Google Play Movies & TV shutting down in January; apps already dead for some

Google has officially confirmed that the process of replacing the ‘Google Play Movies & TV’ brand with Google TV will be completed on January 17, 2024. From that date, Play Movies & TV apps will stop working, but it seems that they are already ‘dead’ for several Android TV users.

Since the creation of the Google TV brand, the company has been gradually using it to replace the ‘Play Movies & TV’ one. What started in the mobile apps area then spread to all others.

Now, the official Android TV blog confirmed that they are making ‘some changes to simplify how you purchase new movies or access the movies and TV shows you’ve purchased through Google.’ The post specifies that Google Play Movies & TV will no longer be available both on Android TV and from the website.

However, that doesn’t mean you’ll lose access to movies you’ve purchased or rented through the almost extinct platform. The company states that users will be able to continue enjoying their content ‘on Android TV devices, Google TV devices, the Google TV mobile app (Android and iOS), and YouTube’.

The definitive ‘date of death’ for Google Play Movies & TV is January 17, 2024. But, according to a report from 9to5Google, currently most Android TV users can no longer access the app:

Be that as it may, the Android TV blog also includes information on how to enjoy your purchased content once the platform is completely inaccessible.

• On Android TV streaming devices and TVs: ‘Your Library’ section in the ‘Shop’ tab.
• On Android TV cable boxes or set-top boxes: YouTube app.
• On a web browser: YouTube website.

Currently, YouTube is not the best platform out there to enjoy movies, although now that it will ‘inherit’ many of the former Play Movies & TV users, it may receive some improvements regarding this. However, this is just speculation and there is no official confirmation in this regard.