Summary
AV1 is currently presented as an emerging or alternative codec. In 2026 it is the mainstream OTT codec. This framing needs to be updated to reflect reality.
Current reality (2026)
- YouTube: >75% of all content encoded in AV1
- Netflix: ~30% of viewing in AV1
- Meta: >70% of video in AV1
- HbbTV 2.0.5 (published March 2, 2026): Defines optional AV1 support for Smart TV devices, opening the broadcast TV path in Europe
- AI-optimized AV1 encoding pipelines (Netflix, Meta) report 40% faster encoding vs. earlier AV1 implementations
What needs to change
- Position AV1 as the current mainstream standard for OTT delivery, not emerging
- Position H.264 as the legacy/compatibility layer (still needed for broad device support, but not the leading codec for new content)
- H.265/HEVC: positioned as relevant for broadcast/satellite delivery and Apple ecosystem
- VP9: positioned as Google's predecessor to AV1, still deployed but being phased out
Context
Hardware AV1 decode support is now widespread: all modern smartphones (Android 2022+, iPhone 15+), desktop GPUs (NVIDIA RTX 30+, AMD RX 6000+), Smart TVs (2022+ models). The device coverage gap that made AV1 deployment risky in 2020–2021 is largely closed.
References
Summary
AV1 is currently presented as an emerging or alternative codec. In 2026 it is the mainstream OTT codec. This framing needs to be updated to reflect reality.
Current reality (2026)
What needs to change
Context
Hardware AV1 decode support is now widespread: all modern smartphones (Android 2022+, iPhone 15+), desktop GPUs (NVIDIA RTX 30+, AMD RX 6000+), Smart TVs (2022+ models). The device coverage gap that made AV1 deployment risky in 2020–2021 is largely closed.
References