Messaging service for providing updates for multimedia content of a live event delivered over the internet

A computer-implemented method executed by a computing device that comprises a processor, data storage and interface to a network, the method comprising:

• receiving, by the computing device over a set of one or more network connections coupled to the network via the interface, a subscription request for multimedia content of a live event from each of a plurality of media players associated with respective client devices of a plurality of client devices, each respective client device being coupled to the network, wherein the multimedia content is being encoded substantially in real time as the live event is occurring;
• subscribing, by the computing device, the plurality of media players to a messaging service for the multimedia content of the live event;
• receiving, by the computing device over one of the set of one or more network connections, an update that indicates an encoding point comprising a current duration of the multimedia content of the live event encoded by an encoder and stored on a content server, wherein the encoding point is different from a live point in time in the live event;
• and
• in response to receiving the update, sending, by the computing device to each of the plurality of media players over the set of one or more network connections, an updated metadata descriptor file that comprises a QMX file that indicates the current duration of the multimedia content of the live event encoded and stored on the content server, wherein:
• each of the plurality of media players requests portions of the multimedia content of the live event for delivery over the network by the content server based on the current duration to avoid requesting multimedia content that is not available for delivery;
• and
• each of the plurality of media players is to play the requested portions of the multimedia content of the live event based the updated metadata descriptor file to allow playback of the multimedia content of the live event at a specified point in time according to a timeline of the live event that is associated with an anchor point in time to an error time, wherein the error time indicates a delay in playback of the multimedia content of the live event after a minimum possible lag-behind-live value between the live point and the encoding point.