Netflix admits to downgrading video quality on AT&T, Verizon phones
Netflix admits to downgrading video quality on AT&T,
Verizon phones - WSJ
Fri, 25 Mar 2016 01:36 GMT
March 24 (Reuters) - Netflix Inc said it had been
lowering the quality of its video for customers watching its service on
wireless networks such as AT&T and Verizon Communications for more than
five years, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.
The company also said that it does not downgrade videos
for T-Mobile US Inc and Sprint Corp users because they had "more consumer
friendly policies," the Journal added.
In response to requests for comment, Netflix said it had
posted a blog on Thursday. In the blog, it said it had limited its video
quality for mobile viewers globally, capping them at 600 kilobits-per-second,
to protect consumers from exceeding mobile data caps.
The dominant online video company also said that it will introduce
a data-saver feature for mobile apps which will allow users more control over
their data usage while streaming on mobile networks.
This feature is expected to be available to users
sometime in May, Netflix added.
"We're outraged to learn that Netflix is apparently
throttling video for their AT&T customers without their knowledge or
consent," Jim Cicconi, AT&T senior executive vice president of
external and legislative affairs wrote in an email.
(Reporting by Amrutha Penumudi and Rishika Sadam in
Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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