diff --git a/airmozilla/popcorn/renderer.py b/airmozilla/popcorn/renderer.py
index a5787f8b..1c35e8e2 100644
--- a/airmozilla/popcorn/renderer.py
+++ b/airmozilla/popcorn/renderer.py
@@ -86,10 +86,21 @@ def render_edit(edit_id, verbose=False):
     webhook_url = build_absolute_url(reverse('popcorn:vidly_webhook'))
     token_protection = event.privacy != Event.PRIVACY_PUBLIC
 
+    # if the original submission was *without* HD stick to that
+    hd = True
+    if 'vid.ly' in event.template.name.lower():
+        submissions = (
+            VidlySubmission.objects
+            .filter(event=event)
+            .order_by('submission_time')
+        )
+        for submission in submissions[:1]:
+            hd = submission.hd
+
     tag, error = vidly.add_media(
         url=video_url,
         token_protection=token_protection,
-        hd=True,
+        hd=hd,
         notify_url=webhook_url,
     )
 
diff --git a/airmozilla/popcorn/tests/test_renderer.py b/airmozilla/popcorn/tests/test_renderer.py
index 4024b91b..6fd6e0fd 100644
--- a/airmozilla/popcorn/tests/test_renderer.py
+++ b/airmozilla/popcorn/tests/test_renderer.py
@@ -67,6 +67,16 @@ def generate_url_mock(expires_in, query_auth):
         p_key.side_effect = make_mock_key
 
         event = Event.objects.get(title='Test event')
+        event.template.name = 'Vid.ly Template'
+        event.template.save()
+
+        VidlySubmission.objects.create(
+            event=event,
+            tag='abc123',
+            url='http://s3.com/file.mpg',
+            hd=True,
+            token_protection=False
+        )
 
         edit = PopcornEdit.objects.create(
             event=event,
@@ -77,9 +87,13 @@ def generate_url_mock(expires_in, query_auth):
 
         render_edit(edit.id)
 
-        vidly_submission = VidlySubmission.objects.get(
-             event=event,
+        assert VidlySubmission.objects.filter(event=event).count() == 2
+        vidly_submission, = (
+            VidlySubmission.objects
+            .filter(event=event)
+            .order_by('-submission_time')[:1]
         )
+        assert vidly_submission.tag != 'abc123'  # the original was 'abc123'
 
         edit = PopcornEdit.objects.get(id=edit.id)