Owners of Philips 2009 Smart TVs in Europe will lose access to apps and smart features on December 28 because streaming providers are strengthening security in 2017. Newer models will also be affected but can be firmware updated, according to a report by Tweakers.net.
Apps & smart features affected
The affected models are the 8000 and 9000 series TVs launched in 2009, all of them high-end TVs. A total of 12 models (ending on 4, for example 40PFL9704H). Back then, Philips referred to the platform as NetTV.
The reason is that streaming providers such as YouTube and Netflix, and other partners, are strengthening security in 2017, more specifically moving from SHA-1 to SHA-2 security certificates. Normally, devices can be firmware updated to support SHA-2. The 2009 TVs cannot, claims the company.
- "Suddenly you get a message that your TV is not OK. I find that very strange because I used to watch NPO Gemist (a Dutch streaming service, ed) several times a week, and it has always worked fine," one owner told Tweakers.net.
Owners in the Netherlands are met by the following screen when trying to access apps.
TVs sold throughout Europe
TP Vision, which has the rights to sell TVs under the Philips TV brand, says that only a “small number” of TVs are affected. The TVs were launched before TP Vision took over the Philips TV business.
The TV models were sold throughout most of Europe in 2009 and the first half of 2010.
Philips 2010 Smart TVs, running a later version of the NetTV platform, will also be affected by the transition from SHA-1 to SHA-2 certificates but can be firmware updated to continue to work, says the company.
The NetTV platform in the 2009 Philips Smart TVs will be phased out on December 28, 2016. Affected customers can instead connect an external player such as Apple TV or Chromecast.
Affected 2009 Philips Smart TVs
| Philips 8000 range: 42PFL8404, 42PFL8654, 42PFL8684, 42PFL8694, 47PFL8404 |
| Philips 9000 range: 32PFL9604, 37PFL9604, 40PFL9704, 42PFL9664, 46PFL9704, 47PFL9664, 52PFL9704 |
- Source: Tweakers.net
