Following requests from top European officials this week, YouTube will reduce default streaming quality for the region to free up bandwidth for those working from home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.
YouTube clarified that while videos will be playing at standard definition, users will still be able to manually adjust the resolution back up to HD. The decision comes after Thierry Breton, EU Commissioner for Internal Market, urged Netflix CEO Reed Hastings to consider switching the streaming service's bitrate to SD "when HD is not necessary." Netflix agreed yesterday, pulling HD streaming from the European market. Breton has reportedly also met with Sundar Pichai and Susan Wojcicki, the CEOs of Google and YouTube respectively, to discuss similar measures from the web giants they head.
While YouTube does not generally require as much bandwidth as Netflix reportedly does per capita, all HD video streaming is a burden on networks and internet service providers at a time when so many people are working virtually from home in an attempt to abate the coronavirus crisis, practicing social distancing and other preventative measures.
YouTube has not stated for how long the reduction in quality will last or whether it plans to expand the practice to the US or other regions.
(via Deadline)