Netflix No Longer Supports AirPlay
Juli Clover (tweet):
The Netflix app for iPhone and iPad no longer appears to support AirPlay, based on an updated support document found on the Netflix website.
According to Netflix, AirPlay is no longer supported on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch due to “technical limitations.”
[…]
A Netflix spokesperson provided further explanation on the company’s decision to discontinue support for AirPlay on iOS devices, attributing it to the rollout of AirPlay support on third party devices and an inability to distinguish between them:
We want to make sure our members have a great Netflix experience on any device they use. With AirPlay support rolling out to third-party devices, there isn’t a way for us to distinguish between devices (what is an Apple TV vs. what isn’t) or certify these experiences. Therefore, we have decided to discontinue Netflix AirPlay support to ensure our standard of quality for viewing is being met. Members can continue to access Netflix on the built-in app across Apple TV and other devices.
Media outlets aren’t being critical enough of Netflix here.
Their argument is effectively “We can’t tell which TV you’re using, so you aren’t allowed to send video to TVs anymore.”
It’s complete bullshit, and an uncharacteristically customer-punishing move from Netflix.
I expect it is a licensing issue, the same way you cannot watch Netflix in Safari if you have a Apple Cinema HD Display plugged in - they cannot tell that it is a secure channel and not a channel being saved to disk - it sucks but not entirely surprising.
Translation: AirPlay coming to non-Apple devices makes it difficult for us to prevent piracy. At least that’s my interpretation.
See also: Dan Masters.
2 Comments RSS · Twitter
Does this impact AirPlay if you do a system-wide screenshare from control center and then launch the Netflix app? I've always been unclear whether initiating AirPlay outside of an app is a different pathway than using in-app AirPlay buttons.
@Nigel
In the old days of iOS, it was definitely a separate functionality. Been a long while for me, but I believe AirPlay was opt in and screen mirroring was opt out for developers. Not sure of the current status of things on iOS AirPlay, but that was the historic perspective. Bottom line, if Netflix is smart, they will disable both.
