Netflix confirms that it has removed AirPlay support, it will not let you broadcast any more on Apple TV

Without warning and without explanation, Netflix has removed the easiest way to switch screens from one Apple device to another: AirPlay.

Netflix confirmed to The edge that he selected the wireless streaming feature last week, because of what he calls a "technical limitation." But that's not the kind of technical limitation you thought.

You see, Apple has recently partnered with most major TV brands to allow AirPlay 2 to send shows directly to their 2019 TVs with a firmware update later this year, but a door -speakers Netflix told me that AirPlay 2 did not have numerical identifiers Netflix distinguishes these TVs – and the company can not therefore certify that its users get the best Netflix experience during the broadcast of these new TVs.

So now, throw the baby out with the bath water and unplug AirPlay, simply. "We can not know which device is what device, we can not certify devices … so we had to close the support," said a Netflix spokesperson.

Clearly, this means that users of Apple TV decoders can no longer launch Netflix.

Here is the official statement of the company:

We want to make sure that our members enjoy an exceptional Netflix experience, regardless of the device used. With AirPlay's support for deploying to third-party devices, it is not possible to distinguish between devices (which is an Apple TV and what is not) or to certify those experiments. As a result, we decided to discontinue support for Netflix AirPlay to ensure that our quality standard for signage is met. Members can continue to access Netflix via the built-in application via Apple TV and other devices.

As spotted by MacRumeurs Earlier in the day, official support page now includes this sentence: "Airplay is no longer supported for Netflix due to technical limitations."

It's a bit weird and misleading, though, because we're not talking about a situation in which the technology does not work – apparently, it does not look as pretty as Netflix wanted it, and Netflix, Apple and the TV makers can not be repaired.

Maybe Netflix was not prepared for a new wave of AirPlay 2 compatible TVs and could not justify the use of technical resources to upgrade its AirPlay implementation in order to support them properly. Maybe it's Apple or Samsung, LG, Vizio and the company that can not justify the expenses incurred to remedy the "limitation". Maybe Netflix will even restore support once things have been settled, although a spokesperson strongly suggests that the ball is in Apple Court now. Apple declined to comment.

Without a more complete explanation, it's hard to resist thinking that Netflix is ​​deliberately snubbing Apple for some reason, perhaps building a wall around its subscribers or gaining more weight in the negotiations. (Netflix denies it: "This is not a game of commercial competition.")

But Apple and TV manufacturers want to be able to use Netflix to sell new, sophisticated TVs that support AirPlay 2 to users. It is therefore in their interest to make things work. Why are not they?

An Apple-Netflix slot could be a potential reason: Netflix recently decided that it would not be part of Apple's new Apple TV Plus subscription video service, preferring to remain a contender.

And it would not be the first time we would see a cold war between two companies that want to control streaming TV users: Amazon stopped storing Google's Chromecast for three years, using its own platform so anti-competitive, while refining its own rival Fire TV products.

It is true that most smart TVs already integrate Netflix nowadays and that the other ways to broadcast this content on your TV are not lacking. Unfortunately for Apple users, one of the most practical ways is to ignore.