Netflix CEO Addresses Comcast’s Unfair Data Cap Neutrality
Less than a month ago, I was informed about the new apps that were introduced to the Xbox 360. The console has apps such as Xfinity TV, HBO Go, and Netflix. I also mentioned that using Comcast’s Xfinity TV App would now count towards the Comcast internet data cap for existing Comcast internet users. But what is particular about Netflix, compared to Xfinity TV, is that Netflix counts towards your 250 GB data cap (for Comcast internet users) while Xfinity TV does not.
However, this clearly has two fair sides. If you use Xfinity TV on your Xbox 360, it essentially can be called a cable box, in which cable boxes are for watching TV, not using internet, and should not be counted as using internet. However, Netflix has almost the same purpose as the Xfinity TV app, but does count towards the data cap limit.
I spent the weekend enjoying four good internet video apps on my Xbox: Netflix, HBO GO, Xfinity, and Hulu.
When I watch video on my Xbox from three of these four apps, it counts against my Comcast internet cap. When I watch through Comcast’s Xfinity app, however, it does not count against my Comcast internet cap. – Reed Hastings, CEO of Netflix
According to Comcast.com’s FAQ, “The Xbox 360 running our XFINITY TV app essentially acts as an additional cable box for your existing cable service, and our data usage threshold does not apply,”
However, this was no excuse for Hastings as he continues to explain the situation: “For example, if I watch last night’s SNL episode on my Xbox through the Hulu app, it eats up about one gigabyte of my cap, but if I watch that same episode through the Xfinity Xbox app, it doesn’t use up my cap at all.”
Hastings demands that Comcast allows the Xfinity TV to contribute to the data cap, or completely remove the data cap limit to its customers. “The same device, the same IP address, the same wifi, the same internet connection, but totally different cap treatment.”
“In what way is this neutral?” – Reed Hastings
