A device and method for providing an adaptive bit rate (ABR) proxy is disclosed. An ABR proxy determines an optimal data format to receive content segments for an audio/video (AV) content item from a source ABR server, and generates, based on that format and/or current network conditions, one or more local AV representations for providing content segments for the AV content item to locally connected devices. A local client device selects a local AV representation, and the ABR proxy provides the content segments for the AV content item to the local device in accordance with the selected local AV representation.