A scheme for modulating an adaptive bitrate (ABR) streaming client engaged in a current ABR streaming session. In one implementation, a determination is made whether a wireless UE device executing the ABR streaming client is approaching a radio white spot area. If so, a video buffer of the ABR client is configured to preload lower quality video segments to last for the duration of the radio white spot area. One or more ABR client controls may be selectively deactivated while the wireless UE device is in the radio white spot area.