Netflix opens "Recommended TV" program globally and raises the bar

22 Mar 2016 | Rasmus Larsen |

One year ago, Netflix started recommending Smart TVs with the best app performance. Netflix is now taking the program global and has raised the bar for performance. So far only LG and Sony’s 2016 TVs have received the “recommendation”.

Netflix’s "Recommended TVs"

Netflix wants to improve the Smart TV user experience so it has started a program (and created a logo) to find the best TVs. A TV must meet 5 out of 7 criteria and in 2016 the TV needs to deliver “faster performance” than in 2015 to pass.

Netflix refrains from saying exactly what that means but says that none of the 2015 TVs would have passed its testing under the new 2016 criteria.

Netflix Recommended TV

Netflix’s criteria are:

TV instant on - the TV wakes and apps are ready to use right away

TV resume - the TV remembers what you were doing and wakes to the same place as when it was turned off.

Latest Netflix version - the TV comes with the latest version of Netflix with the newest features.

Fast app launch - start Netflix quickly after you turn on your TV.

Fast app resume - video resumes instantly when returning to Netflix from other apps or channels.

Netflix button - start your TV and launch Netflix with the press of a single button.

Easy Netflix icon access - netflix is prominent and easy to access on your TV.

You can learn more about the program at devices.netflix.com.

Only Sony & LG TVs so far

In 2015, Netflix included TVs from LG, Sony, Hisense, Insignia, Vizio, Philips, Panasonic and TCL. In 2016, only TVs from LG and Sony have - so far - met Netflix's stricter criteria. LG’s TVs run webOS 3.0 and Sony’s TVs run Android TV.

Samsung is, like last year, not included on the list. Samsung uses its in-house Tizen operating system and it appears that Netflix is not impressed. Panasonic joined the list a few months into 2015 with its Firefox OS TVs. The same is true for Philips Android TVs. None of the companies’ 2016 TVs are included.