Netflix has struck up a deal with Comcast to make sure that its movies and television shows available for online streaming can be viewed without stops and buffering.
According to a Monday report by the Wall Street Journal, the two tech giants have brokered a new agreement that will not only smooth out video streams, but will also give Netflix full access to Comcast's extensive system of connections.
Customers complained that the "House of Cards" maker's online streams have been lagging for the past few months - slow loading, extensive buffering and pixelated pictures have all plagued Netflix viewers eager to watch their favorite shows online.
But this new merger could smooth out those kinks, and that's what both Netflix and Comcast are hoping for.
The two companies released a statement detailing the recent union.
"Working collaboratively over many months, the companies have established a more direct connection between Netflix and Comcast, similar to other networks, that's already delivering an even better user experience to consumers, while also allowing for future growth in Netflix traffic," the two telecom corporations stated. "Netflix receives no preferential network treatment under the multi-year agreement, terms of which are not being disclosed."
The news comes just a few days after Comcast stated its intention to purchase Time Warner Cable for a cool $45 billion. According to the WSJ, conversations on a merger with Netflix predated that tie-up.
Comcast and Netflix's union also takes place in the midst of a Federal Communications Commission overhaul of net neutrality rules, after a court effectively nullified the set of regulations earlier this year.
Netflix, who publicly participated in the case, said that it worried online service providers would make its streaming service sluggish.
It's still unclear whether Netflix's merger with Comcast will cause the video streaming site's business deals with other companies to shift at this point.
