Eli5: what happens on the server when one selects to watch a movie on Netflix and how the architecture allows 500k other people to watch the same movie almost concurrently?

Question

Eli5: what happens on the server when one selects to watch a movie on Netflix and how the architecture allows 500k other people to watch the same movie almost concurrently?

In: Technology

Answer 1

They put their own cache servers into ISP’s too. They have or had a page to request them. It’s a win win, as netflix gets content closer to their customers, and ISP doesn’t pay for the traffic on the internet side.
Page still there, it’s their open connect appliance.. “Our appliances are provided free of charge for ISP partners who meet our basic requirements, but they are not for sale to other parties.”