Netflix users across the globe, have suddenly been unable to get the streaming platform’s app to work with Apple’s Airplay on iPhones and iPads.
AirPlay which is a proprietary protocol suite by Apple, allows users to play media such as music and videos from iOS devices on Apple TV- and AirPlay-enabled TVs and smart speakers, enabled individuals using Netflix on their iPhones and iPads, to instantly play content from the app, to their television screens.
In an unexpected move however, Netflix for iOS dropped support for AirPlay. This is coming 6 years after it began support in 2013.
According to a support page on Netflix’s official website (shown below), “Airplay is no longer supported for use with Netflix due to technical limitations,”.
This leaves built-in Chromecast, the Netflix 2nd Screen feature, and external cables as the only other ways to connect Netflix for iOS to a TV. The AirPlay icon is no longer seen on the iOS app, and any attempts to activate AirPlay through the Control Center will be met with an error message that says “Cannot play title. Please try again later”.
A spokesperson for the streaming service wrote in a statement; “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 versus 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,”
The spokesperson also added that Apple will remain as a “valued partner,” and that the dropped AirPlay support is not due to the competition between the companies’ businesses.
Users will still be able to watch shows from the streaming service on their TVs through versions of its app for Apple TV, smart TVs, video game consoles, and other platforms. The downside though is that you will no longer be able to directly switch from your iPhone or iPad, when you move to a room with a TV, a feature that made AirPlay much more convenient.
Observers believe Netflix’s decision to drop its iOS app’s AirPlay support could be part of a broader disagreement between the company and Apple, reason being that the latter is preparing to launch its very own competitor in the streaming service market.
Apple recently unveiled Apple TV Plus, an ad-free, subscription-based streaming service that will launch this fall. It also announced a redesigned Apple TV app that will provide a unified experience for watching TV shows, movies, and third-party services across iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, Mac computers, smart TVs, and other streaming devices. The updated app which is expected to launch in May 2019, will come with subscriptions to services such as HBO, Showtime, Starz, and others. It will however, not include Netflix.
