Netflix has been absent from Facebook's Portal since it launched. That changes today, as Facebook has announced that all of its Portal TV devices worldwide will now run Netflix.
Netflix Is Now on Facebook Portal TV
Portal from Facebook is a device primarily designed to conduct video calls. One of its key selling points is that the camera automatically pans and zooms to respond to what's happening in the room. It even widens the view as more people enter.
The Portal comes in different models, one of which is the Portal TV---designed to connect to a large screen, it offers support for things like Alexa, AR experiences, and WhatsApp.
Portal TV launched in November 2019 with support for video streaming services like Amazon Prime Video, Showtime, and Sling. Curiously, it was missing one of the largest platforms: Netflix.
As announced on About Facebook, Netflix's absence has been rectified. In all countries where Portal is sold, Netflix is now available on Portal TV.
If you don't see the Netflix app, head to the Portal's settings page and manually check for updates. Once you have the app, simply sign in with your Netflix details and you're good to start watching.
This news comes not long after Amazon announced that the Amazon Echo Show would support Netflix, and when Netflix arrived on the Google Nest Hub back in July 2020.
It's clear that Netflix is keen to push its service on to as many smart devices as possible.
One-Touch Access to Netflix on the Portal TV Remote
Facebook has also created a new remote for the Portal TV. The remote features one-touch buttons for Prime Video, Facebook Watch, and Netflix.
This means it's simple to access Netflix on your Portal TV. Just pick up the remote, tap the Netflix button, and you can begin.
According to Facebook, the remote is shipping immediately with the Portal TV when purchased through the official Portal store. Other retailers will carry the stock "in the coming weeks".
Should You Buy a Facebook Portal TV?
It's highly unlikely that the addition of Netflix to the Facebook Portal TV is going to be a device seller for anyone. Besides, the ubiquity of the streaming service means that it's likely already available on other devices in the home, like the smart TV itself.
Nonetheless, it's good that the support is there. The only question remains is whether you should even trust the Facebook Portal with your privacy in the first place.