[jonbee]

Netflix and Comcast have a deal, and other cable cos. to follow. Better streaming ahead! 

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-netflix-comcast-20140224,0,1476262.story#axzz2uFhv2GFD

[AKLegal]

Terrible day for net neutrality.

[Cacophonix]

Looks like netflix gave up on net neutrality and succumbed to the providers. A very bad day. 

[skifasterslc]

i switched streaming devices from a toshiba dvd player bdx2250 to apple tv around Christmas time.  That change was a very noticeable improvement  in picture quality and loading times.  No change in wifi router etc  normally 36 mbps

[WC]

Netflix and Comcast have a deal, and other cable cos. to follow. Better streaming ahead! 

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-fi-ct-netflix-comcast-20140224,0,1476262.story#axzz2uFhv2GFD

This has nothing to do with Net neutrality. Netflix doesn't own any of its own network infrastructure so they have to either use a third party Content Delivery Network or go directly to the end of pipe broadband providers. They pay to use the network either way. This is the way the internet works.

[Gaara]

Strange, I actually had better luck with my PS3 going wireless then my 103 going wired.  With the Oppo I rarely get over 480p, and even then it fluctuates.  With both my PS3 and PS4 it locks into 1080p within 10-12 seconds and stays there.

Comcast here with their 25mbps plan.

[AKLegal]

This has nothing to do with Net neutrality. Netflix doesn't own any of its own network infrastructure so they have to either use a third party Content Delivery Network or go directly to the end of pipe broadband providers. They pay to use the network either way. This is the way the internet works.

It has everything to do with net neutrality.  Netflix is paying for more bandwidth.  If a new startup competitor to netflix comes along and does not have the cash to pay for that extra bandwidth then they will have slower performance i.e more bars to entry into the market.  Not only is it another nail in the coffin for net neutrality it is extremely anti competitive.  Instead of all internet traffic on Comcast being treated the same, Netflix and whatever other companies pay for more bandwidth will get preferential treatment. 

[jonbee]

Here's a good discussion.
http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-02-24/netflixs-deal-with-comcast-isnt-about-net-neutrality-except-that-it-is

[WC]

It has everything to do with net neutrality.  Netflix is paying for more bandwidth.  If a new startup competitor to netflix comes along and does not have the cash to pay for that extra bandwidth then they will have slower performance i.e more bars to entry into the market.  Not only is it another nail in the coffin for net neutrality it is extremely anti competitive.  Instead of all internet traffic on Comcast being treated the same, Netflix and whatever other companies pay for more bandwidth will get preferential treatment.

Read this for a more realistic take than all the articles from the mainstream tech media.

http://blog.streamingmedia.com/2014/02/media-botching-coverage-netflix-comcast-deal-getting-basics-wrong.html

[vortrex]

It has everything to do with net neutrality.  Netflix is paying for more bandwidth.  If a new startup competitor to netflix comes along and does not have the cash to pay for that extra bandwidth then they will have slower performance i.e more bars to entry into the market.  Not only is it another nail in the coffin for net neutrality it is extremely anti competitive.  Instead of all internet traffic on Comcast being treated the same, Netflix and whatever other companies pay for more bandwidth will get preferential treatment.

Not true at all.  I'm not sure you understand how Internet traffic exchange works and/or Comcast's policies in regards to it.  Comcast will peer with nobody for free.  They are not even connected to the public exchanges.  If Netflix wants a private peering relationship with Comcast, they will pay for it like everyone else.

[tubesguy2]

Thought I'd contribute my results and thoughts.  Using Netflix "Example Short 23.976” on my Roku, which is wired with an Ethernet cable to the router - last night I was lucky to get around 700kbs. This afternoon I got (and held steady after adaptive streaming settled in) 5800kbs.  That's a huge difference.

Interesting thread. I've essentially given up on streaming from Netflix due to poor picture quality, using a Roku with ethernet to a reasonably high-speed Uverse gateway.

How does one monitor and/or display bitrate?  I stream to a television, and can't figure out a menu setting that gives me that info.  I'd like to log the performance and figure out if there is any time of the day when I might want to take a chance on actually watching something on Netflix.   

[wushuliu]

Read this for a more realistic take than all the articles from the mainstream tech media.

http://blog.streamingmedia.com/2014/02/media-botching-coverage-netflix-comcast-deal-getting-basics-wrong.html

Unfortunately it's a poorly structured article that spends more time saying how wrong everyone's take is than explaining exactly why. The gist seems to be that Netflix is simply making a smart business decision by dealing directly with Comcast. nothing to see here.

Considering that this is happening as merger talks proceed I have serious doubts and personally think Netflix IS making a smart business decision because they know the merger will happen and Comcast will have to be dealt with directly sooner or later.

The writing's on the wall but it had to happen eventally. The Internet's wild west days are done. Comcast owns NBC and other media networks as well so of course they are going to start giving preferential treatment to content. Just a matter of time.