I am on a mission!

[Indydan]

So I looked this up on Google AI:
Average 4K Video Bitrates by Platform

• • Apple TV+ / iTunes: ~25 to 42 Mbps (highest typical averages and peaks among major subscriptions)
  • Disney+: ~15 to 25 Mbps
  • Netflix: ~15 to 20 Mbps (can drop lower or peak near 18-25 Mbps depending on encoding/title)
  • Max (HBO Max): ~12 to 19 Mbps
  • Amazon Prime Video: ~10 to 15 Mbps (historically lowest tier for compressed 4K)
  • Sony Bravia Core (Pure Stream): Up to 80 Mbps (highest overall, but restricted to specific Sony hardware) [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

I cannot believe these platforms in 2026 have such low bitrates. I believe 4K discs have bitrates of around 60-90 mbps. These platforms can do better!

I have gotten in touch with the major platforms. I don't expect changes, but I thought I would at least express my wants to them. I asked them to offer a higher tier of service (for a few dollars more) with higher bitrates, for demanding users who want the best. If you don't ask, you usually don't get.

 

[dolynick]

I doubt you're going to get much movement on the streaming bitrates.

They have to make sure they are at a rate that will work consistently across a huge array of services (including cellular and a wifi hop in home) otherwise the user gets constant buffering. On top of that, the device itself has to be capable of handling that much data. Yes, modern specs for most services and hardware are beyond those numbers nowadays but it takes a long time for hardware generations to trickle out to all users. A significant portion of the market may well still be using 802.11n wifi that was so ubiquitous for quite some time for example.

But yes. Those bitrates on video, not to mention on audio (streaming Atmos is actually ~786kbps lossy dolby digital AC-3 with some extra atmos info, vs up to ~5000kpbs for UHD disk audio) is the reason I sort of dread the death of physical media. I'm not convinced that streaming will up their game to provide anywhere near the same quality once easy access to the proper UHD is gone. That leaves services like Kaleidoscope and their insane hardware costs as the remaining avenues, but is also why I'm glad that Kaleidoscope does exist.

 

[j_garcia]

Lowest common denominator. It doesn't matter how fast OUR connection is, it matters who has the slowest but pays for the service, because as mentioned, they need to support those people. So we get average bitrates because: people. I think 4K streaming video quality isn't too bad, like on Prime, it is pretty good. SQ is OK, so if I want full quality audio, I buy the disc. When I hit about 30mbps, I get buffering over wifi.