Netflix: We're Not Throttling Streaming, Blame Your ISP

Neil Hunt, Netflix's chief product officer posted to the Netflix blog earlier today that the problems some users are facing with Netflix's streaming service is as a result of how ISPs handle traffic and is in no way an indication that Netflix is throttling their service. This should not come as a surprise to anyone who's in the industry as the idea of Netflix throttling their own service on purpose simply lacks common sense.

Not to mention, this whole issue isn’t even debatable since Netflix is not the delivery network pushing out the streams and has no control over any network. They don’t serve the streams, Limelight and Level 3 do. How can Netflix “throttle” something they aren’t delivering?

This whole debate started on the Break It Down Blog when the author was complaining that the quality on the Xbox 360 is much better than the watch now service on the PC. Of course it is, that’s because content for the Xbox 360 is encoded at higher bitrates, which Netflix already disclosed on their blog back in November and which Neil re-confirms in his blog post today.

The author on the Break It Down Blog may very well be having issues with streaming to his PC, but it’s not as a result of Netflix doing anything as many people pointed out in the comments section. Not to mention, Netflix is all about keeping customers happy. Why would they make anyone's viewing experience crappy on purpose? Neil's post today did say that Netflix is looking to improve the streaming experience in general by, "incorporating an initial version of multi-sourcing, and as we improve it, we’ll roll it out to everyone including our device partners such as Roku and Xbox. We hope by the end of year to have this problem largely solved."

Hopefully this ends the debate about whether some Netflix users think Netflix is throttling their streams and intentionally providing them with a poor video experience. Some users are going to have problems with streaming, but it's not isolated to Netflix. They would have the same or similar problems with other high-bitrate content as well.

Comments

[Fagin]

The ISP's cant handle the demand, good PR for Netflix shows their service is in high demand, cant wait for the next quartely figures.

Back to topic; the demand is causing anxiety attacks for the ISP's because their business model relies on users sending the odd email or streaming the odd mp3 and/also users not being online at anyone time.

The ISP's used to blame this sought of thing on P2P file sharing and bittorent but it would seem video streaming by reputable firms and users are getting the gangster treatment.

The problem with ISP's is they are reluctant to provide the investment in edge caching, they want to charge the webmasters and cut deals with them to provide subscription models to consume video, all stamping on net neutrality.

I guess the ISP's can try the old failed method of using court room judges as an extension of their business models,

Why dont the ISP's try P4P or bandwidth derivatives, either way they have options. Options stated by the BT who have mentioned the increase in video, as not being a software issue but a business issue.

Time for Netflix to isolate the throttalers and engage in legal avenues.

[Kevin]

Fagin,

No offense but nothing you said makes any sense. You might want to stop posting about things you clearly know absolutely nothing about.

[Fagin]

No doubt an ISP, truth hurts.

[Gransalamandra]

I'm waiting for an smart ISP with the vision to see that we will abandon their ship (e. g. Comcast) if they continue figuring out ways to charge me for everything.

On top of that, selling our records and monitoring our traffic to work in cahoots with the record labels?

Comcast (and others) don't forget who are your customers and watch in which side you land.

I hear AT&T streams much better, but not sure... I'll check it out anyway.

[EbonyMystique]

What about the people like myself who have multiple pcs with similar specs and performance? I have two desktops and one laptop plus an Xbox 360. The two desktops are hardwired to the router while the laptop and Xbox run on wireless. My desktop is the only computer in the house that suffers horrible lags on Netflix. I recently reinstalled the operating system and that didn't help at all. I work from home and I have to have the TV on so that it's not too quiet. Hence my turnaround time is a day with Netflix movies (I have the 3-DVD unlimited plan and I watch them the day I get them and return the next day). I know that they have throttling accounts like mine who rent a lot of movies for the month.

Since everything else performs perfectly and I can watch streaming videos from other sites without a hitch, why would I believe that it is my ISP and not Netflix that is throttling? If anyone has a suggestion, I am open.

[hgaskins]

"This should not come as a surprise to anyone who's in the industry as the idea of Netflix throttling their own service on purpose simply lacks common sense."

One reason that ISP's throttle service is because as bandwidth uses increases so does physical resources, and ergo costs. Why would those who serve video for Netflix be any less likely to experience greater costs with greater demand than the ISP? I can't say whether or not Netflix's service is being throttled, but I've been booted off a few times watching Netflix content, and Netflix blamed my ISP. I even tried to restart but after a few minutes I would get booted off again.

Where Netflix ran into a problem with this is that it can be determined if an ISP is responsible for the booting because it can be tested against another service such as Hulu, and that's what I did. Each time I got booted from Netflix I retried at least twice before moving to Hulu to watch an equally long video of even higher quality than Netflix's which means more bandwidth used, and not once did I get booted from Hulu. In fact I've been using Hulu since it hit the web and I have never lost a connection for any reason. So there goes the theory that it's being caused by our ISP's.

The point is, whether it's Netflix or their ISP that's responsible is a moot point since either way Netflix is responsible for the quality of their service. The buck stops with them.

[ISP]

Most every ISP has to pay a ton of money for bandwidth from their upstream provider/connection. The type of video stream is as much to blame as anything in terms of performance. There is no technology or connection anywhere that doesn't have limits. even Startrek didn't act like there were no limits to data transfers.

[Mntijo]

I just encountered punitive retaliation from Netflix! If you complain(and this is a magic number told to me by a Supervisor)26 times of delays in receiving or deliverings, Netflix will punish you! I was told Friday that my account is on hold, no streaming and no dvds for a period of 1-2 weeks. And no reimbursement for this period, in other words I am paying for a service which is not provided. Getting back to throttling streaming, Netflix(this is a Supervisor speaking)states it is not their fault, it's your neighbors, your ISP, your modem or the POST OFFICE. I was also told that I am the only one in my district that is having this problem!