AV1: The Video Codec That Could (But Didn't Quite) Conquer the World
2025-04-03

AV1, a video codec developed by tech giants like Netflix and Google, promised superior efficiency and royalty-free licensing compared to its predecessors. Despite its technical advantages and strong backing, AV1's adoption has been slower than expected. Hardware limitations and higher decoding complexity have hindered widespread implementation, with major streaming services like Max and Peacock yet to fully embrace it. Even the royalty-free claim is disputed, with patent pools emerging and asserting rights. While giants like YouTube and Netflix are heavily invested, the path to universal adoption remains challenging, though AOMedia, the organization behind AV1, continues to push forward, developing its successor.
Tech
video codec