Netflix Video File Types

First Generation Video Format

Originally, Netflix used a Windows Media format for its Watch Instantly titles. Video was encoded using WMV3 at four different bitrates: 500, 1000, 1600 and 2400 kilobyes per second. Video is encoded at the 740x480 resolution, which is the same as a standard DVD.

Second Generation Netflix Format

Netflix has since adopted the VC1 codec for streaming video and uses Microsoft Silverlight to stream the files. Because the VC1 format is much more efficient, lower bitrates can be used. The Silverlight player can also seamlessly switch to a lower bitrate if a user would lose bandwidth. HD content in 720p is also available because of the VC1 format.

Future Changes

Currently, Netflix does not support 1080i HD streams citing that broadband connections are not fast enough to handle them at this point in time. Audio is also only presented in stereo due to troubles with finding an appropriate multichannel audio solution for streaming video. Netflix hopes to have streaming surround sound in a future upgrade.