AV1 Video Codec Now Powers 30% of Netflix Streams, Signaling a Major Shift in Streaming Efficiency
LOS GATOS, CA – January 26, 2025 – Netflix now delivers approximately 30% of its total streaming traffic using the AV1 video codec, a milestone demonstrating the rapid adoption of the next-generation compression technology. This represents a meaningful leap forward in video delivery, promising improved picture quality at lower bandwidths and reduced data consumption for subscribers globally.
The move to AV1 isn’t merely a technical upgrade; it’s a strategic response to the ever-increasing demands of streaming video. As 4K content becomes standard and data caps remain a concern for many, AV1’s superior compression capabilities offer a crucial advantage. This benefits both consumers, through a better viewing experience, and Netflix, by lowering delivery costs and expanding accessibility to areas with limited bandwidth. The widespread implementation of AV1 is reshaping the video codec landscape, challenging the long-held dominance of H.264 and HEVC.
Netflix began its AV1 rollout in 2020, initially focusing on devices with hardware decoding support. Early adoption was limited by the computational intensity of decoding AV1 streams, requiring powerful processors. However, the increasing prevalence of AV1-compatible hardware in smartphones, smart TVs, and streaming devices has accelerated its deployment. According to ScientiaMobile, AV1 hardware decode adoption reached 76% of active devices as of November 2024.
the benefits of AV1 stem from its open-source nature and royalty-free licensing, a key differentiator from HEVC, which is encumbered by patent licensing fees. This has fostered wider industry support and accelerated innovation. Beamr research indicates AV1 consistently outperforms HEVC in compression efficiency, delivering comparable video quality at significantly lower bitrates.
Netflix’s implementation of AV1 leverages a preprocessing step called SVT-AV1, developed in collaboration with the Software Video Technology (SVT) Alliance, to further optimize encoding efficiency. Simabit testing shows that Netflix’s AV1 streams,utilizing SVT-AV1,achieve ample bitrate savings compared to HEVC,especially for 4K content.
Looking ahead, the industry anticipates the emergence of AV2, the successor to AV1, promising even greater compression gains. However, AV1’s current momentum and growing hardware support solidify its position as the dominant codec for the foreseeable future, driving a new era of efficient and high-quality video streaming.
