Some Fire TV Stick users may need to upgrade their devices this week to continuing watching Netflix.
If you love a good old Netflix boxset binge and have an older Fire TV Stick plugged into the rear of your screen, beware. It was rumoured last month that some Fire devices may lose access to this popular streaming application, and now that news is official, with the block coming into force from tomorrow, June 3.
” Netflix will be discontinuing support for some first-generation Fire TV devices, which were introduced more than 10 years ago,” Amazon confirmed in a statement.
The change affects anyone with who owns an Amazon Fire TV Stick (2014), Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa voice remote (2014) or Amazon Fire TV (2014).
If that’s what you use to stream shows such as Drive to Survive, Adolescence, and Bad Thoughts then you need to buy something new ASAP.
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We’re still not entirely sure why this block is coming into force but it seems it has something to do with a technology called AV1 codec.
This allows streaming platforms such as Netflix to offer higher quality resolution – at an extra cost – but it’s not supported by those older Fire TV Sticks.
Clearly, Netflix doesn’t want customers paying for something they then can’t access, and it seems this could be the reason why the app is being taken offline on those older Sticks.
Worried you might be affected? To check your Fire TV device, simply navigate to Settings > My Fire TV > About on your Fire TV
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If your device is on the list below then Netflix will stop working this week.
• Amazon Fire TV Stick (2014)
• Amazon Fire TV Stick with Alexa voice remote (2014)
• Amazon Fire TV (2014)
“Netflix remains available on all other Fire TV devices,” Amazon also confirmed.
There are plenty of much better Fire Sticks now available including 4K models and the ultimate Max version which brings the exclusive Ambient Experience to screens. This turns TVs into an ever changing work of art and also allows users to add widgets and sticky notes to their televisions.