There is provided a method for adaptive bitrate (ABR) adjustments in an IP network before making upshift of ABR level of media streams like video for live Over the Top (OTT) distribution. Example methods may include initiating, at a first time interval, probing of the IP network to determine if a first candidate bitrate is applicable, where the first candidate bitrate is greater than a preset bitrate of a client device data stream, determining that the candidate bitrate is applicable, increasing a transfer bitrate of the client device data stream, and initiating, at a second time interval, probing of the IP network to determine if a second candidate bitrate is applicable, where the second candidate bitrate is greater than the first candidate bitrate.