Sony has some bad news for anyone still using one of its ten-year-old TVs purchased in 2014, saying that the Netflix app will soon cease working on those older models.
The company revealed that Netflix will stop functioning on July 24, which means anyone who’s still using one will lose access to what is, for many, a must-have content service.
While Netflix itself takes the decision of when to drop support for certain older TVs, these decisions are primarily based on the underlying operating system that powers those devices. As such, it’s really Sony, who has taken the decision not to update its 2014 TV models, that can be blamed for what’s about to happen. By persisting with its older operating system and not updating to a newer version, Sony makes it very difficult for Netflix and others to maintain app support, as new features require more modern advances in the underlying OS.
Last year, Sony announced that the Netflix app would stop working on most TVs it sold between 2011 and 2013, in addition to some of its Blu-ray players built then.
“Starting July 24, 2024, the Netflix app will no longer be supported on some 2014 BRAVIA televisions,” the company revealed. “You can continue to use the Netflix app until July 23, 2024.”
According to FlatPanels HD, Sony said the change will impact 2014 TVs in all regions, including Asia, Europe and North America, so there’s really no way for users to avoid what’s about to come. The list of affected models includes the iconic Sony X9 Series TVs, which were some of the best that money could buy back in 2014, as well as the S9 Series models.
The good news for anyone still using a 2014 Sony Bravia TV is that their options aren’t restricted to just stumping up a stack of cash to buy a new television. Instead, they can simply purchase a set-top box or streaming dongle that comes with the Netflix app, such as an Amazon Fire Stick, Google Chromecast, Apple TV 4K or Roku TV box device. These can simply be plugged into the TV via its HDMI port, and essentially provide it with an all-new operating system that does support all of the essential apps.
As such, there’s no need to invest in a new TV solely to keep watching certain apps. Rather, it’s best to buy a new model only when you feel that it’s time for an update in picture and sound quality.
