https://wccftech.com/amazon-prime-video-and-apple-tv-reduce-video-streaming-quality-in-europe-to-reduce-network-load/

Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ have reduced their video streaming quality in Europe, in response to the European Union’s request to help reduce network load. As most consumers are isolated at home due to COVID-19, video services like Netflix, YouTube, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+ are being used more often, which has caused a strain on Europe’s Internet connectivity.

Netflix was one of the first companies to respond to the EU’s request and reduced its video streaming quality by 25% for 30 days. The company accomplished this by reducing bitrates across its video streams, rather than the resolution. Meanwhile, YouTube, the largest video streaming service in the world, reduced the quality for all its videos to standard definition in Europe. This is a far aggressive approach but a welcome one as YouTube serves the largest library of 4K content, which is also the most taxing on networks.