Current Events > What would happen if USA follows Europe's lead to switch to SD for streaming?

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What would happen if USA calls on companies such as Netflix, Youtube, etc. to switch to SD in order to reduce streaming bitrates for at least 30 days like Europe had just done in order to have good quality uninterrupted internet connections to work from home properly & for emergencies?

https://deadline.com/2020/03/eu-netflix-ceo-switch-to-standard-definition-coronavirus-1202887374/

The European Unions Internal Market and Services Commissioner, Thierry Breton, has called on streaming platforms such as Netflix and YouTube to take measures to prevent internet gridlock as the response to the Coronavirus places additional strain on communications networks. In a call placed Wednesday, he urged Netflix CEO Reed Hastings to serve only standard definition content to users in times of peak demand.

With vast numbers of people now working from home, and using video chat and digital messages to stay in touch with friends and family, and as users increase their time spent on streaming platforms, Breton said streamers had a role to play in ensuring telecom operators werent overwhelmed. Streaming platforms, telecom operators and users, we all have a joint responsibility to take steps to ensure the smooth functioning of the internet during the battle against the virus propagation, Breton said, in a statement released after his call.

https://twitter.com/marcburleigh/status/1240695225233760257

Netflix announces it will reduce streaming bit rates for 30 days across Europe to ease up on overloaded internet. "We estimate that this will reduce Netflix traffic on European networks by around 25 percent while also ensuring a good quality service for our members. #coronavirus

You think you'll be able to handle that?

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Hasn't changed for me in England, I checked earlier and I'm still getting 4k on Netflix.

Checked purely so I could cancel my 4k sub if they're fobbing me off with Sd coverage. As soon as they do, they can spin for the extra they charge for the piddly amount of 4K/Hdr stuff they have.

Still makes me laugh to this day that when you look for 4K films on there, there's barely any, especially not newer titles, yet Groundhog day IS 4K? Like it needs to be (looks shite in 4K too, proper grainy and foggy)

Pretty sure they mean they're gonna go from 4k/UHD to HD, as opposed to from HR to SD

Plus I predownload everything anyway, so it won't affect me
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literally first world problems lol

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That's as dumb as data caps

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They wouldn't have to if Comcast and Verizon ( & Co) didn't throw a hissy fit when Google started to rollout their fiber service.

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VCRs wowed me when they came out and I couldnt be bothered to find differences in multiple hd formats as those upgraded over time. Wouldnt bother me if everything was sd again permanently.

Kids and young adults would cry Im sure but most would be happy to stream whatever still.
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I'm on fibre so it shouldn't affect me, but yeah, I would just stop streaming video while that's ongoing, which is easy because I have a bunch of BD tv shows and movies, and physical and digital games that don't need an internet connection. Plus vinyl, etc.

008Zulu posted...

They wouldn't have to if Comcast and Verizon ( & Co) didn't throw a hissy fit when Google started to rollout their fiber service.

Well supposedly Google only did it in the first place to prove it could be done.

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I honestly don't think it would bother me much. I grew up on SD

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