Earlier this year Google announced that the Play Movies & TV app for Android TV, select cable boxes, and the Google Play website would shut down on January 17, 2024. Now Google has ended the ability to buy movies and TV shows directly through the Google TV homescreen and mobile app.
As part of its plan to create a more integrated user experience, Google already shut down the Google Play Movies & TV app last October. At the time, the company told users that they could still find their active rentals and existing purchases in the Shop tab on Android TV, Google TV, Android, and iOS. Now that is changing.
According to Android Police, Google has announced that over the next few weeks they will be moving rentals and purchases to the YouTube app.
Here’s where you can find your movies and shows after the changes go into effect over the next few weeks.
For TVs and streaming devices powered by Android TV or Google TV, you’ll still find your content in the Shop tab. You’ll also be able to buy and rent movies on this tab. Any purchased titles or active rentals will live in the Your Library row in the Shop tab.
After the full shutdown, viewers who use cable boxes or set-top boxes powered by Android TV or Google TV will go through the YouTube app to watch previously purchased content and active rentals. Users can also rent and buy titles through the YouTube app, but the service’s availability varies by country.
If you use the Google Play website, your content will also move to YouTube, according to Google. This is just like cable box users did for previously purchased content and active rentals. Users can also rent and buy titles through the YouTube app depending on availability in your country.
If you have questions, Google says users can visit the Android TV Help Center, Google TV Help Center, or the YouTube Help Center.