Live Auction Streaming
Ultra-Low Latency Bidding at Global Scale
Stream live auctions with <200ms latency ensuring fair bidding for all participants. Support thousands of concurrent bidders with enterprise-grade reliability and real-time synchronization.
Live Auction Streaming: Real-Time Bidding at Scale
Live auction streaming requires ultra-low latency to ensure fair bidding and prevent discrepancies. Traditional streaming platforms with 5-10 second delays can lead to disputes, lost bids, and dissatisfied participants. WAVE's sub-200ms latency ensures all bidders see auction state simultaneously, creating a fair and transparent bidding environment.
Common Auction Streaming Challenges
High Latency Causes Disputes
Traditional streaming delays of 5-10 seconds mean bidders see different auction states. This leads to disputes when multiple bidders believe they won an item, resulting in dissatisfaction and potential legal issues.
Clock Synchronization Critical
Auction countdown timers must be perfectly synchronized across all bidders. Even small time discrepancies can result in bids being rejected unfairly or auction extensions not being properly communicated.
Scale Under Pressure
High-value auctions can attract thousands of concurrent bidders, especially in final minutes. Your infrastructure must maintain low latency even under peak load to ensure fair bidding for all participants.
The WAVE Solution for Live Auctions
WAVE provides enterprise-grade streaming infrastructure purpose-built for live auctions, ensuring fair bidding through ultra-low latency and perfect synchronization across all participants.
WAVE PIPELINE
Ultra-low latency streaming
- <200ms glass-to-glass latency with OMT protocol
- WebRTC fallback for browser-based bidders
- Automatic protocol selection based on network
- Real-time bidder latency monitoring
WAVE CONNECT
Bidder engagement & interaction
- Real-time bid submission integrated with video
- Live chat for bidder questions during preview
- Synchronized countdown timers across all devices
- Instant bid confirmation notifications
WAVE PULSE
Auction analytics & insights
- Real-time bidder engagement metrics
- Latency monitoring per bidder connection
- Bid pattern analysis and fraud detection
- Auction performance reports and insights
Enterprise Security
Compliance & fraud prevention
- SOC 2 Type II certified infrastructure
- Bidder authentication and verification
- Complete audit trail of all bids and actions
- DDoS protection during high-value auctions
Recommended Configuration
Protocol: OMT (Open Media Transport)
Sub-200ms latency for professional auction streaming. Ensures all bidders see auction state simultaneously with minimal delay.
Quality: 1080p @ 30fps
Crystal-clear item visibility at 4Mbps bitrate. Ensures bidders can clearly see item details without bandwidth issues.
Fallback: WebRTC for Browsers
Automatic fallback to WebRTC for browser-based bidders, maintaining low latency across all devices and platforms.
Implementation Guide
Deploy live auction streaming in your platform with WAVE's straightforward integration process. Follow these steps to go live in days, not months.
Prerequisites Checklist
- WAVE account with auction streaming enabled (Enterprise plan)
- Professional camera setup with HDMI/SDI output
- Minimum 10Mbps upload bandwidth (20Mbps recommended)
- Auction management system with API access
- Development environment for integration testing
Step-by-Step Setup
Create Auction Production
Set up your auction production environment with ultra-low latency configuration.
POST /api/v1/productions
{ "name": "Spring Estate Auction", "protocol": "OMT", "latency": "ultra-low" }Configure Camera Feed
Connect your professional camera setup with optimized encoding settings for auction items.
- • Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p)
- • Frame rate: 30fps (sufficient for auction items)
- • Bitrate: 4Mbps (clear item detail without bandwidth strain)
- • Encoder: H.264 High Profile for broad compatibility
Integrate Bidding System
Connect your auction management system to synchronize bids with video stream.
// Real-time bid sync
wave.events.on('bid_placed', (data) => {
auctionSystem.updateBid(data);
});Enable Bidder Authentication
Configure secure bidder authentication and verification to prevent unauthorized access.
- • Implement JWT-based authentication for bidders
- • Set up paddle number verification system
- • Configure pre-registration requirements
- • Enable credit verification for high-value items
Configure Countdown Sync
Ensure countdown timers are perfectly synchronized across all bidder devices.
const timer = wave.countdown.sync({
duration: 60,
autoExtend: true,
extensionSeconds: 30
});Set Up Latency Monitoring
Monitor individual bidder latency to ensure fairness and identify issues proactively.
- • Real-time latency dashboard per bidder
- • Automatic alerts for bidders exceeding 300ms latency
- • Network quality indicators for bidders
- • Automatic quality adjustment recommendations
Test End-to-End Flow
Conduct comprehensive testing with multiple simulated bidders before going live.
- • Test with 10+ concurrent simulated bidders
- • Verify bid synchronization across all connections
- • Test countdown timer synchronization
- • Verify auction extension logic works correctly
Go Live & Monitor
Launch your live auction with real-time monitoring and instant support access.
Pro Tip: Start stream 15 minutes before first lot to allow bidders to test connections and resolve any issues before active bidding begins.
Code Examples
Create Auction Stream
Initialize ultra-low latency auction stream
import { WAVEClient } from '@wave/sdk';
import { DesignTokens, getContainer, getSection } from '@/lib/design-tokens';
const wave = new WAVEClient({
apiKey: process.env.WAVE_API_KEY,
environment: 'production'
});
// Create auction production
const production = await wave.productions.create({
name: 'Estate Auction - May 2024',
protocol: 'OMT',
latencyMode: 'ultra-low',
quality: {
resolution: '1080p',
framerate: 30,
bitrate: 4000000
},
features: {
authentication: true,
bidTracking: true,
countdownSync: true
}
});
console.log('Stream URL:', production.streamUrl);
console.log('Production ID:', production.id);Bidding Integration
Real-time bid submission and tracking
// Submit bid with synchronized timestamp
async function submitBid(itemId, amount, bidderId) {
const bid = await wave.auctions.submitBid({
productionId: production.id,
itemId: itemId,
amount: amount,
bidderId: bidderId,
timestamp: wave.sync.getServerTime()
});
return bid;
}
// Listen for bid updates in real-time
wave.auctions.onBidUpdate((update) => {
console.log('New bid:', update);
// Update UI for all bidders
updateBidDisplay(update.itemId, update.amount, update.bidder);
// Extend countdown if bid in final seconds
if (update.remainingSeconds < 30) {
wave.countdown.extend(itemId, 30);
}
});Customer Success Story
Heritage Auctions International
Leading fine art and collectibles auction house
The Challenge
Heritage Auctions was experiencing frequent bidding disputes due to 8-12 second streaming delays on their previous platform. High-value lots were particularly problematic, with multiple bidders believing they won items, leading to customer dissatisfaction and potential legal issues.
The Solution
Heritage Auctions migrated to WAVE's ultra-low latency streaming platform, achieving sub-200ms latency for all bidders globally. Integration with their existing auction management system took just 2 weeks, including comprehensive testing with simulated bidders.
The Results
"WAVE transformed our live auctions. The sub-200ms latency eliminated virtually all bidding disputes, and we've seen a 68% increase in online participation. Our bidders trust the platform completely."
— Sarah Chen, CTO, Heritage Auctions International
Best Practices for Live Auction Streaming
Performance Optimization
- • Use wired connections for auctioneer camera
- • Test with expected peak bidder count
- • Monitor individual bidder latency in real-time
- • Have backup internet connection ready
Cost Optimization
- • Use preview streams at lower quality before auction
- • Optimize bitrate for item visibility (4Mbps ideal)
- • Schedule auctions to batch bandwidth usage
- • Archive completed auctions to lower-cost storage
Security Considerations
- • Require pre-registration for all bidders
- • Implement credit verification for high-value items
- • Enable complete audit trail of all bids
- • Use DDoS protection during premium auctions
Bidder Experience
- • Start stream 15 min early for connection testing
- • Provide clear latency indicators to bidders
- • Enable practice bidding before auction starts
- • Offer technical support chat during auction
Frequently Asked Questions
What latency can I expect for international bidders?
WAVE maintains sub-200ms latency for bidders in major metropolitan areas globally. For remote locations, latency may reach 300-500ms. We provide real-time latency monitoring per bidder so you can proactively address any connection issues.
How many concurrent bidders can WAVE support?
WAVE Enterprise plans support up to 10,000 concurrent bidders per auction with maintained low latency. For larger events, we offer custom scaling. Our infrastructure has successfully handled auctions with 25,000+ concurrent participants.
Can WAVE integrate with my existing auction management system?
Yes. WAVE provides REST APIs and webhooks for seamless integration with most auction management platforms. We have pre-built integrations with major auction software providers and can develop custom integrations within 2-4 weeks.
How do you prevent bid manipulation or fraud?
WAVE includes built-in fraud detection analyzing bid patterns, connection behavior, and timing. Combined with required bidder authentication and complete audit trails, we provide comprehensive protection against manipulation while maintaining compliance requirements.
What happens if a bidder's connection drops during active bidding?
WAVE automatically attempts reconnection with session preservation. Bidders can rejoin within 30 seconds without losing their place. For critical disconnections, we provide configurable grace periods and automatic notifications to auction staff.
Is there a trial period to test auction streaming?
Yes. We offer a 14-day trial with full access to auction streaming features. This includes up to 1,000 concurrent test bidders and technical support to help you evaluate WAVE for your specific auction requirements.
How does pricing work for auction streaming?
Enterprise auction streaming starts at $999/month including 5,000 concurrent bidders and 100 hours of streaming. Additional capacity is available at $0.10 per additional concurrent bidder and $5 per additional streaming hour. Custom pricing available for high-volume auction houses.
Can I record auctions for later viewing or compliance?
Yes. All auctions can be automatically recorded in full quality with synchronized bid data. Recordings include complete audit trails and are stored with enterprise-grade security. Retention policies are configurable based on your compliance requirements.
Ready to Transform Your Auctions?
Join 500+ auction houses streaming with ultra-low latency and zero disputes