Netflix can detect TV being powered off?

[jprostko]

When I was going to sleep last night, I put on deadmau5: Meowingtons Hax 2K11 on Netflix, as I wanted some sleeping music. I prefer using something like the MOG app, but it is is pretty much useless at the moment.

Anyway, I figured I'd just shut off the TV since I didn't actually care to watch the concert, and noticed the audio stopped a few seconds after powering off my TV. I powered the TV back on and noticed a Netflix error message. I then hit OK, restarted playback, and shut the TV off again. This was followed by the audio again stopping, so I figured something was awry.

Here is the error message:

"We're having trouble playing this title right now. Please try again later or select a different title."

It was accompanied with this code: tvp-851 .

In any case, I then tried other shows and shutting off my TV, and indeed I get this error every time several seconds after the TV is powered off. I mean, I guess it makes sense for Netflix to do this, as there is a lot of wasted bandwidth sending video that isn't actually being watched, but I still found the behavior odd. I'm not even sure how they have access to the state of the TV, but not being an app developer currently, maybe there is some call check the state of an HDMI connection.

I swear I have done this before with concerts on Netflix without issue, so I am thinking it is a recent change of sorts.

I suppose this post is mostly to let people know about the behavior, even though I doubt many people will try shutting off their TV for video playback on Netflix.

If you're bored, you can try this yourself and get back to me if you experience the same behavior. I expect some other devices other than the Boxee Box will do the same thing (depending on device access they allow), but I didn't try it yet.

EDIT: I just tested Netflix with the PS3, and it will let me shut off the TV and continue to listen to content. Interesting.

[darcilicious]

I believe this to be inherent to HDMI? I can't get audio only on my HTPC / AV receiver / TV combo if my TV is off and that's with HDMI from HTPC->>receiver->>TV.

[jprostko]

I believe this to be inherent to HDMI? I can't get audio only on my HTPC / AV receiver / TV combo if my TV is off and that's with HDMI from HTPC->>receiver->>TV.

Hmm, I'm listening to Pandora right now with the TV powered off, and it's working fine. That said, I suppose I should have specified the fact that I'm running HDMI to the TV and optical to my receiver, as that certainly makes a difference. Honestly, I am only doing such a thing since my receiver is quite old (probably over 10 years) and only has optical, coax, and RCA inputs.

[AminB]

" "We're having trouble playing this title right now. Please try again later or select a different title." "

I get that error message on my Boxee Box too, when I do the following:

TV > HDMI 1 > Boxee Box > Watching Video on NetFlix app
TV > HDMI 2 > ATV2 > playing anything

so if I now change from HDMI 1 to 2 (on TV remote) and then back to 1 > NetFlix had stopped the video and displays that error message. [but you just hit ok and then replay the video and it works]

and I also gotta say; that behaviour only happens when Netflix is used on Boxee Box. Tried it with other apps (like iPlayer, Pandora....) with no issue.

[darcilicious]

Sounds like Netflix can't be used as an audio only player then

(I can do audio-only with spotify, etc with RCA audio to external speakers from the Boxee Box and the TV off)