Vimeo to end support for its TV apps on June 27
It’s no secret that Vimeo has refused to challenge YouTube as a business-friendly video platform, and this is now affecting its living room apps. The company will end support for its existing TV apps on June 27, including versions for Android TV, Apple TV, Fire TV and Roku devices. It is no longer available in the app stores and you will not see any updates. If you want to watch the clip on the big screen, you’ll need to stream it from a mobile device using Apple AirPlay or Google Cast. We asked Vimeo for comment.
The company has quite clear reasons. The focus on creatives and companies means these TV apps are not a priority, and Vimeo collects products that “no longer meet their standards”. Vimeo isn’t going to maintain apps that don’t fit its strategy and keep falling behind, in other words. Casting provides a “better consistent experience,” the company claims.
Dear @Vimeo. I use your app to do everything. Does this mean I cannot watch any of the hundreds of videos I have saved in my “Watch Later” list to my TV? Come on… pic.twitter.com/QsXw7VrKta
— Ted Geoghegan (@tedgeoghegan) May 25, 2023
The catch, of course, is that you can still use Vimeo to watch your favorite videos. There wouldn’t be an easy way to browse your Watch Later queue from the living room. While this won’t stop you from watching videos on TV, it can make watching a marathon difficult. Like it or not, Vimeo will happily direct you to your computer or phone to watch extended broadcasts.
