Telefonica slashes support, leaving smart tv users in the cold
Telefonica is pulling the plug on its Movistar Plus+ app for a significant swathe of older Smart TVs, a move that’s already sparking frustration among subscribers and highlighting the ongoing battle for streaming dominance.
A calculated cut: why the tech giant is abandoning legacy devices
The telecom giant, known for its strategic, and often frustrating, rollouts, is prioritizing newer devices, effectively relegating millions of users with televisions dating back over a decade to a restrictive viewing experience. This isn’t a sudden shift; Telefonica issued a somewhat opaque email in March hinting at compatibility issues with older models – citing the inability to implement necessary updates – but the effective cutoff date is April 6th. Now, users are staring down a message of error and presented with a rather unappealing alternative: shelling out $9.99 a month for a streaming bundle with Amazon Fire TV or Google Chromecast.
The decision, frankly, feels less like a strategic upgrade and more like a cost-cutting measure. Supporting hundreds of legacy devices, operating systems, and versions represents a massive, and ultimately unsustainable, investment for Telefonica. Analysts suggest a figure in the tens of millions would be required to maintain the current level of support, a burden they apparently deem too great.
The new normal: a netflix-style approach
Telefonica is adopting a strategy mirroring that of giants like Netflix – simply moving on from devices that are no longer profitable to support. The move prioritizes newer models like Samsung TVs from 2016 onwards, LG models also from 2016 and above, Hisense devices with VIDAA 4.0 or later, and Android TV/Google TV versions from 2015. Even niche platforms like TiVo OS and Titan OS are getting the boot, with older models effectively locked out of the Movistar Plus+ ecosystem. It’s a cold, calculated decision, driven by economic realities.
But the abruptness of the change has caught many off guard. Telefonica had reportedly been warning subscribers for some time, issuing a vaguely worded email in March indicating “model limitations” preventing necessary updates. The company is now offering a QR code directing users to support documentation, alongside a list of compatible devices – a rather belated attempt to mitigate the fallout.
The bottom line: $9.99 and a new remote
For those still willing to subscribe to Movistar Plus+ – and the service remains available for $9.99 a month with access to football, series, and film – the path forward is clear: invest in a new streaming device. It’s a frustrating outcome for loyal customers, representing a significant financial outlay and a disruption to their established viewing habits. Telefonica’s apparent indifference to the inconvenience underscores a disconcerting trend within the industry – prioritizing profit over customer satisfaction.