Following on from reports of Netflix downgrading its video stream for EU users comes word that YouTube is switching off high definition streaming for the region.
Netflix chief Reed Hastings agreed to act on Thursday after an appeal from the European Commission to lower stress on the network due to so many working at home because of the coronavirus pandemic. YouTube confirmed today that it too would downgrade streaming quality.
The move has spread beyond the EU though with The Guardian reporting that streaming companies and video game distribution companies have been asked by Australian communications minister Paul Fletcher to reduce the amount of data required for streaming videos and large-file gaming updates over the internet.
Fletcher convened a roundtable with the telecommunications operators on Monday about this with Netflix, Stan, Disney+ and others with a working group formed to handle it. A spokesman confirmed there had been ‘constructive discussions’ about how to optimise broadband for the region.
Netflix expects only a small number of customers to notice the drop in quality, particularly those on the higher 4K streaming plans. How game file updates from services such as Steam or PSN will be affected isn’t clear at present.
