Netflix has complied with an EU directive to reduce its video streaming quality to ease the strain on the Internet while millions of people are working from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. The company said;
“Following the discussions between Commissioner Thierry Breton and [Netflix chief executive] Reed Hastings, and given the extraordinary challenges raised by the coronavirus, Netflix has decided to begin reducing bitrates across all our streams in Europe for 30 days,”
Netflix has said that lowering the streaming quality will reduce Netflix’s data consumption by 25%. The restriction will apply to TV shows and documentaries. Movies will still be in high definition or 4K depending on what plan you’ve paid for.
The change will apply to the UK as well as other European countries for the next 30 days.