Netflix and YouTube Cut Image Quality in Europe in Response to Bandwidth Strain

The novel coronavirus pandemic is creating new challenges for physical supply chains, and it's also putting a strain on internet-communications channels. With people staying inside to help stem the spread of the virus, data-intensive streaming has gone way up, and top services are making shifts to adjust to the new circumstances.

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) reduced its streaming bitrates in Europe on Thursday, and Reuters reported on Friday that Alphabet's (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) YouTube would also be making changes to cut down on data usage. YouTube is now defaulting all videos in the EU to standard definition, and it's expected that both streaming-video platforms will keep measures in place to reduce bandwidth usage for at least the next 30 days. Netflix's move to reduce bitrates rather than resolution means that users will still be able to stream in 4K, but video quality could become choppier and more pixelated.

Image source: Getty Images.

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Source Fool.com