Automatically connecting to a multicast priority service with reduced latency

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising:

• one or more instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a user device, cause the one or more processors to:
• update a priority counter associated with a priority service based on a selection of the priority service,
• the priority counter indicating a quantity of times the priority service is selected during a period of time;
• determine that the priority counter satisfies a threshold quantity of selections of the priority service based on receiving information indicating entry into a service area of a multicast network;
• and
• automatically connect to a priority channel of the multicast network, associated with the priority service, based on the priority counter satisfying the threshold quantity of selections of the priority service.

A method, comprising:

• updating, by a user device, a priority counter associated with a priority service based on a selection of the priority service,
• wherein the selection of the priority service is from a list of services identified in a service announcement file;
• determining, by the user device, that the priority counter satisfies a threshold quantity of selections of the priority service based on receiving information indicating entry into a service area of a multicast network;
• automatically connecting, by the user device, to a priority channel of the multicast network, associated with the priority service, based on the priority counter satisfying the threshold quantity of selections of the priority service;
• and
• receiving, by the user device, a priority service announcement file, associated with the priority service, from the multicast network and via the priority channel.