Netflix stopped supporting Apple AirPlay due to the arrival of AirPlay TVs
Netflix has suddenly stopped supporting AirPlay. Users with an Apple TV or an AirPlay-enabled TV will no longer be able to forward content from the streaming service to their device. According to Netflix, the reason is the arrival of AirPlay TVs.
Netflix told The Verge that the problem arose with the arrival of televisions with AirPlay support. The televisions would not identify themselves to Netflix in any way, other than that it is an AirPlay device. But now that there are a variety of AirPlay devices and Netflix can’t differentiate between them, the streaming giant says it can’t guarantee an optimal experience when streaming to those devices. Netflix’s response was to completely discontinue AirPlay support.
This year, several AirPlay 2-compatible televisions have entered the market, making the range of devices that support AirPlay a lot more diverse.
On the Netflix website, the service keeps the information superficial: “Airplay is no longer supported for use with Netflix due to technical limitations”. It is still possible to watch Netflix on the devices, but then that must be done via the Netflix application and not via the smartphone app. The decision was made sometime in the past week, Macrumors writes.
When asked, the spokesperson tells The Verge that it is not a business decision, for example to have more in the milk at the negotiating table. Nevertheless, the two companies do not always align. For example, Netflix decided in December that customers could no longer take out a subscription via the iOS app, possibly because Apple would then demand part of the revenue. In addition, Netflix is not participating in Apple’s upcoming streaming service.
Image: MacRumors