this post was submitted on 07 Dec 2025
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I believe I experienced what they called "re-disable promotional content after an update." Everything was reset and my media was hidden with only their streaming options available. Similarly setting up a new Chromecast it only had their streaming content and I had to hide their content and unhide mine.
I seem to remember there being some weaselly link that would re-enable their content after it was disabled too.
Generously, they're providing more content and a way to support the development of the product through ads. But all the changes and the way they're happening show me a picture of a company with changing priorities. So I tend to agree with the sentiment of the author.
Ad supported content is their bread and butter. More users use it then run a server and they make more off of it.
I'm not sure I've ever used it, but according to Wikipedia, ad videos started in 2019, live tv is 2020, and rentals in 2024. During that time it's become more and more intrusive, now replacing your media entirely out of the box.
That means for 10 of its 16 software purchases and software subscriptions where it's bread and butter and has grown into different revenue streams. It's still software, but now it's Ad based revenue streams. Adding more and more fees. You might say it's growing into the thing it was supposed to replace, corporate cable and streaming service.