Disney+ cuts streaming quality and delays French launch amid fears coronavirus could damage internet

Videos to use 25% less bandwidth in attempt to stop internet companies getting overwhelmed as people work from home

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Disney+ will launch with reduced bandwidth and delay its French release by two weeks in an attempt to minimise its impact on the internet.

The streaming service is scheduled to go live across Europe this week. But fears about the impact on the internet from online video and other services that use substantial amounts of data have led it to alter the rollout.

It will cut the video quality to use at least 25 per cent bandwidth, Disney said. It could reduce it further if internet providers suffer.

The French release will also be staggered by two weeks in response to a request from the government.

The measures come as many other streaming services – including Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube – have all committed to reduce the quality of their streaming videos in an attempt to preserve bandwidth and keep internet connections stable, as people are forced to work from home to limit the spread of coronavirus.

The Walt Disney Company's chairman of direct-to-consumer and international Kevin Mayer said the decision to cut the quality of videos on its new service was made in response to a request from the European Commission.

Disney+ will be home to films and shows from Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars and National Geographic, as well as Disney, when it launches in the UK on Tuesday.

It comes after Netflix said it would temporarily reduce the quality of videos on its platform to ease pressure on internet service providers during the coronavirus outbreak.

Mr Mayer said: "In line with Disney's longstanding commitment to act responsibly, we are responding to the request of European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton to work together to ensure the smooth functioning of the broadband infrastructure.

"In anticipation of high consumer demand for Disney+, we are proactively instituting measures to lower our overall bandwidth utilisation by at least 25% in all of the markets launching Disney+ on March 24.

"In the coming days, we will be monitoring internet congestion and working closely with internet service providers to further reduce bitrates as necessary to ensure they are not overwhelmed by consumer demand.

"We look forward to the launch of Disney+ and hope it will provide a much-needed respite for families in these challenging and trying times."

Disney+ will launch in the UK on March 24.

Additional reporting by agencies