Q: Apple TV 3 Bad Streaming Quality

It has something to do with the Super HD (1080p) streaming. A workaround until Apple and Netflix fix this is to adjust your AppleTV resolution. To do so, do the following: Go to Settings -> Audio & Video -> TV Resolution and set this to 720p to prevent Netflix from detecting that you have a TV capable of 1080p "Super HD".   This will only work on TVs that can support 720p. This should be a capability of most TVs that can do 1080p.

You'll likely have a brief drop in quality about one minute or so after you begin your video but it will adjust to your Internet connection and improve the quality.  Only ISP issues will affect the quality thereafter.  While lowering the resolution isn't ideal, at least 720p is still HD and it is far better than the blocky artifacts Super HD is causing us.

csparksfly wrote:

 

It has something to do with the Super HD (1080p) streaming.

That seems unlikely.

csparksfly wrote:

 

A workaround until Apple and Netflix fix this is to adjust your AppleTV resolution.

I doubt that actually does anything but, based on my experience, it makes it worse.

Continuing with my comments of 9 days ago, I've had no trouble for the last 10 days. Everything is razor sharp now. (I'm using an ATV 3 into a Samsung HDTV with Comcast).

I do not understand the comment above: "It has something to do with the Super HD (1080p) streaming. " Really? Is that the only possibility? Seems unlikely, given the 120+ replies in this thread.

Netflix is still broken. Wow!

To top it off, if you open your Netflix app in IOS, you'll get a prompt asking you to rate your Netflix experience. They know what's going on but they don't have the balls to admit this has been their fault. Typical big business BS! Netflix, if you read these threads, you just managed to alienate a large portion of your customer base, when all you needed to do was step up to the plate and give a ****!

For those of you that have called Netflix, only to have them tell you it's your Internet connection, you are not alone and it's not your internet connection, router, or anything else. It's Netflix.

Bottom line is that this has been going on for at least 3 months! Have Netflix credit you for those 3 months. Don't take any crap from them. They don't deserve a pass if they won't even own up that this is their fault.

Going to cancel our account.

I'm sorry it didn't work for you.  I noticed the issue only presented itself on my ATV3 as well as two others owned by a family member and a friend in different cities with different ISPs when content labeled as "Super HD" was played. The fix I suggested works for all the ones I have adjusted to 720P.  I guess we are just lucky it works for us.  Hopefully a proper fix will come from Netflix/Apple soon for those people this fix does not work.

I didn't say Super HD was the only possibility.  I said it has something to do with it.  Bandwidth issues or a bug in the Netflix code for the ATV app could be the cause.  It could be the number of subscribers hitting a common streaming server.  It could be anything covered by the 120 other posts but it is likely something not covered since no one has fixed it yet. I didn't read all the posts but since I didn't see any other suggestions marked as a solution I posted a fix that has worked for me and a few others.

I don't often post in forums for this very reason - people are quick to ignore a possible workaround because they don't agree with it or because they don't understand the underlying technology.  Just because it doesn't work for one doesn't mean it won't work for others.  There's no need to be snarky.

Just echoing this problem, which started for me a few weeks ago. I have a 50mb/s cable connection and no cap on bandwidth from my provider, so speed isn't a problem.  I can stream HBO go! Vimeo! etc just fine with my ATV3, but Netflix won't work right. I get an HD signal for about 5 seconds then a pause then it reverts to super low quality - less than 480p actually, more like 360p (you can test your streaming speed on Netflix by watching the movie "example short 23.976"). Netflix doesn't acknowledge the problem via customer service or support. It's definitely an issue specific to Netflix with ATV.

Kirby

Echoing the issue as well. Ever since the last update my ATV3 is useless. ALL other devices stream beautifully (PS3, Computer, iPad). I've tried everything under the sun. Google DNS, resetting device... nothing fixes it. EXTREMELY poor streaming quality. Other apps on the ATV3 look fine. It's just Netflix. Ready to toss this POS. Why use it when the PS3 looks better AND has the newer interface? Apple you really know how to drop the ball...

Adding my voice to the chorus....

Have had my ATV since last Xmas.......no problems noted til 1 wk ago with long 'Accessing Netflix' followed by ' Netflix not available..try again later'. Also got message' Netflix not connected to Internet'.  Checked settings and WiFi - connected and full signal strength.  Two iPhones , two iPads and imac fully connected to Internet and Netflix no problem.  Unplugged ATV and reset, forgot network and re-entered password.  Worked for few days but noticed long loading time and initial hiccup after 10 seconds......more spinning then play began.  Part way through show  had resolution degradation but after couple minutes resolution increased.  Tonight ( 1 AM) ATV could not connect to Netflix.  Checked my ipad which was 5 feet away from ATV....it connected right away to Netflix and began streaming HD while my ATV was telling me it was unavailable.  Suddenlink is our provider and we have no bandwidth cap and speed is highest available for residential.  Router is 6 month old AirPort Extreme which has been and still is very stable.

Chiming in here. I alphabet the same issue. I have had some success adjusting my router to only work in wireless N mode. The quality gets a lot better. Give that a try.

I have had some success to use my iPad 2 with airplay to ATV...instead of ATV directly.

PS - My many years old PS3 has always been my best device for Netflix.  Streaming HD content anytime without buffer times or hiccups!

eberrong wrote:

 

I have had some success to use my iPad 2 with airplay to ATV...instead of ATV directly.

Yes people have been doing for a couple of weeks. The ATV uses the same content distribution network as the iPad etc. In my case it works when the mobile device connects to the Limelight network but it doesn't help if the connection is to nflxvideo.

I'm having the same problem - I hook my Apple TV directly into the ethernet cable. I have a speed of roughly 45-50mbps and everything else works fine (Hulu, vimeo, watch espn). This is annoying.

I was having the same problem and found a solution, at least for me. Set the TV's output resolution to "Auto" (I have a Samsung - not sure if that's applicable for all TVs) and also set the Apple TV resolution in Audio & Video settings to "Auto." then restart the Apple TV.

I'm struggling with this problem as well. I have a 100/10mb dsl connection and everything else is streaming well but Netlifx looks like 240p scaled to 1080p.

Please fix this soon Apple & Netflix.