Netflix: H265-SDR is not downloaded anymore

YKYK

Hi,

I wanted to re-download few titles in H265 I used to have, but it doesn't work anymore. It falls back to H264. I'm certain there was a H265-SDR version before because I downloded the same episodes erilier, before DRM issue occured. Tested other known to me titles with H265-SDR version - the same result.

Log is attached.

Can you please fix this?

Wilson.Wang

Hi,

We confirmed that Netflix removed the H265 SDR stream video files.

And the option also will be removed from StreamFab.

Wilson

bricks

Hi,

We confirmed that Netflix removed the H265 SDR stream video files.

And the option also will be removed from StreamFab.

Wilson
Wilson.Wang

hdr10 and DV H265 still available?

YKYK

Hi,
We confirmed that Netflix removed the H265 SDR stream video files.
And the option also will be removed from StreamFab.
Wilson
Wilson.Wang

This is sad news. Thank you for confirmation.

hdr10 and DV H265 still available?
bricks

Yes, but there were videos without HDR but still in H265 with 10bit color depth and smaller size. Now there's only H264 8bit option for SDR.

jpp72

Hi,

We confirmed that Netflix removed the H265 SDR stream video files.

And the option also will be removed from StreamFab.

Wilson
Wilson.Wang

@Wilson.Wang, you keep specifying H265 SDR but you don't say anything about HDR10.

Previous releases that were downloaded in H265 HDR10 are now being downloaded in H264. I can understand no more SDR but if those shows are still available in 4k, then they should still be available in 1080p H265 HDR10

Examples of shows that i downloaded in HDR10 previously but no longer can:

Dark
The Last Dance
Orange is the New Black (Season 4 and Up)

I find it hard to believe that they would just remove ALL H265 profiles for some of their most popular shows. More likely it's a different HDR10 profile for old finished shows but with the Netflix MSL, it's not easy for me to find the manifests to confirm this

YKYK

@Wilson.Wang, you keep specifying H265 SDR but you don't say anything about HDR10.

Previous releases that were downloaded in H265 HDR10 are now being downloaded in H264. I can understand no more SDR but if those shows are still available in 4k, then they should still be available in 1080p H265 HDR10

Examples of shows that i downloaded in HDR10 previously but no longer can:
Dark
The Last Dance
Orange is the New Black (Season 4 and Up)
I find it hard to believe that they would just remove ALL H265 profiles for some of their most popular shows. More likely it's a different HDR10 profile for old finished shows but with the Netflix MSL, it's not easy for me to find the manifests to confirm this
jpp72

Are you sure about Dark? I have it downloaded in H265-SDR. And tried multiple times for the last couple years to redownload hoping Netflix finally released HDR version but with no luck. Here it also says no HDR.

Germania

All of Netflix’s HDR video streaming is now dynamically optimized

Netflix Android App May Get HDR Toggle Switch
"This experimental setting would allow users to switch between HDR and SDR streams"

jpp72

Are you sure about Dark? I have it downloaded in H265-SDR. And tried multiple times for the last couple years to redownload hoping Netflix finally released HDR version but with no luck. Here it also says no HDR.

YKYK

Hmmmm... i could have sworn it was. I distinctly remember SF saying HDR10. I had to download it 3 different times in the span of a few months so i didn't pay attention all the time

jpp72

All of Netflix’s HDR video streaming is now dynamically optimized

Netflix Android App May Get HDR Toggle Switch
"This experimental setting would allow users to switch between HDR and SDR streams"
Germania

Welcome back my friend!

october262

Hmmmm... i could have sworn it was. I distinctly remember SF saying HDR10. I had to download it 3 different times in the span of a few months so i didn't pay attention all the time
jpp72

possible reason why Netflix removed the H265 SDR content- https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38249527

bricks

It’s interesting that when 265 hdr is selected in the Netflix settings, it finds only two resolutions. for example, rick and morty season 7 - 1080p with a size of 800 megabytes and 720p with a smaller size. but it downloads one or two episodes at a time in 264 and then gives an error and needs to be added again. and if you choose 264, it finds more resolutions, downloads everything at once, but 1080p has a small bitrate and the series takes up 200 megabytes.

ms-dfav

It’s interesting that when 265 hdr is selected in the Netflix settings, it finds only two resolutions. for example, rick and morty season 7 - 1080p with a size of 800 megabytes and 720p with a smaller size. but it downloads one or two episodes at a time in 264 and then gives an error and needs to be added again. and if you choose 264, it finds more resolutions, downloads everything at once, but 1080p has a small bitrate and the series takes up 200 megabytes.
bricks

There is a bug that when selecting Netflix H265 (and not finding it - which is explained in this very thread) StreamFab ignores the setting for a 'H264 Profile' (inside 'VIP services' settings for Netflix) and always uses the 'Main' profile. At least in my country (Poland), the main profile has a consistent ~5000kpbs for video stream, while the high profile varies wildly between the TV shows. If you switch to 'H264' and 'Main' profile in the settings you should get consistency, but grass can always be greener on the other side :)