Recently, we’ve made the decision to remove the SBS On Demand Version 2 app from 2012 and 2013 LG televisions, running Netcast firmware v3.0 - v4.0, on 30 November 2021.
Unfortunately, these televisions do not support the best experience for the SBS On Demand app. They do not have the memory or processing power to run our most up-to-date app (known as the “v3 app”). This means that the experience on these older televisions and devices doesn’t offer the premium, curated experience our viewers expect and that we’re committed to providing.
The Version 2 app also doesn’t have the enhanced features or improved ad experience currently available on the updated app. This means that playback issues are more common and it’s difficult for us to fix them due to the way that ads are served on these older model televisions.
As technology develops, from time to time we need to make tough calls on what services we can maintain, so we can continue to invest in building and updating the SBS On Demand platform to provide as many Australians as possible with the best product we can. Unfortunately, given the range of devices out there today, that means we can’t be available on all of them and instead we focus on enhancing our products across the board, and on offering new and better services.
The app will be removed but you can continue to access SBS On Demand using your existing TV or device in any of the following ways:
- You can plug your laptop or mobile device into your TV using an HDMI cable.
- You can 'mirror' or AirPlay from your macOS, iOS, or iPadOS device’s browser.
- You can plug in an Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast or use a set-top box with the SBS On Demand app available across Apple TV, Android TV, Fetch, Foxtel iQ and Telstra TV.
If you have any questions about the best way to access SBS On Demand after the app removal, you can contact our team here.
Our team are aware that some later model (2014, 2015, 2016) LG televisions have been unable to update to the latest version of the app and we're investigating as a priority. Please contact our team here for further information and assistance if you're affected.