Netflix cutting streaming quality

dunstonh

mac.d said:

neilmcl said:

I'm afraid "reason" has gone out of the window at the current time.

Yes, worrying about a slight reduction in the video quality of a netflix stream in the middle of a global pandemic is definitely an example of reason going out the window.  

No-one is worrying.  However, this is a good example of virtue signalling.   It also doesn't help the Brexit vs Remain argument (even though that boat is meant to have sailed).

The UK has no bandwidth issue and plenty of capacity.   The UK does not need restrictions and did not ask for them.  It was Spain and a couple of others that had issues.  So, an EU commissioner requested that restrictions were put in place for the whole of the EU.  This is despite the streaming companies able to restrict by country if they wanted to.    Despite us leaving the EU, they applied the EU request to the UK.

So, the streaming companies can continue charging extra to those with HD/UHD accounts whilst only providing SD content and then tell the world they are doing their part.   When in reality, it is not required.

The CV doesn't stop us pointing out failures or rip offs.  (and it is a rip off when you charge for something but do not deliver on it - not the many false calls of rip off that are no such thing).

mac.d

Ok great your all not worried that your being ripped off at a slight reduction in video quality 

Takmon

mac.d said:

Ok great your all not worried that your being ripped off at a slight reduction in video quality 

If people worried about little things like that then they would really struggle in life with everything there is that they would worry about. But just because someone isn't worried about something doesn't mean they can't disagree with it and express an opinion or take action to correct it. 

giraffe69

Frankly I can't tell the difference thus far and am glad this is being done if the result is to allow for a significant increase in internet usage before running into problems.

Takmon

giraffe69 said:

Frankly I can't tell the difference thus far and am glad this is being done if the result is to allow for a significant increase in internet usage before running into problems.

Even a significant increase in internet usage wouldn't cause any problems in the UK due to the available capacity of the network so there is no reason to do it here. 

dunstonh

mac.d said:

Ok great your all not worried that your being ripped off at a slight reduction in video quality 

I'm not worried in the slightest.  It doesn't mean that they should not be called out for the virtue signalling and unnecessary reduction in services without reducing the cost.

Frankly I can't tell the difference thus far and am glad this is being done if the result is to allow for a significant increase in internet usage before running into problems.

The UK does not have an issue.  There is absolutely no reason for this to be done in the UK.    Whilst broadband speeds are an issue in the UK, capacity is not.     In some other parts of the EU, it is the other way around.

giraffe69

I think Netflix was down in parts of the UK last night so may be the reduction in quality was not a "virtue signal"

neilmcl

giraffe69 said:

I think Netflix was down in parts of the UK last night so may be the reduction in quality was not a "virtue signal"

You sure that wasn't NowTV?

Regardless, this would more likely be down to their own system/servers than anything to do with network capacity. As BT have already stated we're nowhere near the limits of capacity in the UK.

Takmon

giraffe69 said:

I think Netflix was down in parts of the UK last night so may be the reduction in quality was not a "virtue signal"

There apparently were issues last night with Netflix when accessing it from their website but i was using an App on my smart TV at the time without any problem so this was an issue their end. Also it's not possible for it not be working in some parts the UK if there are issues there will be issues everywhere in the UK because they don't limit people to only being able to access specific servers based on where in the UK they are.  

giraffe69

You sure that wasn't NowTV?

Regardless, this would more likely be down to their own system/servers than anything to do with network capacity. As BT have already stated we're nowhere near the limits of capacity in the UK.

I'm sure. See https://downdetector.co.uk/status/netflix/