Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, identifying unselected video content items and preconfiguring playback views for unselected video content items. During a warm-up phase, access to the unselected video content items is precoordinated individually with a separate video player, manifests and license/key are retrieved in anticipation for possible selection for playback. Subsequent selection of one of the unselected video content items initiates playback responsive to selection without repeating any of the preconfiguring, preauthorizing or fetching. Other embodiments are disclosed.