Google has made a significant update to its Google TV service. Users will no longer have the option to purchase individual TV episodes or full seasons via Google TV on “Google TV devices, Android TV devices, and the Google TV Mobile app”.
It’s worth noting that the current Google TV service, launched in September 2020, is different from the previous operating system with the same name that Google phased out nearly ten years ago.
Key points from the recent announcement include:
- Previously purchased TV shows will remain available and unaffected by these changes.
- Users will still have access to all their past purchases, regardless of where they were made.
- The ability to buy or rent movies is not impacted by this change.
- For future TV show purchases, users can buy them through YouTube (availability may vary).
Google has not disclosed a specific reason for this adjustment, and it’s unclear why the focus has shifted solely to TV shows.
Key Consideration: While digital TV shows and movies are often referred to as “purchases”, users do not technically own the content they acquire. There is a slim chance that purchased content could be removed at some point, although this occurrence is rare. This uncertainty emphasizes why physical media ownership remains a favored choice for many consumers.
The halt in TV show sales on Google TV is a setback for the platform. While Google suggests purchasing shows via YouTube as an alternative, it means users will now have their content spread across multiple platforms.
Although all purchased shows and movies can still be accessed on YouTube, the future availability on the Google TV platform remains uncertain. The impact of this decision on movie sales via Google TV is yet to be determined. This move may raise questions about the future of Google TV, potentially hinting at its potential integration into the YouTube TV environment in the future.
This strategic shift towards YouTube aligns with Google’s recent pattern, as evidenced by its decision to discontinue its Podcast app this year in favor of a somewhat less extensive podcasting experience on YouTube.
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