Amazon announced at CES 2024 that it is rolling out an alternative to Google's Chromecast and Apple's AirPlay in the form of Matter Casting.
Matter Casting, as the name implies, will be part of the Matter smart home standard but only on an optional basis. This means that, for example, Apple and Google, even though committed to supporting Matter in their smart home devices, are not obligated to support Matter Casting.
As such, Matter Casting faces an uphill battle versus the more established casting standards AirPlay and Chromecast.
Matter Casting will initially be available on Amazon's Echo Show, and roll out to FireTV devices (TV, box, stick) "in the coming months". Like AirPlay and Chromecast, it will allow you to open a streaming app on your smartphone, click the cast icon, and have the video show up on your TV display wirelessly.
FireTV in Panasonic Z95A. Photo: Amazon
Matter Casting will be supported on both Android and iOS devices in Amazon's Prime Video streaming app. It will soon come to the Plex, Pluto TV, Sling TV, Starz, and ZDF apps as well. However, none of the major streaming services – besides Prime Video – have committed to supporting Matter Casting.
Matter Casting on Panasonic FireTVs
Amazon has not specified exactly which FireTV devices will receive support for Matter Casting, but FlatpanelsHD confirmed with Panasonic that it is indeed coming to their new FireTVs.
As you may have heard, Panasonic is abandoning its own TV operating system, MyHomeScreen, in favor of FireTV this year with the launch of the flagship Z95A and Z93 OLED TV ranges.
As a result, Panasonic's OLED TVs will this year support both AirPlay 2 and Matter Casting, a huge step forward from having no support for any casting protocol just last year.
2024 Panasonic FireTVs – specifications
FlatpanelsHD
