If you are rocking a Samsung Smart TV from 2010 or 2011, then there is some bad news for you. Samsung’s official support page reads, “A message appears on your TV: Netflix will no longer be available on this device”. Before you panic, know that this is due to technical limitations. The support for Netflix on select Samsung TVs from 2010 and 2011 will end on December 1st, 2019. If you would still like to watch Netflix, then know that you can continue to do so by using an external device such as a gaming console, Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire TV Stick, and more. You can check out the complete list of devices here.
This is the first time that we have heard of Netflix support for a TV being lifted. Netflix has a process of Netflix recommended TVs where a TV manufacturer needs to comply with 5 out of the 7 criteria to qualify. The criteria include things like the TV needs to support Instant On. This means that when you press the power button on the remote control, the TV shouldn’t shut down, rather go into a sleep mode letting you pick up where you left off when you switch on the TV next time. The TV also needs to support Fast App Launch where the app launches quickly. The TV also needs to support background updates, so the latest Netflix TV shows and movies are always displayed. Speaking of updates, the next requirement is that the TV should support the latest version of the app. Last but not least, the TV should support a high-res Netflix interface. As the feature suggests, the text and thumbnail images should look sharp and any changes to the UI must be reflected on the TV.
If you are planning to upgrade your TV in 2019, you can check out the list of Netflix recommended 2019 TVs here.