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If you have an older BT TV box tucked beneath your telly, you could soon find yourself unable to stream the latest must-see series and films on Netflix.
The streaming service will pull support for select BT-branded devices from March 4, 2026, leaving viewers unable to stream popular shows and movies like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, People We Meet on Vacation, and much more. If you're paying for Netflix each month, but can only watch via one of the legacy BT set-top boxes impacted by this cull, then you're in real trouble. That's because you'll lose support for Netflix.
The boxes getting the chop are the BT TV Box and the BT Recordable TV Box.
According to BT, the change stems from Netflix's decision to roll out a significantly upgraded version of its streaming application across supported platforms. In a statement, the TV provider explained: "This is happening because Netflix is updating its app to create the best experience."
The good news?
The BT TV Box and the BT Recordable TV Box are losing access to Netflix starting on March 4, 2026
|BT PRESS OFFICE
Your Netflix subscription isn’t affected at all. You’ll still be paying for the same service and can keep watching on any device that supports the app. Newer TV set-ups from BT, including the 4K Recordable Box (G5) and other current EE TV boxes, will continue to work as normal.
If your TV box from BT is on the chopping block, you have a few options to ensure you can still use your Netflix subscription.
First, you can always upgrade to a newer TV box from BT.
Upgrade your TV box and subscribe to BT's Entertainment plan with Netflix included
When you upgrade to a BT Entertainment plan with an updated TV box, you get Sky Atlantic, Sky Max and more via NOW Entertainment, plus a full library of Sky Originals, exclusives and kids’ favourites. The 24-month subscription package also includes Netflix Standard with ads, letting you watch and download in Full HD on two devices, a discovery+ Entertainment subscription, free-to-air channels and an EE TV Box Pro, with recording availability
BT Entertainment
$20
When you upgrade to a new TV box, there are several updated features you can enjoy.
Newer boxes are designed to support the latest streaming apps and updates, meaning you’re far less likely to lose access to services like Netflix as older hardware becomes unsupported.
Your performance is also smoother overall, with faster menus, quicker loading times, and a more user-friendly display screen that makes it easier to find content across live TV, recordings, and on-demand apps.
Picture and sound quality are major upgrades, too. Many of the latest BT/EE TV boxes support 4K Ultra HD and HDR, delivering sharper images, richer colours, and better contrast on compatible TVs.
Recording capabilities are another big plus. Newer boxes typically offer much larger storage, allowing hundreds of hours of recordings, along with multiple tuners so you can record several programmes at once while watching another.
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Something to note is that any recordings saved on your current box won’t transfer over to the new box.
Alternatively, Netflix is available on plenty of other devices you may already have at home. Smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV Sticks, Apple TV, games consoles like the Sony PS5, laptops, tablets and smartphones all support the app.
This isn't the first time Netflix has retired support for ageing hardware. The streaming giant pulled support for dozens of Sony Bravia television models, as well as 2nd and 3rd-generation Apple TV devices a little over a year ago.
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