In one embodiment, a device that executes an application obtains a delay budget objective for traffic for the application to be sent by a Hybrid Information-Centric Networking source to the device. The device makes a determination as to whether the traffic for the application to be sent by the Hybrid Information-Centric Networking source to the device should use a forward error correction mechanism or a retransmission mechanism, in an attempt to optimize the delay budget objective. The device sends, to the Hybrid Information-Centric Networking source, a Hybrid Information-Centric Networking request for the traffic for the application, wherein the Hybrid Information-Centric Networking request is indicative of the determination. The device receives, from the Hybrid Information-Centric Networking source, one or more packets of the traffic for the application, after sending the Hybrid Information-Centric Networking request.