A computer-implemented method for facilitating broadcast transmission in a distributed content delivery network, comprising: using a node in the distributed content delivery network to play a content stream received over the distributed content delivery network ; upon identifying the node as a peer leader in a local network of the distributed content delivery network, using the node to: obtain the content stream from a content source ; broadcast the content stream to other nodes in the local network; and adjust a bit rate of the content stream based on one or more attributes associated with obtaining the content stream from the content source, wherein the one or more attributes comprise a network latency, a result of a burst bandwidth test, or a buffer fullness; and upon identifying the node as a recipient of the content stream from the peer leader, using the node to select a best available bit rate for receiving the content stream from the peer leader or one or more other peer leaders accessible to the node, wherein the bitrate of the content stream from the content source to the peer leader is different than the best available bit rate for receiving the content stream from the peer leader; and wherein a plurality of peer leaders receive the content stream from the content source at a plurality of different bit rates, and wherein the plurality of peer leaders broadcast the content stream to a plurality of other nodes at a plurality of different bit rates. using a node in the distributed content delivery network to play a content stream received over the distributed content delivery network ; upon identifying the node as a peer leader in a local network of the distributed content delivery network, using the node to: obtain the content stream from a content source ; broadcast the content stream to other nodes in the local network; and adjust a bit rate of the content stream based on one or more attributes associated with obtaining the content stream from the content source, wherein the one or more attributes comprise a network latency, a result of a burst bandwidth test, or a buffer fullness; and obtain the content stream from a content source ; broadcast the content stream to other nodes in the local network; and adjust a bit rate of the content stream based on one or more attributes associated with obtaining the content stream from the content source, wherein the one or more attributes comprise a network latency, a result of a burst bandwidth test, or a buffer fullness; and upon identifying the node as a recipient of the content stream from the peer leader, using the node to select a best available bit rate for receiving the content stream from the peer leader or one or more other peer leaders accessible to the node, wherein the bitrate of the content stream from the content source to the peer leader is different than the best available bit rate for receiving the content stream from the peer leader; and wherein a plurality of peer leaders receive the content stream from the content source at a plurality of different bit rates, and wherein the plurality of peer leaders broadcast the content stream to a plurality of other nodes at a plurality of different bit rates. <EOS>