Netflix streaming issue after Apple TV update to 6.0

I think the issue is just netflix. I Noticed some content is played In Hd and other in really bad quality.

It seems to be an issue with the combination of Netflix on Apple TV. The same content will buffer and play at maximum bitrate on a desktop computer using the same internet connection, but not on the Apple TV. Furthermore, the same content used to play in HD on the Apple TV without fail, but not any more, coinciding with the timing of the silent update rollout (the one that brought progress indicator bars with it).

I have a Sony Blu-Ray and Apple TV. Both devices are connected to my Netflix account, that is, I can stream Netflix on either one.

Even before the latest update, I'd noticed that in some cases the quality between the two devices for the same video was markedly different. So, based on my experience, the newest AT update did not create this problem.

But it is a real problem.

Now, that said, although I don't have the patience to test this, my impression is that the problem tends to be worse during "prime time," that is, in the evening. That suggests that there might be a capacity issue somewhere.

But why would it be device specific, if not having something to do with the device (i.e. the Apple TV software)? During the same prime time, at exactly the same moment, one can stream in HD on one device (the computer) and not the other (Apple TV). The time is the same, the network connection is the same, only the device and its software are variables. Based on my experience and tests, it is specific to the overlapping conditions of Netflix + Apple TV, at any time since the latest silent software update.

I suppose a test would be to see if I could roll back my Apple TV to a previous software version and see if HD Netflix streaming comes back.

I believe that streaming is adaptive. So, for example, when one starts up a service, it will check your throughput and adjust the "quality" to what it can deliver without stalling.

So it can be device specific (hypothesis here) if two devices don't adjust as helpfully to fluctuations in the network. That way, the differences in the devices affect performance only under certain conditions.

Suppose my Sony device notices that my Comcast connection to Netflix has slowed, and signals Netflix to send me lower quality, then, when the rate goes up, signals Netflix again, so that there is only a moment or so of crap quality.

Now suppose the AppleTV is smart enough to tell Netflix to slow down, but not smart enough to tell it to speed back up when the network is performing better.

without netflix my Apple tv is basically an expensive beer coster.It was fun the year it worked.

Add me to the list. It seems to be specific to Apple TV + Netflix.

I have two Apple TV 2s. Both streamed netflix fine until about a week ago. Since then streaming netflix is unwatchable on both.

The rest of the network runs fine. Streaming netflix from xbox works fine. It's only netflix on Apple TV that's busted.

I meant two Apple TV 3s. Also, I didn't mention that I double-checked to make sure that on netflix.com my streaming quality was set to "High".

I have same issue with Apple TV. I've found I can AirPlay from iPad to APple Tv and it's in HD. Clearly not a bandwidth issue, but a bug.

We had the same problem crop up. ATV has been perfect until a few days ago. I rebooted (restart) from the settings menu but that didn't solve the problem. After reading this forum, I did the "....unplug ATV and plug back in" routine. It fixed the problem. My thanks to people who contribute their solutions.

I have this issue as well. Only Netflix + Apple TV combo produces the problem.

That is to say, I can stream Netflix to my laptop, phone or tablet and get excellent HD quality. I can use airplay from any of these devices to the TV and get excellent HD quality. All other apps on Apple TV (Hulu, HBOGo, etc.) stream HD in excellent quality. Using the native Netflix app on Apple TV device, I get horrible quality.

To determine the bitrate and display resolution you are getting on Netflix, you can do the following:

• In Netflix menu > Search for "Example Short 23.976"
• Play it
• It displays display res and bitrate as you watch

I am seeing 2500-3000 kbps on load and then it jumps down to 350kbps after about 3-5 seconds. And stays there.

Every other app seems to be using the full 2500-3000 kbps bitrate.

What is causing the drop in Netflix???!!!!

check essential wrote:

We had the same problem crop up. ATV has been perfect until a few days ago. I rebooted (restart) from the settings menu but that didn't solve the problem. After reading this forum, I did the "....unplug ATV and plug back in" routine. It fixed the problem. My thanks to people who contribute their solutions.

This worked for me, though I have only tried it once and during the afternoon. I will try again tonight during prime time and see if the fix is still working.

It makes no sense to me why this would work since I had already restarted the Apple TV, but... who cares why it works if it works.

I have also had problems streaming Netflix using the Apple TV. Oddly streaming to my iPhone then using Airplay on the Apple TV works fine. However, this is where it really gets interesting. I borrowed an Apple TV from work that was doing just fine there (getting 5800 kbps on the famous "Example Short 23.976" video which shows you how fast you are streaming) but at home ON COMCAST it is just running at 375 kbps. So somehow the problem appears to be an ATV/Netflix/Comcast interaction. Very, very odd. I'd be curious to know if which ISP's are being used by others having this problem. I have only seen Comcast where the ISP is mentioned.

For info, here is the URL for another much longer Apple Discussions thread on this same problem.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5565870?answerId=24096268022#24096268022

Update > Got home this evening and ATV + Netflix is working fine now. Hope the fix stix.

🙂