Streaming Wars: How Internet Speed Influences Media Consumption
Streaming Wars: How Internet Speed Influences Media Consumption
The streaming wars are still raging on and streaming platforms continue to reign supreme over traditional cable TV. There’s a slight catch; your internet connection. From binge watching our favorite shows to streaming the latest blockbuster hit movies; the quality of our viewing experience often hinges on our internet connection. But how does internet speed influence our media consumption? Let’s dig into the relationship between internet speed and streaming quality and how it affects the way we consume media everyday.
You’ll Need A Good Internet Connection
A good internet connection can be hard to find depending on where you live, but it’s important to keep looking. If you plan to stream at any capacity, you’ll want a minimum of 100 Mbps download speeds. Even the Federal Communications Commission agrees; they said their old standard of 25 Mbps no longer fits the definition of high speed broadband internet in March. 100 Mbps download speeds is that new standard. Here’s how a good internet connection can influence your media consumption for the better:
More TV Options
Let’s face the music; having a good internet connection gives you options. Your TV won’t be bound by cable lines or coverage maps anymore. Instead of one or two TV providers, you now have access to many more.
Lower Monthly Bill
Cable TV bills are sky high these days. The average monthly cable TV package is costing consumers over $200 a month! With inflation at its highest, everyone is trying to find ways to save and you can too. Having a good internet connection at home makes streaming a real TV option. Whether you pick one streaming service or three, it’s still cheaper than most basic cable and satellite TV packages on the market today.
The Results Of A Poor Internet Connection
You probably already know, but a poor internet connection isn’t going to cut it when streaming media online. You can experience buffering, low resolution and in some cases the inability to stream altogether. Here’s more on those potential problems:
Buffering Problems
Slow internet speeds are the number one cause of the buffering. We’ve all experienced it before and we all hate it. Nothing disrupts our favorite show or a sports game quite like the spinning wheel of buffering. A slow internet connection can transform what is supposed to be a seamless streaming experience into a frustrating one. It severely tests our patience and some viewers just give up watching altogether. The only way to fix buffering is to get a better internet plan with faster speeds.
Resolution Can Suffer
Resolution matters and it’s heavily dependent on internet speed. Higher resolutions, such as 4K which you’re paying good money to receive, require significantly more bandwidth than standard definition or high definition. Without a fast internet connection, your resolution suffers.
The Inability To Stream Altogether
If your internet connection is really poor, you may not have the ability to stream at all. Unfortunately you do need a high speed internet connection with decent bandwidth to stream even in the most basic resolutions. There’s simply no way around it.
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