EDIT: Hmm, weird, there is a Netflix streaming quality thread (in this very forum!). Not sure why, but it didn't show up when I searched -- Sorry.
I searched for similar topics before posting and was surprised to find nothing recent.
If you're a FiOS customer you've undoubtedly noticed a significant drop in Netflix streaming quality. I have Verizon Quantum 50Mbps service and am located 18 miles north of Boston, MA. I was consistently getting pristine "SuperHD" (1080P / 5.1 Surround) streaming quality from Netflix throughout the day, even during prime time hours.
In early February all of that changed. I started seeing SuperHD content being streamed at bitrates as low as 235Kbps and resolutions as low as 240P. During this time Speedtest.net was consistently reporting DL speeds of 52-56Mbps and Amazon Instant streaming was perfect.
If you've been on Verizon's FiOS forum it's pretty clear that this is not an isolated or regional issue. The problem stems from a pissing contest between Verizon and Cogent (the provider Netflix uses for content delivery) about "peering" and the amount of Netflix traffic being handled Verizon. There's a substantial amount of credible speculation that Verizon is intentionally letting it's peering ports become 100% saturated rather than opening additional (and available) ports to handle the increased traffic. Since the heaviest Netflix usage is during prime time, Netflix becomes all but unusable from as early as 5PM into the early morning hours.
Like many AVS members I have a pretty nice HT setup; I use an Oppo BDP-103 for Netflix streaming all displayed on a Panny 65" Plasma. A 240P video streamed at a bitrate of 235Kbps and displayed on a 65" screen is reminiscent of a bad VHS copy-of-a-copy-of-a-copy and is simply unwatchable. Netflix SuperHD content streams at a bitrate of 3Mbps. Verizon's slowest FiOS service is 15Mbps. Even those of us who weren't "Mathletes" in high school can figure out that our FiOS service should be more than capable of providing reliable HD Netflix streaming.
If you're a FiOS customer, you're already paying a premium for increased bandwidth on what Verizon markets as "America's top-rated Internet. Browse your favorite websites, download music and stream video with fewer interruptions." Verizon seems completely unmotivated to do anything about this and is happy to hold its' customers hostage while they hold out for a financial agreement with Netflix. If you're affected by this and are tired of denied the service and quality you were promised, please do something about it.
I have created a public petition addressed to Lowell C. McAdam, Verizon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The petition is located here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/869/336/946/verizon-intentionally-crippling-netflix-streaming-over-it ...
If you're on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, please let your followers know about the petition and ask them to sign. Verizon seems content to ignore its' customers. Maybe they need a little more public attention to get the ball rolling.
Hopefully I'm not violating any forums rules with this post. Bear in mind that I have nothing to gain with this petition--I'm just hoping it helps me and others convince Verizon that we're unhappy about a situation they can easily remedy.
Thanks -- Steve
I searched for similar topics before posting and was surprised to find nothing recent.
If you're a FiOS customer you've undoubtedly noticed a significant drop in Netflix streaming quality. I have Verizon Quantum 50Mbps service and am located 18 miles north of Boston, MA. I was consistently getting pristine "SuperHD" (1080P / 5.1 Surround) streaming quality from Netflix throughout the day, even during prime time hours.
In early February all of that changed. I started seeing SuperHD content being streamed at bitrates as low as 235Kbps and resolutions as low as 240P. During this time Speedtest.net was consistently reporting DL speeds of 52-56Mbps and Amazon Instant streaming was perfect.
If you've been on Verizon's FiOS forum it's pretty clear that this is not an isolated or regional issue. The problem stems from a pissing contest between Verizon and Cogent (the provider Netflix uses for content delivery) about "peering" and the amount of Netflix traffic being handled Verizon. There's a substantial amount of credible speculation that Verizon is intentionally letting it's peering ports become 100% saturated rather than opening additional (and available) ports to handle the increased traffic. Since the heaviest Netflix usage is during prime time, Netflix becomes all but unusable from as early as 5PM into the early morning hours.
Like many AVS members I have a pretty nice HT setup; I use an Oppo BDP-103 for Netflix streaming all displayed on a Panny 65" Plasma. A 240P video streamed at a bitrate of 235Kbps and displayed on a 65" screen is reminiscent of a bad VHS copy-of-a-copy-of-a-copy and is simply unwatchable. Netflix SuperHD content streams at a bitrate of 3Mbps. Verizon's slowest FiOS service is 15Mbps. Even those of us who weren't "Mathletes" in high school can figure out that our FiOS service should be more than capable of providing reliable HD Netflix streaming.
If you're a FiOS customer, you're already paying a premium for increased bandwidth on what Verizon markets as "America's top-rated Internet. Browse your favorite websites, download music and stream video with fewer interruptions." Verizon seems completely unmotivated to do anything about this and is happy to hold its' customers hostage while they hold out for a financial agreement with Netflix. If you're affected by this and are tired of denied the service and quality you were promised, please do something about it.
I have created a public petition addressed to Lowell C. McAdam, Verizon's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. The petition is located here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/869/336/946/verizon-intentionally-crippling-netflix-streaming-over-it ...
If you're on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, please let your followers know about the petition and ask them to sign. Verizon seems content to ignore its' customers. Maybe they need a little more public attention to get the ball rolling.
Hopefully I'm not violating any forums rules with this post. Bear in mind that I have nothing to gain with this petition--I'm just hoping it helps me and others convince Verizon that we're unhappy about a situation they can easily remedy.
Thanks -- Steve
