Amazon and YouTube follow suit, will reduce streaming quality in the EU

[Shawn Knight]

What just happened? Amazon and Google are following Netflix’s lead and will reduce the quality of their video streams in the EU to help lighten the load on the Internet during the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement issued to TechCrunch, a YouTube spokesperson said they are having ongoing conversations with regulators, governments and network operators across Europe and have committed to temporarily defaulting all traffic in the EU and the UK to standard definition.

Amazon essentially echoed the same sentiments, saying that it is working with local authorities and ISPs to help mitigate any network congestion. The effort includes reducing streaming bitrates in Europe, we’re told.

Netflix on Thursday set a precedent when it became the first of the major streaming giants to reduce its bitrate in the EU, committing to do so for a period of 30 days. It’s relatively safe to assume that it’s only a matter of time before these measures are rolled out in other regions, perhaps even globally.

Shelter in place orders are going into effect globally, putting strain on systems that is far higher than they’d ever experience during normal operation. With more people being forced to stay home and many electing to do so voluntarily, they’re inevitably turning to the Internet to work remotely and for entertainment purposes. Imagine how much worse this whole mess would be if communications networks collapsed.

It also brings up another interesting question. Let’s assume for a moment that the throttling goes on for longer than just 30 days. If you are a Netflix subscriber that pays for the premium plan which affords UHD quality yet you are now limited to standard definition, are you expected to continue to pay the premium rate? In this scenario, should Netflix only charge a portion of the usual monthly fee since it isn’t delivering what it promised?

Masthead: Snail by Zenza Flarini. Amazon Prime by pixinoo.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/84484-amazon-youtube-follow-suit-reduce-streaming-quality-eu.html

 

[Mister_K]

Pirating has just increased, to those who care about UHD+

 

[3ogdy]

Pirating has just increased, to those who care about UHD+

"...committed to temporarily defaulting all traffic in the EU and the UK to standard definition."

Not even HD. Piracy is the way to go, then.

 

[bviktor]

We're all in the same boat, pirating is not the answer. This selfish attitude is exactly what causes the current pandemic, no one can look beyond their personal desires.

 

[Irata]

We're all in the same boat, pirating is not the answer. This selfish attitude is exactly what causes the current pandemic, no one can look beyond their personal desires.

True, but at least in the case pf paid for services, the price difference between the premium UHD plan and the basic one should be reimbursed. Don‘t mind helping out others but multi billion companies who will save costs are not among them.

TBH, a different approach - reduced quality during the day when bandwidth is needed for work and paid for high quality after business hours would have been much better.

 

[Squid Surprise]

They are DEFAULTING the speed to standard definition... you can still manually select UHD if you desire... so no need to refund money or pirate (assuming you are already paying for it in the first place).
Just manually change your settings...

 

[Damocles]

So long as it's all returned to "normal" after the emergency is over! Needs close scrutiny that "they" don't regard it as standard, leaving it as it is.

 

[Irata]

They are DEFAULTING the speed to standard definition... you can still manually select UHD if you desire... so no need to refund money or pirate (assuming you are already paying for it in the first place).
Just manually change your settings...

Just checked and as far as I can see, I can only manage Netflix quality settings globally per profile, not per individual stream.

If Netflix reduces quality globally, will me setting quality to high (which I already have) override this or vice versa? Could not find an official announcement on their site.

Plus, if everyone could override this at will, the agreement would be pretty pointless.

 

[Squid Surprise]

Just checked and as far as I can see, I can only manage Netflix quality settings globally per profile, not per individual stream.

If Netflix reduces quality globally, will me setting quality to high (which I already have) override this or vice versa? Could not find an official announcement on their site.

Plus, if everyone could override this at will, the agreement would be pretty pointless.

You haven't been "throttled" yet, so you don't need to do anything.... And the vast majority of people don't go into settings - so setting the default to stream at standard def would decrease a vast quantity of bandwidth.

North America hasn't been throttled yet - but within hours of this, I'm sure there will be plenty of people posting on how to "fix" it

 

[hwertz]

We're all in the same boat, pirating is not the answer. This selfish attitude is exactly what causes the current pandemic, no one can look beyond their personal desires.

No, selfish attitudes did not cause any pandemic and it's ridiculous of you to say so.

 

[Irata]

You haven't been "throttled" yet, so you don't need to do anything.... And the vast majority of people don't go into settings - so setting the default to stream at standard def would decrease a vast quantity of bandwidth.

North America hasn't been throttled yet - but within hours of this, I'm sure there will be plenty of people posting on how to "fix" it

Am in Europe. Already noticed that it seems hd is the best quality that is being offered is hd. Watched Altered Carbon resleeved which should be available in 4k but it isn‘t.

 

[Burty117]

Annoying to be honest when the ISP's have all come out (in the UK at least) and said they have plenty of capacity and there is no need to throttle...