A system and method for closely synchronizing the transmission of real-time data streams is described. Synchronization data is transmitted by a cycle master for receipt by one or more cycle slaves. A cycle slave updates an internal state based on synchronization data received from the cycle master. This internal state may govern reproduction of received real-time data streams by the cycle slave. Such synchronization data may be inserted into transmitted media streams. The cycle slave internal state may be more accurately set by calculating timing differences between the cycle master and cycle slave and periodically adjusting that internal state between receipt of the synchronization data from the cycle master.