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    Netflix’s AV1 Journey: From Android to TVs and Beyond

    (netflixtechblog.com)
    548 points CharlesW | 15 comments | 05 Dec 25 00:09 UTC | HN request time: 0.601s | source | bottom
    1. bofaGuy ◴[05 Dec 25 01:29 UTC] No.46155787[source]▶
    Netflix has been the worst performing and lowest quality video stream of any of the streaming services. Fuzzy video, lots of visual noise and artifacts. Just plan bad and this is on the 4k plan on 1GB fiber on a 4k Apple TV. I can literally tell when someone is watching Netflix without knowing because it looks like shit.
    replies(9): >>46155886 #>>46155962 #>>46155979 #>>46156147 #>>46156377 #>>46156464 #>>46156629 #>>46156900 #>>46160648 #
    2. mtoner23 ◴[05 Dec 25 01:41 UTC] No.46155886[source]▶
    Probably some function of your location to data centers. I find hbo max to be aysmal these days. But I've learned to just stop caring about this stuff since no one else in my life does
    replies(1): >>46156303 #
    3. odo1242 ◴[05 Dec 25 01:52 UTC] No.46155962[source]▶
    This is actually their DRM speaking. If you watch it on a Linux device or basically anything that isn’t a smart TV on the latest OS, they limit you to a 720p low bitrate stream, even if you pay for 4k. (See Louis Rossman’s video on the topic)
    replies(2): >>46156027 #>>46158173 #
    4. mapontosevenths ◴[05 Dec 25 01:54 UTC] No.46155979[source]▶
    It's not AV1's fault though, I'm pretty sure it's that they cheap out on the bitrate. Apple is among the highest bitrates (other than Sony's weird hardware locked streaming service).

    I actually blamed AV1 for the macro-blocking and generally awful experience of watching horror films on Netflix for a long time. Then I realized other sources using AV1 were better.

    If you press ctl-alt-shift-d while the video is playing you'll note that most of the time that the bitrate is appallingly low, and also that Netflix plays their own original content using higher bitrate HEVC rather than AV1.

    That's because they actually want it to look good. For partner content they often default back to lower bitrate AV1, because they just don't care.

    5. jsheard ◴[05 Dec 25 02:02 UTC] No.46156027[source]▶
    OP said they're using an Apple TV, which most definitely supports the 4K DRM.
    replies(2): >>46156254 #>>46181849 #
    6. mulderc ◴[05 Dec 25 02:22 UTC] No.46156147[source]▶
    I also find Netflix video quality shockingly bad and oddly inconsistent. I think they just don’t prioritize video quality in the same way as say apple or Disney does.
    replies(1): >>46186407 #
    7. array_key_first ◴[05 Dec 25 02:38 UTC] No.46156254{3}[source]▶
    The bit rate is unfortunately crushed to hell and back, leading to blockiness on 4K.
    8. jiggawatts ◴[05 Dec 25 02:45 UTC] No.46156303[source]▶
    https://xkcd.com/1015/

    Now you can be mad about two things nobody else notices.

    9. pcchristie ◴[05 Dec 25 02:55 UTC] No.46156377[source]▶
    I cancelled Netflix for this exact reason. 4K Netflix looks worse than 720 YouTube, yet I pay(paid) for Netflix 4K, and at roughly 2x what I paid for Netflix when it launched. It's genuinely a disgrace how they can even claim with a straight face that you're actually watching 4K. The last price rise was the tipping point and I tapped out after 11 years.
    10. not_a_bot_4sho ◴[05 Dec 25 03:10 UTC] No.46156464[source]▶
    Oddly enough, I observe something to the opposite effect.

    I wonder if it has more to do with proximity to edge delivery nodes than anything else.

    11. prhn ◴[05 Dec 25 03:41 UTC] No.46156629[source]▶
    Netflix on Apple TV has an issue if "Match Content" is "off" where it will constantly downgrade the video stream to a lower bitrate unnecessarily.

    Even fixing that issue the video quality is never great compared to other services.

    12. bombela ◴[05 Dec 25 04:41 UTC] No.46156900[source]▶
    Yep, and they also silently downgrade resolution and audio channels on an ever changing and hidden list of browsers/OS/device overtime.

    Meanwhile pirated movies are in Blu-ray quality, with all audio and language options you can dream of.

    replies(1): >>46168027 #
    13. misiek08 ◴[05 Dec 25 08:47 UTC] No.46158173[source]▶
    Have same experience as OP on newest ATV 4k. Good it's not only me who wonders how is it possible that they describe such great approaches to encoding, but final result is just so bad.

    Good that the OCAs really work and are very inspiring in content delivery domain.

    14. deanylev ◴[05 Dec 25 12:55 UTC] No.46160648[source]▶
    I was able to improve things somewhat by going to https://www.netflix.com/settings/playback/<myprofileid> and changing "Data usage per screen" from Auto to High
    15. odo1242 ◴[07 Dec 25 14:22 UTC] No.46181849{3}[source]▶
    Oh oops