Due to unspecified technical limitations, Netflix will stop working on some Samsung smart TVs starting next December 1
A warning message has been appearing for a few days on some Samsung smart TVs when the user opens the Netflix app. And it's not a pretty message: "Netflix will no longer be available on this device." What's going on?
Samsung has posted an informational page on its website to explain why Netflix will no longer show up on its smart TVs: "Due to technical limitations, effective December 1, 2019, Netflix will no longer be supported on 2010 and 2011 TVs. If you have one of these devices, you may see a message on your TV. You will be able to continue watching Netflix by connecting its TV to another Netflix-compatible device." This is not the first case of its kind: in mid-October, Roku also announced that Netflix will no longer be available on some of its TV boxes starting on December 1. In November 2018, on the other hand, it was the turn of Nintendo Wii owners to lose the ability to watch Netflix.
Netflix goodbye: which devices will no longer be compatible
Samsung specified that the smart TVs that will lose Netflix compatibility were all manufactured between 2010 and 2011, and have the letters "C" or "D" in the model code, right after the number indicating the screen size. As for Roku's media players, the devices that are no longer compatible are the Roku 2000C, Roku 2050X, Roku 2100X, Roku HD, Roku SD, Roku XD and Roku XR.
Why a device is no longer compatible with Netflix
In none of the cases mentioned has it been specified what the technical reasons are that no longer allow Netflix to support specific devices. Thus, there is no official reason why a TV, which until November 30 will support Netflix, will stop doing so from December 1. One of the hypotheses is related to some change in the Widevine DRM certifications supported by Netflix (i.e. the same reason why Disney+ won't work on many smartphones).
How to watch Netflix if your device is no longer compatible
Unfortunately there is no way to make a device compatible with Netflix again after December 1. Those who want to continue using the movie and TV series streaming service will therefore have to gear up and watch Netflix on other devices: Amazon Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, Sony PlayStation 3 and 4, Xbox One, a still-compatible Roku, Google Chromecast.