When network bandwidth becomes undesirably constrained during a streaming video session, latencies may occur resulting in prolonged buffering and other delays in the presentation of streaming video content. Media streaming services are, however, inherently limited by resource constraints affecting network reliability and bandwidth availability. Media streaming services enhance the ease and convenience with which end users view streaming video content, such as VOD, OTT television, and placeshifted media content. In the case of placeshifted media, a DVR, STB, or a similar device having placeshifting capabilities and located within a user's residence may encode and transmit selected streaming video to a client media receiver, such as a mobile phone or tablet, operated by the end user. In the case of VOD or OTT television services, the media content may be stored in a pre-encoded format and distributed to a client media receiver, such as a mobile phone or STB, over a CDN. Streaming video may be viewed live or on-demand and transmitted by, for example, a VOD provider, a remotely-controlled placeshifting device, or a pay television provider delivering television programming via cable, satellite, or Internet (OTT) distribution channels. The term “streaming video” generally refers to the reception of multimedia content, such as television programming and other audiovisual content, through a communications network at a bitrate enabling presentation of the content in real time as it is received. AbbreviationsĪbbreviations appearing less frequently in this document are defined upon initial usage, while abbreviations appearing with greater frequency are defined below. The following disclosure generally relates to media streaming and, more particularly, to devices, methods, and program products enabling ABR optimization upon initialization of a streaming video session, such as an OTT television session. 18, 2019, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This application claims priority to Indian Provisional Patent Application Number 201741046979, filed Dec.