5 ms·

Netflix doesn’t want their content to show up in apple TV search because they don’t want to give access to their user’s data to Apple. It’s a terrible anti-cons

Netflix doesn’t want their content to show up in apple TV search because they don’t want to give access to their user’s data to Apple. It’s a terrible anti-consumer decision and frankly it was one of the last straws that led me back to piracy after many years. All I wanted was a universal search for content instead of having to go into each provider’s app. I am now using Plex/Sonarr/Radarr and it works flawlessly, a much better ecosystem with open APIs and tons of integrations with tvdb/discord/trakt/opensubtitles etc. Netflix had a good thing going on for a while but they managed to screw it up.

tornato7 5y ago
I think it's more than that - if users are finding shows through the Apple TV search then Apple is able to promote their own shows and services in that search functionality. Netflix wants people to use their app so they can push their own content and features. Similar to why Amazon doesn't like it when you Google for products and end up at Amazon, they would rather you just visit amazon.com and search from there so they can show you ads.
- callalex 5y ago
  The argument is more nuanced than that. For example if I tell my TV “Hey Siri, play Top Gear” it will show me an Amazon logo for a few seconds while the app starts and then the video plays. At no point in that interaction did Apple attempt or even have a chance to say “are you sure you don’t want to watch {other-car-show}”. This decision by Netflix is hurting consumers.
FireBeyond 5y ago
Apple, refusing to share their user data with others: "Great. Pro privacy. Pro user." Netflix, refusing to share their user data with Apple: "Terrible. Anti-consumer. Last straw."
- 8ytecoder 5y ago
  It’s not sharing. It’s just making it searchable - aka the catalog and link back. The second feature is the ability to continue/resume from the Home Screen. That requires sharing playback information. However, there’s no indication that Apple mines this information. On the other hand, it’s extremely useful to me as a user. This is the primary reason I don’t use Netflix much these days and I have a premium subscription. It’s so easy for me to reach to HBO Max or Hulu than Netflix.
askvictor 5y ago
I'm not quite sure this is the case, given that Netflix seems happy to share that data with Google on AndroidTV/GoogleTV devices. The thing that's lead me back to piracy is not Netflix itself, but the proliferation of streaming providers, with their exclusives. Let me pay for the show I want, easily, and I'll pay for it. Make me jump through hoops and subscribe to services I don't want, well, it's just as easy to torrent it. Netflix didn't screw this up; it was every studio wanting to lock viewers into their own service.

tornato7 5y ago

I think it's more than that - if users are finding shows through the Apple TV search then Apple is able to promote their own shows and services in that search functionality. Netflix wants people to use their app so they can push their own content and features. Similar to why Amazon doesn't like it when you Google for products and end up at Amazon, they would rather you just visit amazon.com and search from there so they can show you ads.

callalex 5y ago
The argument is more nuanced than that. For example if I tell my TV “Hey Siri, play Top Gear” it will show me an Amazon logo for a few seconds while the app starts and then the video plays. At no point in that interaction did Apple attempt or even have a chance to say “are you sure you don’t want to watch {other-car-show}”. This decision by Netflix is hurting consumers.

FireBeyond 5y ago

Apple, refusing to share their user data with others: "Great. Pro privacy. Pro user." Netflix, refusing to share their user data with Apple: "Terrible. Anti-consumer. Last straw."

8ytecoder 5y ago
It’s not sharing. It’s just making it searchable - aka the catalog and link back. The second feature is the ability to continue/resume from the Home Screen. That requires sharing playback information. However, there’s no indication that Apple mines this information. On the other hand, it’s extremely useful to me as a user. This is the primary reason I don’t use Netflix much these days and I have a premium subscription. It’s so easy for me to reach to HBO Max or Hulu than Netflix.

askvictor 5y ago

I'm not quite sure this is the case, given that Netflix seems happy to share that data with Google on AndroidTV/GoogleTV devices. The thing that's lead me back to piracy is not Netflix itself, but the proliferation of streaming providers, with their exclusives. Let me pay for the show I want, easily, and I'll pay for it. Make me jump through hoops and subscribe to services I don't want, well, it's just as easy to torrent it. Netflix didn't screw this up; it was every studio wanting to lock viewers into their own service.