Netflix admits to capping AT&T and Verizon customer streams,

[Sept1967]

AT&T and Verizon capped at360p
Tmobile BingeOn internally capped at 480p

Sprint/Boost untouched.


I guess there is no NetNutrality

Netflix has told the Wall Street Journal that it caps streams for “most” wireless carriers around the world, including AT&T and Verizon. The streams are being capped at 600Kbps, a decision Netflix says was made in order to “protect consumers from exceeding mobile data caps.”


http://www.tmonews.com/2016/03/netf...mer-streams-backing-up-john-legere-statement/

 

[dan330]

not sure how I feel about this yet...

it would have been better if Netflix had a setting that customers can choose.

 

[kate]

I'd agree, let people have the option to turn it on and off.

 

[Clementine_3]

it would have been better if Netflix had a setting that customers can choose.

Rumor has it they are working on just such a thing. They really do need a setting to choose playback quality.

I'm actually OK with 360p (Verizon here), the only person who really uses it is my sister's 11 year old son. He has a long bus ride to school so he can watch Netflix for one ride a week. It chews through data even at 360p.

 

[KOLIO]

I'd agree, let people have the option to turn it on and off.

It'll come soon enough,along with a price increase for higher speeds.
This was probably in the cards all along.....

 

[Sept1967]

I am signed up for their lowest plan, 1 device - non HD content, its like 8 bucks a month.
Its fine.

But how does this company unilaterally decide to change content for AT&T/Verizon, while leaving T-Mobile/Sprint alone?
I never saw this disclaimer when I signed up (it doesn't affect me anyway on Sprint) It sounds like a huge class action for AT&T/Verizon users for the last 5 years.

But still.......net neutrality??? Where did it go? Another company trying to save me, from myself.....no thanks
Im a grown ass man

 

[svim]

So this is kind of dodgy on Netflix's part but at the same time giving the option for people to opt-in/opt-out just isn't realistic. Most consumers simply don't look into the settings or options of their services, nor their gadgets, nor their apps. Most things can be customized to suit different needs but the majority of users just don't feel confident enough to do so.
Data caps, at least in the U.S., is real issue so it's not like Netflix doesn't have at least some justification to be doing this.

 

[Sept1967]

Netflix has no business nosing into what cell carrier or plan anyone has. They broadcast video.

Does Pepsi water down their 12oz can of soda, because there are too many fat Americans? And don't tell anyone?

 

[svim]

Well I've been a Netflix customer for years now and I have an lowly AT&T DSL account, and I don't have any real complaints and feel this is more hype than actual issue. For the monthly fee I have to pay I think Netflix is still a real bargain. Of course if you're so outraged by this, you can always vote by proxy and ditch Netflix, there are a number of other services out there will plenty of viewing content too. Amazon Prime video, Hulu, HBO, to name a few. Also, while it's close to being a Net Neutrality violation, if you read a definition of what Net Neutrality actually is, like T-Mobile's Binge On, it's only partly so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality
Also, if you think Netflix is the only service 'traffic shaping' their content to suit their users, this isn't an issue that has only now been brought up, the matter has been hashed over plenty before. I'm no fan of Reed Hastings but he's just another CEO who has to play the game by the rules no matter how stupid or corrupt they are. This 2013 article on focusing on Youtube has some detailed info on the bizarre relationship between streaming video services, ISPs, and the interconnects running in the background. They each protect their corner of the market and none of them can get by without a ton of daily money exchanges. I've re-read it and it only confirms my feelings that this latest Neflix issue mostly link-bait, there are are a lot more really screwed up issues going on:
http://arstechnica.com/information-...ecret-deals-that-make-and-break-online-video/