Systems and methods for buffering or delaying data packets to facilitate optimized distribution of content associated with the data packets are disclosed. Data packets sent from content providers may be received by a service provider, where information associated with the data packets may be identified. The identified information may be used to associate the data packets with an intended destination for the data packets and identify a type of the data packets, such as a video data packet. Video data packets (and other data packets) may be buffered or delayed such that more time-critical data packets may be accelerated into one or more QAM channels carrying the content. The delayed data packets may be time-sliced into the one or more QAM channels, which may displace empty slots or gaps that may waste bandwidth associated with the QAM channels.