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Netflix Admits To Capping Video Streams On Wireless Networks (variety.com)

Posted by msmash on from the nobody-likes-throttling dept.

An anonymous reader cites a story on Variety: Company says it plans to launch feature to give users control over mobile-video usage in May. Netflix has enforced a maximum limit on the quality of video streamed over AT&T and Verizon wireless networks for years, the company acknowledged Thursday. But Netflix also said it's working on a way to give users control over how much bandwidth they wish to use to access the service. The No. 1 subscription-streaming service said its default bit rate for viewing over mobile networks has been capped at 600 kilobits per second. That's 'in an effort to protect our members from overage charges when they exceed mobile-data caps,' according to a Netflix spokeswoman.

3 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Netflix supported net-neutrality by kimvette · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They were not "deliberately degrading videos for certain customers" but rather trying to be consumer-friendly by helping customers avoid costly data cap overruns.

    It would be nice however if this were a configurable option in the player right next to the cc/subtitles option; I have an unlimited plan so I'd toggle it off.

    --
    The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
  2. Re:No limits on Sprint or T-Mobile by SNRatio · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I don't see how it is a violation of net neutrality when you are just throttling your own content as opposed to throttling the content of third parties that you are charged with delivering.

  3. Re:No limits on Sprint or T-Mobile by hawguy · · Score: 5, Funny

    What collusion? Netflix doesn't want its customers screwed with overage costs, because they might drop netflix. AT$T and Verizon are just mad they didn't get to reap sweet sweet profit from its customers. The only dubious thing is Netflix not sending a polite email to its customers explaining why they are throttled and letting them know it is to stop their phone companies F-ing their A$$holes raw.

    Sounds like collusion between Netflix and its customers to deprive AT&T & Verizon out of bandwidth overage charges they deserve.

    I hope AT&T & Verizon file a class action suit against those customers to get payment for all of the bandwidth they should have overused.