FYI – Netflix with Ads no Casting :-(

I’ve been on the basic Netflix plan for ages – no reason or need to be on the more expensive plans. I use a Chromecast for watching TV as the ‘smart’ TV apps are terrible and stopped getting updates.

Anyway, Netflix stopped that plan and today they automatically migrated me onto the cheaper basic plan with ads. Ok, not a biggie, I still don’t need the more expensive plan and can deal with the occasional ad.

Oh, why isn’t casting working? Turns out you can’t cast to a TV from the basic plan anymore. No mention of it on the email I was sent, you have to dig into the T&Qs. Bastards.

So I think I’ll be cancelling. I know they’re a giant faceless corporation, but this feels needlessly greedy.

We binned off Netflix about two years ago. Occasionally we’ll pay for a month to binge-watch something, but very rarely. We get all our televisuals from iPlayer and renting the occasional film off Google

Just get a roku stick.

Have all your apps on there don’t faff about with casting?

Or an Amazon fire stick

@joshvegas – up until now I’ve had a Chromecast in the back of the tv, and I just cast to it from the apps on my phone. It works and is easy. I don’t really want to buy another device when the one I have works (well it still does for other channels).

I’ve been thinking about binning Netflix for a while, this has decided me 😆

Oh, I thought you were looking for a solution

Cheers 😉

I thought I’d give anyone else in the same boat a heads up.

Roku/Amazon sticks are a solution, but I’m erring on the side of saying bye bye to Netflix. Just have to persuade my daughters!

I assume that the Chromecast with Google TV device still works with basic Netflix?

ajantom

Full Member

@joshvegas – up until now I’ve had a Chromecast in the back of the tv, and I just cast to it from the apps on my phone. It works and is easy. I don’t really want to buy another device when the one I have works (well it still does for other channels).

I thought the same as you. I was wrong its so much better having a proper streamer. And the roku has been way more reliable and easier. You can still cast aswell. You can also do things like watch tv with your phone driving earphones.

Yeah been on the cards for ages.

Firestick (well, pretty much anything really) and Kodi, then just add “magic”.

Well, having decided to cancel Netflix on principal, wife and daughters have made their displeasure known 😆

So…..Roku or Firestick? 😁

I just looked at Netflix pricing out of interest.  They’ve lost the plot.

£5/month with ads.

£11/month without ads.

£18/month if you want 4k.

It’s 2024, who pays a £7/month premium for UHD?  Even Sky knocked that shit off years ago.

(Each tier also adds things like multiple simultaneous devices but nothing I care about.)

Even Sky knocked that shit off years ago.

err… £6/month for UHD on Sky Stream, additional £8 for UHD Netflix (via Sky) according to this https://www.techradar.com/televisions/streaming-devices/sky-stream-review-beautiful-4k-and-dolby-atmos-without-a-dish-but-itll-cost-you

Roku or Firestick

Chromecast with Google TV

Why would one want to give Google more data? Especially TV viewing habits.

I don’t Don’t get the huge hike for 4k/UHD content. A year ago I had the lot benn slowly binning it as I just don’t watch it.

err… £6/month for UHD on Sky Stream, additional £8 for UHD Netflix (via Sky) according to this

Ah, I was referring to HD, I’d jumped ship before 4k came along.  Fair do’s.

Why would one want to give Google more data? Especially TV viewing habits.

Why would one care?

Poopscoop

Full Member

Firestick (well, pretty much anything really) and Kodi, then just add “magic”.

Each tier also adds things like multiple simultaneous devices but nothing I care about.

The multiple screen this is the main attraction for us, we have a house full and not everyone wants to watch the same reality shite as my missus. but you can dial it up/down as the seasons change, and kids spend more time outside…

It’s one of the ‘positives’ of Netflix IMO that you can change or stop subs month to month.

It’s one of the ‘positives’ of Netflix IMO that you can change or stop subs month to month.

What streamers don’t allow this? I can think of DAZN but that’s about it.

yep – I’m going to up my Amazon sub for one month to the one without adverts, clear S4 of The Boys then bin it for the rest of the year. Can’t believe how intrusive the adverts were in Gen V – absolutely crazy.

Streamers tend to let you chop and change. Sky and virgin have contracts i believe? I’ve never used them

Well, thanks for the advice….

Roku arrived (thanks Amazon), setup was easy, and yes, it is a much more pleasurable process than separate apps on the phone via Chromecast.

I do miss the Google Chromecast Art and landscape photography though ☹️

Can’t believe how intrusive the adverts were in Gen V

I was thinking the other day how few adverts we get in Prime – I think one advert across the whole season of Fallout.  Same on Disney+ basic subscription very few adverts during Shogun and nothing watching a film eg Pretty Things so far.

I had a quick Google and this seems to be a thing – some people get like loads of ads and some don’t.  Maybe it’s because we don’t watch a huge amount on either platform

It did seem bizarre. I watch very little (on any streaming service) so can only comment on this series but first couple of episodes only had adverts right at the beginning which was no biggy though slightly irritating then wham! Next episode had one right in the middle with no warning – literally the most annoying thing ever. Then nothing then 2 right in the middle of an episode. It basically felt like I was a guinea pig to see how far it could be pushed before I cancelled my subscription. Or maybe Gen V is normally watched by a more forgiving audience…..

wife and daughters have made their displeasure known

I kept reading to see how far you got! My wife is a serial ‘make doer’ until it comes to TV services, although she took the loss of sky ok in the end as Netflix replaced it.

I use the Netflix 4k service on my oled TV, there are times I think the picture looks amazing, but I’m pretty sure I thought that before too and there’s a glitch that drops the audio sync with the 4k plan that I never noticed on the regular plan. I should really go back to the regular and see if we even notice.

I use a Chromecast for watching TV as the ‘smart’ TV apps are terrible and stopped getting updates.

Oh, why isn’t casting working? Turns out you can’t cast to a TV from the basic plan anymore.

This isn’t Netflix’s fault. If the TV you have isn’t getting updates thats the TV manufacturers fault. ‘Smart’ devices that don’t get software support from their manufacturers are a scandal. Why complain about the services you can’t access becuase of that – complain about the device manufacturers and  complain to them – don’t accept them selling you expensive landfill full of precious resources. If they manufacture the product they’ve got a duty to support the software, however most manufacturers make no such commitment, or if they do the ‘commitments’ amount to very little

Samsung make a commitment to provide updates and support for 2 years. Which in itself is pitiful – bit thats not 2 years from the date of last manufacture or 2 years from the date you purchase it – its 2 years from the launch date. Which means most of the stock on the shelves is on the brink of obsolescence before its even sold.

4k firestick is a no brainer if you already have prime, otherwise Roku or firestick depending on preference.

This isn’t Netflix’s fault

The smart tv apps bit isn’t, but them trying to force me to pay double by limiting how I can watch their content is.

I’ve been happily using my Chromecast for 8 years, with very few issues. It annoys me that I’ve had to buy another device because they’re greedy.

… I spoke to soon. Prime have just upped the intrusive advert ratio on me…