Cutting the cord and streaming content is a great way of obtaining great family entertainment in the comfort of your home. However, you need to know the facts about streaming multimedia (audio / video and live gaming) content and how it affects you total internet experience in your home. Here are a few facts about streaming content and gaming.

It should be noted that the speeds shown is per a single device streaming at a time ONLY. Total bandwidth requirements per household is calculated by the number of devices connected to your network multiplied by the number of streaming content multiplied by the bandwidth requirement per application.

Video Definition

Standard Definition (SD)

Standard definition video features the same picture resolution as DVDs, and use MPEG digital stereo sound similar to CD quality.

High Definition (HD)

High Definition (HD) provides a high quality picture, with display resolutions up to 1080p.This is similar to what you would see with a Blu-ray disc. HD video also features an enhanced sound experience and 5.1 multi-channel audio (for available titles, and with compatible sound equipment).

Ultra High Definition (UHD)

Ultra High Definition (UHD or 4K) offers a "4K" picture resolution that is four times greater than HD.

See the Video Streaming Services Requirements for bandwidth requirements per device.

audio Definition

Enjoying your favor music via stream services has long been been part of the internet’s benefit. However, the quality of the music and the fidelity in which you enjoy it is dependent upon the bitrate. Streaming music can be listened to at different bit rates. For audiophiles, the higher the bitrate the better quality of the sound.

Streaming music services like Amazon Music, Apple Music (iTunes), Pandora, Slacker, Spotify, Tidal, and others typical offer different plans from single user to multi-user family plans. Depending on your listening pleasure, some services offer high-quality streaming and requires more bandwidth.

See the Audio Streaming Services Requirements for bandwidth requirements per device.

Live gaming definition and Streaming Requirements

Playing games with others has moved from just board games to electronic game consoles to more recently to on-line video gaming streaming. Now anyone can play games with anyone else local or even around the global. Like other streaming services Live Video Gaming stream requires internet bandwidth. The bandwidth requirements vary and are dependent the service but more importantly is the ping time. Ping time is reaction time of your internet connection. The lower the ping time the faster your connection. Ping time is measured in milliseconds.

See Gaming Streaming Services Requirements for bandwidth requirements per device.

Video Streaming Services requirements:

Amazon Video

Prime Video titles are available in different video formats, including Standard Definition (SD), High Definition (HD), Ultra High Definition (UHD or 4K) and HDR (High Dynamic Range).

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1.1 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 15 Mbps

Hulu

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1.5 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 6 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: N/A

LIVE Streaming: 8 Mbps

HBOGo

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 4 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: N/A

Netflix 

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 3 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 25 Mbps

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1.5 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 6 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: N/A

LIVE Streaming: 8 Mbps

Sling

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 3 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 25 Mbps

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1.5 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 6 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: N/A

LIVE Streaming: 8 Mbps

VUDU

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 1 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 11 Mbps

YOUTUBE

Internet speed: 

Standard Definition: Minimum Download 3 Mbps

High Definition: Minimum Download 5 Mbps

Ultra High Definition: Minimum Download 25 Mbps

aUDIO Streaming Services Requirements:

Amazon Music

Minimum Download 500 Kbps

apple music (iTunes)

Minimum Download 256 Kbps, Supported Formats - ACC

Google play music

Minimum Download 320 Kbps, Supported Formats - ACC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, Ogg, ALAC

Iheart radio

Minimum Download 150 Kbps

NAPSTER

Minimum Download 64-320 Kbps

Pandora

Minimum Download 300 Kbps, Supported Formats - ACC, MP3, WMA, FLAC, Ogg, ALAC

sirius xm radio

Minimum Download 64 Kbps

slacker radio

Minimum Download 128-320 Kbps, Supported Formats - MP3

Gaming Services streaming requirements:

XBox One

Minimum Download 3 Mbps, Minimum Upload 0.5 Mbps, Maximum Ping Rate 150 ms

Playstation 4

Minimum Download 3 Mbps, Minimum Upload 1 Mbps, Maximum Ping Rate 150 ms

Ninetindo Switch

Minimum Download 3 Mbps, Minimum Upload 1 Mbps, Maximum Ping Rate 150 ms

WiiU

Minimum Download 1.5 Mbps, Minimum Upload 0.5 Mbps, Maximum Ping Rate 150 ms