YouTube to Follow Netflix's Lead and Reduce Stream Quality in Europe to Ease Strain on Broadband Networks

[Plutonius]

In the long run, the reduction in video quality is a very small issue.

This typifies the EU. The EU didn’t ask China or later Italy to stop sending infected people into their territory. They don’t ask countries sending ‘migrants’ to stop doing so. But they ask video companies to lower their quality. I can’t think of a more useless and detrimental government.

China demanded that countries not ban air travel to China and many countries gave in to their demands.

 

[mixel]

”virtue signaling” is a pejorative neoligism, ie a made up word.

This reduction in resolution seems draconian, I don’t know why they didn’t try Peak/off-peak.

Everyone is at home streaming = It is potentially always peak time.

People aren't going to be keeping to normal predictable hours anymore. They need to tone it down to accommodate the unknowable nature of the strain on the network. Weekends and evenings used to go comparatively slow with my previous provider.. Everyone being at home means its always weekends and evenings.

 

[IPPlanMan]

I didn’t say you thought the Coronavirus is a hoax. Using non-specific terms like virtue signaling isn’t helpful.

Instead of making generalized statements with politically charged terms meant to push your agenda, say what you mean. Why do you think streaming services are agreeing to limit data? “Virtue signaling” doesn’t mean anything to me, or at least I don’t think it means the same thing to me as it does to you.

Work is more virtuous than play, so you think Google and Netflix are pushing a corporate agenda to turn us into good little worker drones who deserve no entertainment? That’s really weird.
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I have no idea what you’re talking about. Your wanting proof is the essence of virtue signaling? That’s really weird. I don’t think that means what you think it means. At least, that’s not how that term is used here in the US ?‍♂️

I'll say it again: virtue signaling

It doesn't push my agenda. Instead, it's about a company pushing (or being compelled to push by government or another company through social pressure) an agenda in the absence of actual proof that the agenda is necessary based on underlying empirical and verifiable proof.

I'm questioning the motives here. I'm questioning if it's really necessary. Google and Netflix have PR departments which feed lies to us all the time. Why start believing them now?

I'm in the US.

 

[mixel]

Damn right it shouldn't be happening. Where's the money we pay going? The Holiday Party? Corporate Team Trust events? The marble in the lobby? The vegetation on the periphery of the Company HQ? Sure as hell isn't going into the network.

WHO CARES. Networks aren't built to handle the strain go things drastically outside the norm, like health services aren't, or transport systems, or food infrastructures. It's part and parcel of how capitalism works, nobody's going to massively invest in things they don't think they'll ever have to use. Not profitable.

FFS everyone going on about petty b***s*** when people (and companies) are trying to prepare and do positive things about a very serious situation. How fracking obtuse are people going to get throughout this whole thing? Jeez..

 

[PickUrPoison]

I'll say it again: virtue signaling

It doesn't push my agenda. Instead, it's about a company pushing (or being compelled to push by government or another company through social pressure) an agenda in the absence of actual proof that the agenda is necessary based on underlying empirical and verifiable proof.

I'm questioning the motives here. I'm questioning if it's really necessary. Google and Netflix have PR departments which feed lies to us all the time. Why start believing them now?

I'm in the US.

Feel free to call Google and Netflix having PR departments feeding us lies “virtue signaling”, but do realize that you’ve contorted the already variable definition beyond all recognition. Using a generalized phrase that means different things to different people isn’t instructive.

If you think the streaming services are feeding us lies just say so, you don’t need to pussyfoot around by couching it in vague terms.

Current networks weren’t designed to handle binge watching all day everyday by tens or hundreds of millions of people. I understand you don’t think more virtuous activities like video conferencing, telemedicine and distance learning should take priority, but I’d posit that you’re in the minority.

 

[aknabi]

Let's be honest... the big spike in traffic isn't being caused by YouTube or Netflix... it's ******* and their offering of free premium memberships during this outbreak
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[cocky jeremy]

Nearly 40% hospitalized are age 20-54.

Her Facebook Friends Asked if Anyone Was Actually Sick. She Had an Answer. (Published 2020)

Heaven Frilot is normally a private person. But this is not a normal time. So she and her husband are now the face of the coronavirus for their conservative Louisiana community.

www.nytimes.com

The average age of those dying is 79.5 years old. That's older than humans are expected to live anyway. 99% of those dying have at least one major preexisting health condition. 25% have 2 major preexisiting condition and 48.5% had 3+. There's nothing shocking about the people dying to this.

 

[IPPlanMan]

WHO CARES. Networks aren't built to handle the strain go things drastically outside the norm, like health services aren't, or transport systems, or food infrastructures. It's part and parcel of how capitalism works, nobody's going to massively invest in things they don't think they'll ever have to use. Not profitable.

Networks should be built much more robustly. While a marble lobby is part and parcel of how capitalism works, it doesn't provide additional network capacity. It was built as a vanity project. Same for the Holiday Party and the Corporate Retreat and Trust Activity BS. I'm fine with paying for something that works. I'm not fine with paying for something that doesn't have enough capacity to meet actual usage requirements.
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Feel free to call Google and Netflix having PR departments feeding us lies “virtue signaling”, but do realize that you’ve contorted the already variable definition beyond all recognition. Using a generalized phrase that means different things to different people isn’t instructive.

If you think the streaming services are feeding us lies just say so, you don’t need to pussyfoot around by couching it in vague terms.

Current networks weren’t designed to handle binge watching all day everyday by tens or hundreds of millions of people. I understand you don’t think more virtuous activities like video conferencing, telemedicine and distance learning should take priority, but I’d posit that you’re in the minority.

I've made it very clear what the definition of virtue signaling is. There's nothing generalized about it.

If mission essential teleconferencing, telemedicine and distance learning needs to happen, it should be done over a separate dedicated network channel to ensure sufficient capacity that isn't constricted by the general public internet. Why people would choose to have these critical activities over the general internet instead is truly the sign of money being spent on things that don't matter... like the marble lobby.

 

[DoctorTech]

Honest question: what’s your complaint? Worst case scenario everyone still gets to see their favorite show just in slightly lower quality. Best case scenario it preserves valuable bandwidth on a vital piece of infrastructure. Is the worst case really so bad?

I can't answer for IPPlanMan but I will give you my serious answer to your question. I agree the worst case (lower video quality) is pretty minor and if Netflix & YouTube lowered the bit rate here in the United States it would not be a big deal to me. I think the real question is whether it is really necessary to do it in the first place and that answer will likely vary from one geographic location to another.

While it is a minor inconvenience, lowering the bit rate where there is no need to lower the bit rate does sound a lot like virtue signaling. I am all for doing things that will actually help with the CV pandemic but I get annoyed at people who claim we all "have to do something" even if that "something" doesn't really help. I'm waiting for someone to start passing out Corona Virus Awareness ribbons for everyone to wear so we can feel better about ourselves for "doing something" even if it is totally meaningless. Maybe we can all just go tweet #Stop_Corona_Virus and call it a day

 

[tabilo]

Is Europe not equipped to handle large amounts of bandwidth compared to the US?

According to DE-CIX, the spike is actually quite minor: https://www.de-cix.net/en/locations/germany/frankfurt/statistics

I can also not see an issue in my neighborhood in Germany, still getting close to 95% of my GBit connection. I think it's primarily a problem of some ISPs in their own core networks (I heard Swisscom had issues).

 

[justperry]

It just occurred to me. If the EU or any government really cared about bandwidth for essential services it would immediately ban all pornography web sites. Porn is absolutely inessential. YouTube has useful information and is used in education. Netflix is more entertainment, but we need some entertainment. I would say pornography is not good, others may disagree. But the fact the EU doesn’t go after pornography websites when it supposedly has bandwidth issues tells you all you need to know about their lack of concern for the true good of its citizens.

For you information...you can find porn on youtube.



As for limiting bandwidth, no big deal, at least until this crisis has faded.

 

[cosmic68]

Are you serious? People are dying. This is 10x more deadly than the flu. The economy lost 1/3 of its value. Are you that entitled and narcissistic that you can’t sacrifice your TV entertainment during the worst crisis the world has faced since WWII?

How about reading a book? Unbelievable.

Totally.

MacRumors comment sections never fail to amaze me. The entitlement in this particular one is strong.

 

[Tech198]

Youtube wouldn't have to do this if people would think about what times do Youtube in the first place. We will be all watching SD thank to this bloody virus...

First EU, then the rest. just wait

 

[DoctorTech]

Just a single data point - I live in the United States (Indiana to be more specific). I pay for 300 Mbps from Comcast and I just now (noon local time on Friday) checked my connection speed and I have 357 Mbps. I fully realize this is not a full blown study and the next town over (or even my own speed an hour from now) could have very different results. The point is, from my OWN observations, I have doubts about the need to lower bit rates where I live. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Stan__]

This doesn’t make sense. If people work from home on their computers, it is no different than working from their office. Should be the same amount of bandwidth that is used because there is no one using the internet in the offices... may be I’m wrong

 

[macfacts]

Go to Italy, you will easily find your empirical and verifiable proof.

Stop spreading misinformation, your immorality signaling will kill people.

View attachment 900078

Coronavirus Update (Live): 130,775,239 Cases and 2,849,547 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Pandemic - Worldometer

Live statistics and coronavirus news tracking the number of confirmed cases, recovered patients, tests, and death toll due to the COVID-19 coronavirus from Wuhan, China. Coronavirus counter with new cases, deaths, and number of tests per 1 Million population. Historical data and info. Daily...

www.worldometers.info

Where is the proof the internet is slowing down.

 

[aaronhead14]

YouTube’s streaming quality is already way too compressed. Everything looks mushy and blocky as-is. They’ve already hit their compression threshold and now they’re taking it further?! Crazy sauce.

 

[recoil80]

Vodafone in Italy just declared a 50% spike in traffic these days. Of course the network is sometimes slow, it wasn't designed for a use case of kids watching YouTube or Netflix while 2 parents are videocalling or accessing their remote desktops via VPN.
I've already set YouTube to 720p instead of 1080, so I'm sure I won't have any problems at home.

Back in the day before their streaming was bulletproof, Netflix refunded after outages — eg down for 30 minutes you get a $2 refund for your troubles. I’d be shocked if they didn’t do something similar here

Refund, or maybe upgrade the plan from basic to standard or premium for free for a month. I'm sure Netflix will do something, but in times of emergency they made the right decision. You can still watch content, just at a lower quality.

 

[edvj]

The average age of those dying is 79.5 years old. That's older than humans are expected to live anyway.

Yes that’s correct in The USA...

List of countries by life expectancy - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[mrkite77]

What's the damage here? Where's the proof of it? No I won't take the word of a politician or of a company without empirical verifiable data.

Why should anyone care what *you* would take. You're not involved in this in the slightest.. no one has to prove anything to you.
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Just a single data point - I live in the United States (Indiana to be more specific). I pay for 300 Mbps from Comcast and I just now (noon local time on Friday) checked my connection speed and I have 357 Mbps. I fully realize this is not a full blown study and the next town over (or even my own speed an hour from now) could have very different results. The point is, from my OWN observations, I have doubts about the need to lower bit rates where I live. Your mileage may vary.

I'll see your single data point and raise you the data used by the entire city of Madrid:

https://www.de-cix.net/traffic_MAD-1year-1170-400.png

 

[IPPlanMan]

Why should anyone care what *you* would take. You're not involved in this in the slightest.. no one has to prove anything to you.

Looks like you're ok with that. That's the essence of virtue signaling: the absence of proof.

 

[Unami]

This doesn’t make sense. If people work from home on their computers, it is no different than working from their office. Should be the same amount of bandwidth that is used because there is no one using the internet in the offices... may be I’m wrong

nah, there's a lot more vnc connections and video-conferencing. so there's a little more bandwidth-usage. and there's more netflix/youtube usage, so there's even a little more. here in Austria, it's about 10% more since the lockdown, according to providers. we're not seeing any slowdowns whatsoever (not sure about people with 1gbps connections, but 100+ mbps ones deliver as much as before the crisis), so this measure doesn't make sense, at least not over the whole EU. it probably helps netflix and google, saving on bandwidth-costs, though. and it degrades the work of people making their money off video. reducing it to full-hd doesn't hurt too much, but capping it at sd is atrocious as long as it's not necessary.

 

[I7guy]

Where is the proof the internet is slowing down.

Yep, that’s what some are saying. Preventive measure?

 

[mi7chy]

Smarter way to obtain a 38% YouTube traffic reduction without affecting quality if Apple enables VP9 codec (2.68Mb VP9 vs 4.33Mb AVC @ 1080p).

 

[Wide opeN]

Nothing wrong with being proactive; however, I think it's too soon for this. ISP in the states have been doing a bang up job so far, as in things seem as normal as ever as far as data use is concerned.

If ANYTHING, this is proving that we're being charged too much for broadband.