Numerous Netflix subscribers experienced service disruptions on Monday due to a technical glitch in the streaming service’s network. The issue, which resulted in an estimated 17,000 error reports, involved a persistent connection-checking loop, leaving many users without access to their shows and movies during the evening hours, as reported by Downdetector and covered by Variety.
“We’re very sorry,” said a Netflix spokesperson to Variety, “but we’re having unexpected technical issues with Netflix for some members. Our engineers are working to fix this as quickly as possible and will share updates.” The outage reportedly lasted from just after 4 p.m. until around 8 p.m. for some customers.
A Netflix user described the problem on a social media platform, noting, “When you try to play something the device you’re on (like a tv) thinks you have no internet connection so it makes you take an internet speed test and even though you pass it loops and wants you to restart the router etc.”
The streaming giant confirmed that the issue, which did not affect all users, was widespread across multiple countries. The exact cause of the error messages and internet connection requests is still under investigation by the company’s technicians.
With over 230 million global subscribers, Netflix’s recent technical hiccup adds to a challenging period for the company. In the past year, Netflix had to refund fees to advertisers for failing to meet viewership goals, leading to a significant drop in the company’s stock value. Additionally, this year saw another dip in shares after reports of plummeting ad revenue amidst a writers and actors strike.
In July, Netflix’s second-quarter earnings report showed revenues of $8.19 billion, falling short of the $8.3 billion forecasted by Wall Street analysts. Following the conclusion of the strike in October, Netflix announced plans to increase its subscription prices again.
