Comcast — the country's largest cable and broadband provider — has come to a deal with Netflix to ensure that the streaming service's video content would be piped directly to Comcast's customers.
The two companies said in a joint statement Sunday they're setting up a more direct connection to offer better service to customers that will also allow for future gains in Netflix traffic.
Netflix had a commanding 33 million U.S. streaming subscribers at the start of 2014 — and the service makes up for roughly one third of all traffic at peak times on the Internet, according to research firm Sandvine.
As Netflix branches out into original content, with acclaimed series like "House of Cards," Internet service providers like Comcast have lobbied the company for more structured deals to allow a more direct transmission pathway and reduce the strain on their networks.
The companies did not disclose the terms of the multi-year deal — including whether Netflix was paying for its direct connection, although the joint statement said Netflix “receives no preferential network treatment.”
Comcast is the parent company of NBC.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
