Can Apple push Netflix to disable auto-preview?

Question

Can Apple push Netflix to disable auto-preview?

We use Apple TV for our primary television and love Apple TV.

Netflix recently rolled-out auto-preview which causes most shows to auto-play, like paid videos do on click-bait web sites. We now just hate using Neflix on Apple TV. We don't like unwanted video blaring into our living room. Our old Roku doesn't have that "feature" so we find ourselves using the Roku more.

We've contacted Netflix about an option to disable the auto-preview, as they have with auto-play. However, based on all the interviews, their executive team seems enamored with their ugly baby. Unfortunately, it has turned our Apple TV into an orphan in our living room.

I'm hoping Apple can pressure Netflix to adding this option to their app.

Posted on Sep 21, 2017 9:21 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Feb 14, 2018 7:31 AM in response to flexmarketman

Really? Weird, it worked for me. As you mentioned, I don’t mind the episode auto-play feature but turning off “Test participation” immediately stopped the auto-preview feature when browsing on my Apple TV.

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Answer 2

Feb 14, 2018 4:50 AM in response to applefanb0y

I wish that were true. That was the first thing we tried.

From the settings you can turn off "auto-play" of the next episode. I actually don't mind auto-play because it is at least a show I was watching and like. I can't stand when I'm browsing and pause on a title, whether I'm trying to read it or my phone rang so I got distracted, then the TV starts blaring a terrible attempt at a trailer.

Netflix indicates they do not offer a way to turn that off. I can't wait for competitive streaming services.

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Answer 3

Rudegar

Level 10

180,570 points

Feb 14, 2018 8:25 AM in response to flexmarketman

when it's streaming it's from netflix to their app

if all appletv owners netflix streaming had to be transfered to apples server for tempering with netflix stream

it would cause many a bufferings and time outs and apple would have to build huge new server parks

and then comes hbo, hulu and other steaming providers apple had to controls data streams

so if material don't violate the rules then it's from the provider to you directly

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Answer 4

Feb 13, 2018 8:33 PM in response to flexmarketman

You can turn off Netflix’s “auto-preview” feature by going to your settings on Netflix.com, and turning off “Test participation.”

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Answer 5

vazandrew

Level 8

40,840 points

Dec 30, 2017 9:41 PM in response to waylons2

Unfortunately, a lot of services are starting to do it so it would be better to give them feedback and convince others to do the same or nothing will change.

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Answer 6

ckuan

Level 10

120,926 points

Sep 21, 2017 9:24 PM in response to flexmarketman

Apple do not do that.

It's a Netflix app so they have to fix it.

If Netflix loses clients maybe they will listen?

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Answer 7

waylons2

Level 1

4 points

Dec 30, 2017 9:09 PM in response to flexmarketman

Drives us crazy too. I feel like good companies start doing clueless and obnoxious things like this right before they turn bad. I’m considerinv cancelling Netflix just to prove a point.

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Answer 8

Feb 14, 2018 7:50 AM in response to applefanb0y

Hmmm. I'll try it again. Maybe it won't recognize it until I toggle it once more.

Thanks for helping.

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Answer 9

Mar 17, 2018 4:54 PM in response to applefanb0y

I just went through the hassle of unlocking my dusty old Apple ID and creating an account here in order to say that this worked for me, and THANK YOU SOOOOOO MUCH!

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Answer 10

Mar 17, 2018 5:11 PM in response to douglas.swehla

Ugh. Spoke too soon. I changed the setting online, then went to the Netflix app on my Apple TV, and it didn't start autoplaying... until I started navigating the show tiles, and then it did. Oh well.

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