Improve stream quality: stop capping resolution, allow AVPlayer to ramp

SingleStream: pass preserveServerResolutionWhenBest=false so "best"
always reaches the server for a full multi-variant manifest. Increase
buffer to 8s and enable automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling so AVPlayer
can measure bandwidth and select higher variants. Add quality monitor
that nudges AVPlayer if observed bandwidth far exceeds indicated bitrate.

MultiStream: remove broken URL-param resolution detection that falsely
skipped upgrades, log actual indicatedBitrate instead. Extend upgrade
check windows from [2,4,7]s to [2,4,7,15,30]s for slow-to-stabilize
streams.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

mlbTVOS/ViewModels/GamesViewModel.swift

@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ final class GamesViewModel {
     @ObservationIgnored
     private var refreshTask: Task<Void, Never>?
     @ObservationIgnored
+    private var lastLoadDateString: String?
+    @ObservationIgnored
     private var authenticatedVideoFeedCache: [String: AuthenticatedVideoFeedCacheEntry] = [:]
     @ObservationIgnored
     private var videoShuffleBagsByModel: [String: [String: [URL]]] = [:]
@@ -105,12 +107,21 @@ final class GamesViewModel {
     func startAutoRefresh() {
         stopAutoRefresh()
         refreshTask = Task { [weak self] in
+            var ticksSinceFullLoad = 0
             while !Task.isCancelled {
                 try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(60))
                 guard !Task.isCancelled else { break }
                 guard let self else { break }
-                // Refresh if there are live games or active streams
-                if !self.liveGames.isEmpty || !self.activeStreams.isEmpty {
+                ticksSinceFullLoad += 1
+
+                // Full schedule reload every 10 minutes (or immediately on day change)
+                let today = Self.dateFormatter.string(from: Date())
+                let dayChanged = self.lastLoadDateString != nil && self.lastLoadDateString != today
+                if dayChanged || ticksSinceFullLoad >= 10 {
+                    ticksSinceFullLoad = 0
+                    await self.loadGames()
+                } else if !self.liveGames.isEmpty || !self.activeStreams.isEmpty {
+                    // Fast score refresh every 60s when games are live
                     await self.refreshScores()
                 }
             }
@@ -122,6 +133,14 @@ final class GamesViewModel {
         refreshTask = nil
     }
 
+    func refreshIfDayChanged() async {
+        let today = Self.dateFormatter.string(from: Date())
+        if lastLoadDateString != today {
+            logGamesViewModel("Day changed (\(lastLoadDateString ?? "nil") → \(today)), reloading games")
+            await loadGames()
+        }
+    }
+
     private func refreshScores() async {
         let statsGames = await fetchStatsGames()
         guard !statsGames.isEmpty else { return }
@@ -227,6 +246,7 @@ final class GamesViewModel {
             errorMessage = "No games found"
         }
 
+        lastLoadDateString = todayDateString
         isLoading = false
     }
 

mlbTVOS/Views/DashboardView.swift

@@ -260,7 +260,11 @@ struct DashboardView: View {
             mediaId: selection.broadcast.mediaId,
             streamURLString: selection.broadcast.streamURL
         )
-        guard let url = await viewModel.resolveStreamURL(for: stream) else { return nil }
+        guard let url = await viewModel.resolveStreamURL(
+            for: stream,
+            resolutionOverride: viewModel.defaultResolution,
+            preserveServerResolutionWhenBest: false
+        ) else { return nil }
         return SingleStreamPlaybackSource(url: url)
     }
 

mlbTVOS/Views/GameCenterView.swift

@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ struct GameCenterView: View {
                 VideoPlayer(player: player)
                     .ignoresSafeArea()
                     .onAppear { player.play() }
+                    .onDisappear { player.pause() }
             }
         }
     }

mlbTVOS/Views/MultiStreamView.swift

@@ -353,6 +353,7 @@ private struct MultiStreamTile: View {
     @State private var hasError = false
     @State private var startupPlaybackTask: Task<Void, Never>?
     @State private var qualityUpgradeTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+    @State private var werkoutMonitorTask: Task<Void, Never>?
     @State private var clipTimeLimitObserver: Any?
     @State private var isAdvancingClip = false
     @StateObject private var playbackDiagnostics = MultiStreamPlaybackDiagnostics()
@@ -447,7 +448,13 @@ private struct MultiStreamTile: View {
             startupPlaybackTask = nil
             qualityUpgradeTask?.cancel()
             qualityUpgradeTask = nil
-            if let player { removeClipTimeLimit(from: player) }
+            werkoutMonitorTask?.cancel()
+            werkoutMonitorTask = nil
+            if let player {
+                removeClipTimeLimit(from: player)
+                player.pause()
+            }
+            player = nil
             playbackDiagnostics.clear(streamID: stream.id, reason: "tile disappeared")
         }
         #if os(tvOS)
@@ -557,7 +564,7 @@ private struct MultiStreamTile: View {
 
         if !Self.audioSessionConfigured {
             do {
-                try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(.playback)
+                try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setCategory(.playback, mode: .moviePlayback)
                 try AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
                 Self.audioSessionConfigured = true
                 logMultiView("startStream audio session configured id=\(stream.id)")
@@ -604,13 +611,14 @@ private struct MultiStreamTile: View {
         avPlayer.currentItem?.preferredForwardBufferDuration = 2
 
         self.player = avPlayer
+        // Set mute state BEFORE playback to prevent audio spikes
+        viewModel.attachPlayer(avPlayer, to: stream.id)
         playbackDiagnostics.attach(
             to: avPlayer,
             streamID: stream.id,
             label: stream.label,
             onPlaybackEnded: playbackEndedHandler(for: avPlayer)
         )
-        viewModel.attachPlayer(avPlayer, to: stream.id)
         scheduleStartupPlaybackRecovery(for: avPlayer)
         scheduleQualityUpgrade(for: avPlayer)
         logMultiView("startStream attached player id=\(stream.id) muted=\(avPlayer.isMuted) startupResolution=\(multiViewStartupResolution) fastStart=true calling playImmediately(atRate: 1.0)")
@@ -694,7 +702,7 @@ private struct MultiStreamTile: View {
         let streamID = stream.id
         let label = stream.label
         qualityUpgradeTask = Task { @MainActor in
-            let checkDelays: [Double] = [2.0, 4.0, 7.0]
+            let checkDelays: [Double] = [2.0, 4.0, 7.0, 15.0, 30.0]
 
             for delay in checkDelays {
                 try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(delay))
@@ -707,20 +715,15 @@ private struct MultiStreamTile: View {
                 let itemStatus = multiViewItemStatusDescription(player.currentItem?.status ?? .unknown)
                 let likelyToKeepUp = player.currentItem?.isPlaybackLikelyToKeepUp ?? false
                 let bufferEmpty = player.currentItem?.isPlaybackBufferEmpty ?? false
-                let currentResolution = currentStreamResolution(for: player) ?? "unknown"
+                let indicatedBitrate = player.currentItem?.accessLog()?.events.last?.indicatedBitrate ?? 0
                 let stable = (itemStatus == "readyToPlay" || likelyToKeepUp) && !bufferEmpty
 
                 logMultiView(
-                    "qualityUpgrade check id=\(streamID) delay=\(delay)s currentResolution=\(currentResolution) targetResolution=\(targetResolution) stable=\(stable) rate=\(player.rate)"
+                    "qualityUpgrade check id=\(streamID) delay=\(delay)s targetResolution=\(targetResolution) stable=\(stable) rate=\(player.rate) indicatedBitrate=\(Int(indicatedBitrate))"
                 )
 
                 guard stable else { continue }
 
-                if currentResolution == targetResolution {
-                    logMultiView("qualityUpgrade skip id=\(streamID) reason=already-\(targetResolution)")
-                    return
-                }
-
                 guard let upgradedURL = await viewModel.resolveStreamURL(
                     for: stream,
                     resolutionOverride: targetResolution,
@@ -756,13 +759,6 @@ private struct MultiStreamTile: View {
         (player.currentItem?.asset as? AVURLAsset)?.url
     }
 
-    private func currentStreamResolution(for player: AVPlayer) -> String? {
-        guard let url = currentStreamURL(for: player) else { return nil }
-        return URLComponents(url: url, resolvingAgainstBaseURL: false)?
-            .queryItems?
-            .first(where: { $0.name == "resolution" })?
-            .value
-    }
 
     private func installClipTimeLimit(on player: AVPlayer) {
         removeClipTimeLimit(from: player)
@@ -851,9 +847,11 @@ private struct MultiStreamTile: View {
         installClipTimeLimit(on: player)
 
         // Monitor for failure and auto-skip to next clip
-        Task { @MainActor in
+        werkoutMonitorTask?.cancel()
+        werkoutMonitorTask = Task { @MainActor in
             for checkDelay in [1.0, 3.0] {
                 try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(checkDelay))
+                guard !Task.isCancelled else { return }
                 let postItemStatus = player.currentItem?.status
                 let error = player.currentItem?.error?.localizedDescription ?? "nil"
                 logMultiView(

mlbTVOS/Views/SingleStreamPlayerView.swift

@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ private func singleStreamTimeControlDescription(_ status: AVPlayer.TimeControlSt
 private func makeSingleStreamPlayerItem(from source: SingleStreamPlaybackSource) -> AVPlayerItem {
     if source.httpHeaders.isEmpty {
         let item = AVPlayerItem(url: source.url)
-        item.preferredForwardBufferDuration = 2
+        item.preferredForwardBufferDuration = 8
         return item
     }
 
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ private func makeSingleStreamPlayerItem(from source: SingleStreamPlaybackSource)
     ]
     let asset = AVURLAsset(url: source.url, options: assetOptions)
     let item = AVPlayerItem(asset: asset)
-    item.preferredForwardBufferDuration = 2
+    item.preferredForwardBufferDuration = 8
     logSingleStream(
         "Configured authenticated AVURLAsset headerKeys=\(singleStreamHeaderKeysDescription(source.httpHeaders))"
     )
@@ -553,15 +553,16 @@ struct SingleStreamPlayerView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
 
             let playerItem = makeSingleStreamPlayerItem(from: source)
             let player = AVPlayer(playerItem: playerItem)
-            player.automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling = false
+            player.automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling = true
             player.isMuted = source.forceMuteAudio
-            logSingleStream("Configured player for fast start preferredForwardBufferDuration=2 automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling=false")
+            logSingleStream("Configured player for quality ramp preferredForwardBufferDuration=8 automaticallyWaitsToMinimizeStalling=true")
             context.coordinator.attachDebugObservers(to: player, url: url, resolveNextSource: resolveNextSource)
             controller.player = player
             logSingleStream("AVPlayer assigned to controller; calling playImmediately(atRate: 1.0)")
             player.playImmediately(atRate: 1.0)
             context.coordinator.installClipTimeLimit(on: player, resolveNextSource: resolveNextSource)
             context.coordinator.scheduleStartupRecovery(for: player)
+            context.coordinator.scheduleQualityMonitor(for: player)
         }
 
         return controller
@@ -583,11 +584,11 @@ struct SingleStreamPlayerView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
 
     static func dismantleUIViewController(_ uiViewController: AVPlayerViewController, coordinator: Coordinator) {
         logSingleStream("dismantleUIViewController start isPiPActive=\(coordinator.isPiPActive)")
+        coordinator.clearDebugObservers()
         if coordinator.isPiPActive {
-            logSingleStream("dismantleUIViewController skipped — PiP is active")
+            logSingleStream("dismantleUIViewController — PiP active, observers cleared but keeping player")
             return
         }
-        coordinator.clearDebugObservers()
         uiViewController.player?.pause()
         uiViewController.player = nil
         logSingleStream("dismantleUIViewController complete")
@@ -597,6 +598,7 @@ struct SingleStreamPlayerView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
         private var playerObservations: [NSKeyValueObservation] = []
         private var notificationTokens: [NSObjectProtocol] = []
         private var startupRecoveryTask: Task<Void, Never>?
+        private var qualityMonitorTask: Task<Void, Never>?
         private var clipTimeLimitObserver: Any?
         private static let maxClipDuration: Double = 15.0
         var onTogglePitchInfo: (() -> Void)?
@@ -863,9 +865,38 @@ struct SingleStreamPlayerView: UIViewControllerRepresentable {
             }
         }
 
+        func scheduleQualityMonitor(for player: AVPlayer) {
+            qualityMonitorTask?.cancel()
+            qualityMonitorTask = Task { @MainActor [weak player] in
+                // Check at 5s, 15s, and 30s whether AVPlayer has ramped to a reasonable bitrate
+                for delay in [5.0, 15.0, 30.0] {
+                    try? await Task.sleep(for: .seconds(delay))
+                    guard !Task.isCancelled, let player else { return }
+
+                    let indicatedBitrate = player.currentItem?.accessLog()?.events.last?.indicatedBitrate ?? 0
+                    let observedBitrate = player.currentItem?.accessLog()?.events.last?.observedBitrate ?? 0
+                    let likelyToKeepUp = player.currentItem?.isPlaybackLikelyToKeepUp ?? false
+
+                    logSingleStream(
+                        "qualityMonitor check delay=\(delay)s indicatedBitrate=\(Int(indicatedBitrate)) observedBitrate=\(Int(observedBitrate)) likelyToKeepUp=\(likelyToKeepUp) rate=\(player.rate)"
+                    )
+
+                    // If observed bandwidth supports higher quality but indicated is low, nudge AVPlayer
+                    if likelyToKeepUp && indicatedBitrate > 0 && observedBitrate > indicatedBitrate * 2 {
+                        logSingleStream(
+                            "qualityMonitor nudge delay=\(delay)s — observed bandwidth \(Int(observedBitrate)) >> indicated \(Int(indicatedBitrate)), setting preferredPeakBitRate=0 to uncap"
+                        )
+                        player.currentItem?.preferredPeakBitRate = 0
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         func clearDebugObservers() {
             startupRecoveryTask?.cancel()
             startupRecoveryTask = nil
+            qualityMonitorTask?.cancel()
+            qualityMonitorTask = nil
             playerObservations.removeAll()
             for token in notificationTokens {
                 NotificationCenter.default.removeObserver(token)

mlbTVOS/mlbTVOSApp.swift

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import SwiftUI
 @main
 struct mlbTVOSApp: App {
     @State private var viewModel = GamesViewModel()
+    @Environment(\.scenePhase) private var scenePhase
 
     init() {
         configureAudioSession()
@@ -13,6 +14,11 @@ struct mlbTVOSApp: App {
         WindowGroup {
             ContentView()
                 .environment(viewModel)
+                .onChange(of: scenePhase) { _, newPhase in
+                    if newPhase == .active {
+                        Task { await viewModel.refreshIfDayChanged() }
+                    }
+                }
         }
     }
 
@@ -24,5 +30,23 @@ struct mlbTVOSApp: App {
         } catch {
             print("Failed to set audio session: \(error)")
         }
+
+        NotificationCenter.default.addObserver(
+            forName: AVAudioSession.interruptionNotification,
+            object: AVAudioSession.sharedInstance(),
+            queue: .main
+        ) { notification in
+            guard let info = notification.userInfo,
+                  let typeValue = info[AVAudioSessionInterruptionTypeKey] as? UInt,
+                  let type = AVAudioSession.InterruptionType(rawValue: typeValue) else { return }
+
+            if type == .ended {
+                let options = (info[AVAudioSessionInterruptionOptionKey] as? UInt)
+                    .flatMap(AVAudioSession.InterruptionOptions.init) ?? []
+                if options.contains(.shouldResume) {
+                    try? AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().setActive(true)
+                }
+            }
+        }
     }
 }