caused by overwhelming demand on the live streaming service during the NRL State of Origin opener, leading to technical glitches that prevented thousands of fans from watching the game [85697]. Fans expressed frustration and anger towards Channel Nine for not being able to handle the excessive demand and failing to provide a smooth streaming experience. This indicates a lack of professional competence in anticipating and managing the technical requirements for such a high-demand event. (b) The software failure incident can also be considered accidental as it was not intentional but rather a result of the overwhelming demand exceeding the capacity of the live streaming service. The glitch that occurred during the live stream of the NRL State of Origin opener was not planned or deliberate but rather an unintended consequence of the high viewership causing technical difficulties [85697].
Duration temporary (a) The software failure incident in the article was temporary. It was a live streaming technical glitch that caused thousands of NRL fans to miss the opening stages of the NRL State of Origin opener [85697]. The glitch occurred just before kick-off, causing screens to go black, and fans missed the first 20 minutes of the game. The issue was eventually fixed, and the service was restored after Channel Nine responded to the technical difficulties caused by overwhelming demand for the live stream. The incident was not a permanent failure but rather a temporary disruption in the service.
Behaviour crash, omission, value, other (a) crash: The software failure incident in the article can be categorized as a crash as it resulted in the system losing state and not performing its intended functions. Thousands of furious footy fans missed the opening stages of the NRL State of Origin opener due to a live streaming technical glitch. The live stream was working fine until just after kick-off when screens went black, causing fans to miss the first 20 minutes of the game [Article 85697]. (b) omission: The software failure incident can also be categorized as an omission as the system omitted to perform its intended functions at an instance. Fans were unable to watch the game on their devices due to overwhelming demand, with many claiming they missed the first 20 minutes before the glitch was fixed [Article 85697]. (c) timing: The timing of the software failure incident can be considered a factor as well. The system was performing its intended functions correctly, but it did so too late, causing fans to miss the opening stages of the NRL State of Origin game just after 8 pm [Article 85697]. (d) value: The software failure incident can be linked to a value failure as the system was performing its intended functions incorrectly. Fans experienced constant buffering, crashes, and black screens, which led to a subpar viewing experience and frustration among viewers [Article 85697]. (e) byzantine: The software failure incident does not exhibit characteristics of a byzantine failure, which involves inconsistent responses and interactions. The incident in the article primarily focused on technical difficulties, crashes, and delays in the live streaming service, rather than erratic or inconsistent behavior [Article 85697]. (f) other: The software failure incident can be categorized as an "other" behavior as well. Fans expressed their anger and frustration on social media platforms, highlighting the poor service quality, lack of preparation for high demand, and the recurrence of similar issues from previous events. The incident also led to a flood of complaints and backlash against the service provider, Channel Nine, indicating a failure in meeting user expectations and service reliability [Article 85697].

IoT System Layer

Layer Option Rationale
Perception None None
Communication None None
Application None None

Other Details

Category Option Rationale
Consequence delay The consequence of the software failure incident described in the articles is as follows: (e) delay: People had to postpone an activity due to the software failure. Thousands of NRL fans missed the opening stages of the NRL State of Origin opener due to a live streaming technical glitch. Many claimed the live stream was working fine right up until kick-off just after 8 pm before screens went black, causing them to miss the first 20 minutes of the game [85697].
Domain entertainment (a) The failed system was intended to support the entertainment industry, specifically the NRL State of Origin opener. The incident caused thousands of NRL fans to miss the opening stages of the game due to a live streaming technical glitch [Article 85697].

Sources

Back to List