Netflix App - Behind the Times

CentreBobby

Why is the Youview Netflix app not as good as those on, say, the PS4 or the latest Android Smartphone? For example,  the Youview app couldn't play the new Black Mirror episode properly and doesn't have features such as; video previews when hovering over selections, play from beginning and quick access to Film & TV show sub menus....I had to fire up the PS4 to watch the Bandersnatch interactive episode of Black Mirror and was shocked to see how much better maintained the PS4 version is...

Visionman

You would need to ask Netflix, as only they provide the features it has on any particular platform. But your complaint is a tricky one, as your not complaining that something doesn't work, merely observing it doesn't contain features you'd like. Which is a personal opinion only.

Keith

The Netflix app on major platforms appears to get regular updates, no doubt several per year. In contrast the Netflix app on YouView seems to be largely the same as it was when it launched in late 2014 (or 2015 in the case of the T4000). The version of the app is not even the same between that original launch and the version on the 4k boxes.

I would assume the reasons it does not get updated on the YouView platform relates to the effort Netflix would need to put in to do so and the return value they see in doing this for such a comparatively small user base. Under the hood YouView is a Linux system but presumably different enough from Android systems (which have a foundation from the Linux kernel etc) that it is not trivial for Netflix to provide app updates for YouView at almost no additional work. If one considers a YouView PVR base of perhaps 2m devices, then within that only a small portion will have Netflix subscriptions that they choose to regularly use via the box and be fairly heavy/solid consumers. So via the YouView platform Netflix may consider that they are only catering to a relatively small user base of perhaps only 100k users.

No doubt many Netflix customers have the app on their TV and other devices and may simply choose to use it via those routes, either because those versions of the app are more functional or just because they are more convenient for their usage patterns.

For me the main short coming of the Netflix app on YouView is its lack of a 'skip intro' feature. Not being able to play the latest Black Mirror episode is a minor wrinkle for me in comparison to the lack of 'skip intro' but if more new content were not consumable via the YouView Netflix app that would further detract from its value on the platform. For others the biggest shortcoming is the lack of surround sound (unless you have the T4000 box whose version has these features).

For what it is worth, these shortcomings of the YouView Netflix app, and the desire to achieve them, is captured in item 121 in the consolidated list of improvements and feature requests

John L

Hi Centrebobby, sorry about your Netflix problem. I too would be very annoyed if I had signed up to Netflix & experienced this at midnight! Can someone explain to me what is "so special" about Netflix? It starts at £5.99 per month & offers loads of repeats plus a few extras. I personally wouldn't waste my money. I use Youtube & find everything I need for FREE: many Pop concerts, even a few dramas & the odd films + "how to fix this" videos - mostly all in surround sound & picture most of the time in full HD. Anything else I want, I simply purchase dvd's/blurays when the price is reduced in shops or wait "patiently" until broadcast on tv. Netflix might appeal at first, but I get the impression it is rather overrated these days. Am I missing something? John L

Roy

John L said:

Can someone explain to me what is "so special" about Netflix? It starts at £5.99 per month & offers loads of repeats plus a few extras. I personally wouldn't waste my money. I use Youtube & find everything I need for FREE: many Pop concerts, even a few dramas & the odd films + "how to fix this" videos - mostly all in surround sound & picture most of the time in full HD. Anything else I want, I simply purchase dvd's/blurays when the price is reduced in shops or wait "patiently" until broadcast on tv. Netflix might appeal at first, but I get the impression it is rather overrated these days. Am I missing something? John L

Very much so. Netflix makes a large amount of programming itself now, flagged as Netflix Original, of which an outstanding example is Alfonso Cuaron’s ‘Roma’, likely Oscar material.

And a repeat is only a repeat if you have seen it elsewhere already; all the other previously-screened programmes are ‘another chance to see.....’

e.g the BBC has been showing The Sinner recently, also on Netflix; but iPlayer currently only offers the last few episodes from Season One, the earlier ones having now expired.

Whereas Netflix has the whole of Season One available, and Season Two besides.

Visionman

Netflix is a good option for TV series, Amazon for films. And their monthly option subscription means one can try it and dip a toe in and out of the market.

Daniel

In all fairness do we even want the upgraded app when Netflix haven't even got there more up to date app working perfectly on the dtr t 4000 box. 

John L

Gosh! Netflix sounds even more (un)tempting by the minute. (£71.88 saved per year! (£5.99x12) Yep hee!) Hope Netflix resolve the "get home by midnight" bug. Back to Youview & catch up tv + my recordings. Happy New year everyone! John L

Visionman

GOSH! Thanks. I don't see a problem with a user choosing to subscribe to a service which isn't forced on them. But you clearly do. Why?

Roy

John L said:

Gosh! Netflix sounds even more (un)tempting by the minute. (£71.88 saved per year! (£5.99x12) Yep hee!) Hope Netflix resolve the "get home by midnight" bug. Back to Youview & catch up tv + my recordings. Happy New year everyone! John L

@John L

You do realise that everything on catchup is by definition a ‘repeat’? 

And no matter how cheaply you get them, you have to net the price of any DVD or Blu-ray that you buy off that £71.88 ‘saved’? Plus the cost of each new media storage rack you have to buy from time to time to hold them? 

John L

Visionman, yes, no one is forcing anyone to subscribe to Netflix. Everyone is entitled to their views & thank goodness consumers have a choice if they want to or not want to spend more on TV viewing on top of TV licence. You would expect a reliable service if you are paying good money for subscription? John L

John L

Hi Roy, catch-up is indeed repeats. Some of catchup is even available before broadcast. I purchase most of my DVDs when available 2nd hand or low price in shops. My storage system is very compact. I don't use dvd cases when archiving. I also use the Discgear system for some of my DVDs. Saved a lot of space.  Let's hope they still make the dvd/Blu-ray players in years to come! I've got millions of DVDs filed away. Just need to find the time to watch them! John L

Roy

Visionman said:

GOSH! Thanks. I don't see a problem with a user choosing to subscribe to a service which isn't forced on them. But you clearly do. Why?

A basic grounding in Philosophy of Language teaches you to detect when someone, apparently making a statement about Netflix, is actually making a statement about themself.

Huge amounts of internet discussion and disagreement could be avoided if this distinction were better appreciated 

Roy

John L said:

Hi Roy, catch-up is indeed repeats. Some of catchup is even available before broadcast. I purchase most of my DVDs when available 2nd hand or low price in shops. My storage system is very compact. I don't use dvd cases when archiving. I also use the Discgear system for some of my DVDs. Saved a lot of space.  Let's hope they still make the dvd/Blu-ray players in years to come! I've got millions of DVDs filed away. Just need to find the time to watch them! John L

Are you sure? Even with each DVD compressed down to, say, 1 GB from its original 10 GB, that’s as many petabytes of storage as the number of ‘millions’ of DVDs you have. And who made all these films and programmes?

It will also be salutary to figure out your likely remaining lifespan, in days, multiply it by eight, say, (assuming you can get though eight DVDs a day), and see how many discs you can watch; I make it about 3,000 per year, so 33 years to cover the first hundred thousand alone 

John L

If I want to keep DVDs that's my choice plus I don't mind the "physical clutter". They have brought back vinyl so DVDs will/may reappear in later years. Happy new year to you both. John L

Jam2000

The same issue happens with regards to Netflix on Apple TV and Google Chromecast. They are having issues with the latest Black Mirror episode not working correctly.

Roy

John L said:

Visionman, who is Samuel? I thought the topic was about Netflix? And Roy I think the discussion has rather gone off track? If I want to keep DVDs that's my choice plus I don't mind the "physical clutter". They have brought back vinyl so DVDs will/may reappear in later years. The topic was originally about Netflix service issues. I will leave you and visionman to debate. Happy new year to you both. John L

And a Happy New Year to you and yours, and all denizens of the YouView Community!

Of course you can keep DVDs, just as we Netflix users can watch and enjoy an enormous, all-we-can-eat selection of movies and TV shows. For about the cost of one DVD per month.

And if the discussion has gone off track, take a look back up the thread, and see where it diverged from Netflix service issues to cover the merits or otherwise of Netflix as a service at all. Oh. That’s right. When you point the finger, you have three fingers pointing back at yourself....

Shame if you dropped off the thread without either accepting or refuting my maths, though 

TomW

I think Netflix offers fantastic value for money, especially when you can share the cost between several family members. There is so much fantastic original content. I always use the built in Netflix app on my TV however, as it offers 4K , so I can’t speak to the quality of the YouView version.

Where I do agree with John L is that YouTube is a fantastic resource. I find myself increasingly watching YouTube instead of broadcast TV either on my iPad or cast to the TV via its built in YouTube app. Between broadcast/PVR, catch-up, Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube I feel like I’m spoilt for choice. Almost to the point of there being too much choice. In fact my New Years resolution is to spend less time watching the gogglebox and more time reading as I must have at least 30 unread books downloaded to my Kindle.

Goodbye

John the real reason not many contribute is the same reason Netflix can't be bothered investing in youview.  

Joe

Yes shame we can’t watch the new Black Mirror episode on YouView Netflix app, but like was said earlier there’s quite a few platforms missing this capability. Hopefully Netflix will update before long. 

Roy

Joe said:

Yes shame we can’t watch the new Black Mirror episode on YouView Netflix app, but like was said earlier there’s quite a few platforms missing this capability. Hopefully Netflix will update before long. 

I guess you just get different outcomes on different boxes depending on your choice of where you watch Netflix 

skiller

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but usually it's better to contribute to an existing one than to start afresh.

I've recently become a Netflix subscriber myself and one of the first things I noticed was that Black Mirror Bandersnatch was unplayable on my 2000s and 2100s but was fine on my fairly new Panasonic TV. Does anyone know if any of the newer YV models, such as the 4000s, are capable of interactive titles such as this, or is YV forever going to be left behind?

kodikid

Re apps

Yes youview is increasingly being left behind when it comes to apps.
In reality youview is great for catch up, PVR etc but for streaming you really have to invest in a dedicated streaming device otherwise Disney and youview will be for other people and not for you.