USA TODAY: Netflix has agreed to pay Comcast to ensure that its movies and TV shows stream more quickly, the latest evidence of a shift in the balance of power in favor of Internet service providers and the likelihood of rising prices for consumers.
Emboldened by a mid-January federal appeals court ruling that eliminated “net neutrality” rules, which had prohibited Internet providers from prioritizing content, Comcast and others cable companies are showing signs they will take a more aggressive stance in how content streams through their “pipes.”
Calling it “a mutually beneficial” agreement, Netflix, whose content accounts for nearly a third of evening Internet traffic, and Comcast, the nation’s largest Internet provider and cable operator, said Sunday the deal will provide Comcast customers “a high-quality Netflix video experience for years to come.” Terms of the deal were not disclosed… (more)
