Houston vs. Florida: How to Stop Buffering On Paramount Plus
By Phillip Swann
The TV Answer Man – Follow me on X.
TV Answer Man, I’m planning to watch tonight’s March Madness championship game on Paramount Plus. Any suggestions on how to make sure my stream doesn’t buffer and freeze? – Todd, Dayton, Ohio.
Todd, Houston and Florida will play tonight in college basketball’s 2025 championship game at 8:50 p.m. ET. Paramount Plus, the streaming service, will simulcast the CBS broadcast and many fans will likely watch it that way rather than pay for a TV antenna or a pay TV bundle that includes CBS. (Note that you will need a Paramount Plus with Showtime plan to watch your local CBS affiliate on the streaming service.) But what if the live stream buffers? Is there any way to stop Paramount Plus buffering?
Is Live Streaming On Paramount Plus Reliable?
While live streaming’s reliability has improved in recent years, buffering can still be an occasional occurrence when watching any live stream, particularly during a highly viewed event such as the March Madness championship game. You will be watching a game or show when suddenly the picture will freeze and a small spinning wheel will appear in the middle of the screen. Or sometimes, the picture will just freeze or pixelate for several seconds or longer.
What Causes Picture Buffering?
The cause of the problems? The Internet. It’s not exactly an ideal infrastructure for delivering live video. If the speed of your home Internet network dips below the minimum requirement needed for a consistent picture, it can cause picture buffering (aka the dreaded spinning wheel). And if the streaming service has a temporary delay on one of its servers, that can cause it.
If your streaming picture is consistently marred by buffering or freezing during tonight’s game, you can try the following steps to fix the issue. The steps should help you on Paramount Plus or any streaming service that carries CBS such as YouTube TV or DIRECTV Stream, not just Paramount Plus buffering.
6 Ways to Stop Buffering On Live Streaming
1. Update the App
Online programmers frequently issue software upgrades so you want to be sure your app has the latest update. If you’re using an app that’s not been updated, it can trigger numerous performance issues. You can check if an update has been posted at the Google Play store on your Android device, or the iTunes store on your Apple device.
2. Test Your Internet Speed
Many streaming services say you need a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps to get a consistent picture. (It’s 25 Mbps for 4K programming.) That doesn’t mean your Internet plan delivers speeds up to 10 Mbps; it means that it averages 10 Mbps and above. You can test your service’s speed at numerous sites, such as Netflix’s Fast.com.
3. Restart Your Device
Whether it’s a mobile device, or a streaming box such as Roku, technology products sometimes stall based on data overloads or other issues. Try re-setting your device by turning it off and/or unplugging it for 30 seconds. Then, turn it back on and wait for it to reconnect to the Internet. A simple reset will often resolve any buffering issues.
4. Try Another Device
If the reset didn’t resolve the problem, try watching the game on a different device in your household to see if it buffers as well. If it does, the problem is probably with your Internet, or the streamer’s servers. If it doesn’t, the problem is probably with the first device.
5. Try a Wired Connection
If you notice the streaming picture still has frequent hiccups, you might want to try connecting your Internet cable directly into whatever device you’re using to stream to your television. (Note: You can also do this with your computer.) You can do that by running an Ethernet cable from your Internet modem to the streaming device.
So, how can you tell if the signal is stronger with the direct Ethernet connection? Most streaming devices have a feature that allows you to test the speed of your Internet connection. Go to the player’s Menu and look for a Internet Speed Test feature. Try it a few times with the wireless connection and then a few times with the direct, Ethernet connection. The higher the number, the faster the signal.
If there’s a dramatic difference in speed between the two, the direct connection may be the way to go, particularly if you notice that your picture seems more consistent. I won’t guarantee that it will end buffering for good, but the faster speed will certainly keep those annoying interruptions at a minimum.
6. Tell Everyone to Log Off
If other people in your home are using the same network, ask them to temporarily pause their activity. This will allocate as much bandwidth as possible for streaming the games.
Todd, hope that answers your question. Happy viewing and stay safe.
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Have a question about a favorite show, streaming service, or new TV technology? Send it to The TV Answer Man at swann@tvanswerman.com. Please include your first name and hometown in your message.
Phillip Swann
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The TV Answer Man is veteran journalist Phillip Swann who has covered television for more than three decades. He will report on the latest news and answer your questions regarding new devices and services that are changing the way you watch TV. See the bio for Phillip Swann here.
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