Netflix and Youtube reduce streaming Quality

In an effort to reduce the strain being placed on internet providers in Europe caused by the large number of people staying indoors. The world's leading video content streaming providers like Netflix and Alphabet.Inc's owned YouTube have decided to reduce their video streaming output to Europe for a period of 30 days which could be extended depending on how the pandemic plays out.

This drastic action was brought on by very strong suggestions made by Thierry Breton European Commissioner for internal market. Who made this suggestion directly to Netflix via twitter.

Even though both Netflix an Youtube are both taking action based on the directive, they are both taking a different approach to the matter.

Netflix are opting to cut the streaming quality from HD resolution to 480p which is DVD quality which is better known as standard definition while Youtube is opting to reducing the bit rate of its videos to aid in the reduction of bandwidth usage. The key focus is the bandwidth usage reduction as high amounts of usage can make the internet work rather poorly.

In fact of all the mediums that take up most of the world's bandwidth Video takes out the largest portion so it is understandable why such measures had to be taken in light of the ongoing pandemic.

One thing is clear the measures taken are key to maintaining a working internet and have set the example of how things could play out not only in Europe but also here and it also could have repercussions in the gaming scene should the pandemic get worse if these statistics are anything to go by.