YouTube defaults to SD video, introduces #WithMe festival

Following similar plans for Europe, YouTube has made the decision to default to standard definition video resolution on its platform around the world.

This practice will only be put in place for one month, assuming nothing changes in the coming weeks, and is intended to reduce the strain of internet traffic spurred by the coronavirus outbreak. Other video companies have rolled out similar measures in some places.

The quarantines and lockdowns taking place around the world have resulted in a huge number of people who are home and streaming videos all day long. Netflix and a number of other video companies recently confirmed reducing bitrates or other similar measures to reduce the strain on Internet infrastructure during peak streaming times in South Africa.

In an update on the matter, Bloomberg reports that YouTube will default to standard definition on videos globally until the end of April. Users will need to manually increase the video resolution to HD or 4K if they want a higher-quality stream. The change will start to roll out over ‘coming days.’

In the same breath, YouTube introduced their very own online concert dubbed #WithMe. The festival, which kicked off last weekend, has already featured LIVE performances from household African names like Nadia Nakai, Distruction Boyz, Gigi Lamayne and Asa on their respective YouTube channels.

According to Addy Awofisayo, content partnership manager for YouTube Africa; “The Stay Home…#WithMe online music festival seeks to support the well-being of our community, who are increasingly enduring this disease in isolation – a state that can affect people’s mental, emotional and spiritual health,”

Performances will take place this Saturday and Sunday between 2 PM and 10 PM Central Africa Time. The YouTube Stay Home…#WithMe festival lineup (including previous shows) can be seen here.

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#Coronavirus #Google #YouTube #YouTube Music

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Papi Mabele

Papi Mabele has a marketing background, he is a digital marketing expert with extensive experience in launching and building global brands in the emerging markets. Papi is also an avid tech writer, enthusiast and all round tech junkie. As a freelance writer and analyst he has been numerously published in Popular Mechanics (SA), GQ South Africa, Premier Magazine, Driven Magazine, Bloem News, Courant, The Weekly, Enthooze Magazine and PiE magazine amongst others.