System and method for simultaneous media playout

A system for achieving simultaneous media playout in a network, the system comprising:

• a server having a network connection port to supply a media stream at a first bitrate (R1), the server determining network delivery requirements, including client buffering capacities, by polling clients for their respective buffering capacities and determining a first minimum buffering capacity (C1) to be equal to the client with the smallest buffering capacity, and prior to supplying a media stream at the first bitrate (R1), communicating the first minimum buffering capacity (C1) to clients;
• and,
• at least one client having a network connection port to receive the media stream, to transmit their buffering capacities to the server in response to a poll, and to schedule a media playout to be at a time equal to a first time interval (t1) plus the minimum buffering capacity divided by the first bitrate (C1/R1);
• wherein the server determines a new minimum client buffering capacity (Cnew), in response to a chance in the number of clients, communicates the new minimum buffering capacity (Cnew) to the clients, and modifies the supply of media stream in response to the new minimum buffering capacity (Cnew) by performing a process selected from the group including temporarily pausing the supply of the media stream at the first bitrate (R1) and temporarily increasing the media stream bitrate;
• and,
• wherein the server temporarily pauses the supply of the media stream if the new minimum buffering capacity (Cnew) is less than the first minimum buffering capacity (C1).