From Chromecast to Now: The Rise and Fall of Casting Technology

Why your living room just got more complicated — and what that means for you

Frustrated that Netflix no longer casts from your phone? You're not alone. In early 2026 Netflix quietly removed broad mobile-to-TV casting support, sparking confusion among millions who thought casting was a permanent fixture of the streaming experience. For consumers and publishers alike, the change surfaces a bigger question: how did we get here, and what will replace casting as the default second-screen interaction?

Executive summary — the most important developments right now

Casting, once the simple shortcut to send video from phone to TV, rose from a set of early standards and product bets (DIAL, AirPlay, Chromecast) into a dominant convenience. By late 2025 and into January 2026, Netflix began restricting casting from its mobile apps — a turning point. That retreat points to several trends shaping the next phase of second-screen tech in 2026: tighter app ecosystems on smart TVs, account- and cloud-first handoffs, and emerging reliance on web-based low-latency protocols (WebRTC) and stronger device discovery methods. For consumers, the practical response is to know alternate workflows and choose devices that future-proof playback control.

The timeline: casting history in three acts

Act I — Invention and early standards (2010–2013)

The story of modern casting begins with a cluster of ideas rather than a single product. Apple's AirPlay (evolving from AirTunes) established early expectations for wireless media playback and multiroom audio. Around the same time, industry efforts like DIAL (Discovery And Launch), co-developed by Netflix and YouTube, created a simple pattern: use a phone to discover and tell a TV or set-top device what content to play. This was not screen mirroring — it was a handoff: the TV pulled content directly from the cloud while the phone acted as a remote.

Act II — Chromecast and the mainstreaming of casting (2013–2018)

Google's launch of Chromecast in 2013 normalized casting for millions. Chromecast's design — a low-cost HDMI dongle that received content instead of mirroring the phone screen — made the model simple and power-efficient. The Google Cast protocol and a developer SDK turned casting into a platform capability. Over the next years, manufacturers adopted "Chromecast built‑in" across smart TVs and streaming sticks, embedding casting in device ecosystems.

Act III — Platform consolidation and frictions (2018–2026)

As smart TVs and streaming platforms matured, two trends created friction for casting:

• Native apps on TVs. Smart TV app stores grew richer; consumers increasingly launched Netflix or Prime Video directly on the TV using a remote, bypassing phone control.
• Business and UX choices. Streaming services optimized for TV apps and pushed features (recommendations, profiles, ad insertion) that are easiest to control inside native TV clients.

The consequence: by late 2025 and into January 2026, Netflix began restricting its mobile-to-TV casting support to only a narrow subset of devices (older Chromecast dongles without remotes, Nest Hub smart displays, and a few TV models). That decision — abrupt and poorly communicated — marked a symbolic end of casting as a universal comfort feature.

“Casting is dead. Long live casting!” — a line capturing the paradox: the handoff model survives, but the exact form is changing.

Why Netflix changed course (what drove the decision)

There are several interlocking reasons behind Netflix's move. Each speaks to technical constraints, business incentives, or strategic priorities.

• Control over playback experience. Native TV apps give Netflix full control over features like HDR, subtitles, profiles, and ad experiences. Casting means the receiver implements and keeps up with these features — a fragmentation risk.
• Security and DRM. Enforcing robust copy protection and device attestation is easier in a native app environment, where the platform can run audited DRM stacks. Heterogeneous casting receivers complicate this.
• Data and measurement. TV app sessions provide richer telemetry and measurement that advertisers and analytics teams rely on. Casting can reduce visibility into playback conditions and user engagement.
• Product simplicity. Maintaining multiple integration paths (cast SDK, app SDKs, TV OEM partners) increases engineering and support costs.

What remains of casting and second-screen control in 2026

Despite Netflix’s changes, casting as a concept is not dead. Several related capabilities continue to exist and evolve:

• Local network discovery (mDNS/UPnP/Bonjour) and companion apps still allow phones and tablets to locate and control TV apps.
• Built-in receiver support for low-complexity cast-like interactions — many Google Cast receivers, Nest Hub devices, and older Chromecast dongles continue to work with services that support them.
• Cloud-first handoff models — where a phone sends a deep link or account token that triggers playback in a TV's native app — are accelerating. That approach shifts the phone from being a temporary controller to an authentication launcher.
• Screen mirroring and hardware HDMI dongles (Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV stick, or an Apple TV) remain fallback options, albeit less elegant for multiroom audio or offloading playback to the TV.

Emerging second-screen standards and technologies that could replace casting

As casting fades in its original form, several technical approaches have momentum in 2026. None is a single dominant successor yet, but together they point to where second-screen tech is headed.

1) WebRTC and web-native playback handoffs

Why it matters: WebRTC provides low-latency, peer-to-peer media transport and is increasingly used for interactive video. For companion experiences, WebRTC enables a direct, secure channel between a phone and a display that supports web runtimes — useful for synchronized playback, remote control, and low-latency game or watch-party features.

In 2026 many smart TV platforms include web runtimes capable of WebRTC, enabling publishers to implement web-based second-screen apps without a full native TV build.

2) Cloud handoff with account-first discovery

Why it matters: Instead of sending commands to a receiver, phones can send a cloud-side signal: "Start playing title X for user Y on device Z." This model relies on strong account linking, single sign-on (SSO), and provider integrations with TV OEMs and streaming stick platforms. The result is more uniform features and easier delivery of updates.

3) Standardized device APIs and strong discovery

There is growing demand for a modern, secure device discovery and capability negotiation layer. While no single global open standard has replaced Google Cast, projects and proposals — often based on mDNS, HTTPS discovery, and authenticated REST/WebSocket control channels — are making implementations more robust and privacy-conscious. Device identity and approval workflows are a key piece of this work.

4) Companion app paradigms and Bluetooth Low Energy / local pairing

For interactive second-screen features (voting, extras, synchronized lyrics), direct local pairing using Bluetooth Low Energy or encrypted QR-based pairing is becoming common: phones pair with TVs or speakers briefly to provide synchronized control without permanent linking.

5) HbbTV and broadcast companion standards (region-specific)

In markets tied to broadcast TV, standards like HbbTV (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV) continue to evolve. For broadcasters and publishers in Europe and some APAC markets, HbbTV provides a mature companion-app model that integrates over-the-air and broadband experiences.

Consumer impact: what this means for viewers and device owners

For the average household, the practical consequences are immediate and manageable if you know the options. Key impacts:

• More native app usage. Expect to use TV remotes and native apps more often than phone casting for mainstream services.
• Potential lost convenience. The quick "tap to play" workflow is less universal — some devices and apps still support it, others don't.
• Better feature parity on TVs. Because services now prioritize native TV apps, core playback features are more consistently implemented where companies control the environment.
• Device selection matters. TVs and dongles that emphasize platform openness (support for WebRTC, robust web runtimes, and account handoff APIs) will provide the most flexibility going forward.

Practical, actionable advice — what consumers should do now

If you depend on casting, take these steps to reduce frustration and future-proof your home setup.

1. Audit your devices. Identify which TVs, dongles, and smart displays you own and whether they have a native app for your most-used streaming services. Note which devices are still compatible with older Chromecast receivers (if you kept one).
2. Use account handoff where available. Many services implement "Open on TV" via QR codes, account linking, or deep links. When available, prefer this over a fragile casting endpoint.
3. Keep one reliable fallback. An HDMI dongle (Chromecast with Google TV, Amazon Fire TV stick, or an Apple TV) or a recent smart TV with strong app support is worth having as a dependable backup.
4. Enable SSO and link accounts. Link your streaming accounts to your TV platforms (Google/Apple/Amazon smart TV accounts) for seamless cloud handoffs and "continue watching" synchronization.
5. Use Bluetooth or Web pairing for extras. For interactive content or extras that once relied on casting, check for companion app pairing using Bluetooth LE or QR codes — these offer stable local control without a generic cast protocol.
6. Update firmware. TV and dongle firmware updates increasingly add web runtime and WebRTC improvements — keeping devices current matters.

What publishers, app developers, and platform owners should do

For content platforms and publishers, the shift away from universal casting means rethinking companion experiences and distribution strategies.

• Prioritize native TV apps. If your audience watches on TVs, invest in robust native apps. That ensures feature parity and reliable DRM.
• Implement cloud handoff APIs. Provide a cloud-trigger endpoint and secure token exchange so mobile devices can reliably start sessions on TV apps without fragile local discovery.
• Use web-based fallbacks. If building native clients for every platform is unrealistic, implement rich web runtimes (with WebRTC for low-latency interactions) as a single cross-platform fallback.
• Design for privacy and minimal permissions. Discovery and control should avoid overly permissive network scanning; prefer authenticated pairing and temporary tokens.
• Measure UX outcomes. Track how users transition between phone and TV experiences to optimize flows — the data will decide whether companion features are worth their cost.

Device ecosystems, business motives, and the politics of playback

One of the subtler forces shaping the end of universal casting is ecosystem competition. TV manufacturers, streaming device makers, and big platform owners each want a direct relationship with users. Casting historically blurred that path; account- and app-based models keep control and data closer to platform owners and publishers. This matters to consumers because it influences feature availability, privacy defaults, and who pays for the infrastructure enabling new capabilities.

Predictions: Where second-screen tech will be by 2028

Based on trends visible in 2026, expect the following by 2028:

• Cloud-driven playback becomes standard. Deep links and tokenized cloud handoffs will be the dominant "start on phone, play on TV" pattern for major streaming services.
• Web runtimes gain parity. Web-based apps using WebRTC and modern web APIs will narrow the feature gap with native apps, making cross-platform companion experiences feasible.
• Specialized companion features persist. Interactive and social second-screen features (synchronized extras, polls, real-time stats) will survive using pairing and local channels, not generic cast protocols.
• Open discovery improves. Expect industry pushback and new efforts to standardize secure discovery — not necessarily a single global standard, but interoperable patterns that protect privacy and reduce fragmentation.

Case study: how a streaming publisher adapted in 2025–26

Consider an independent publisher that relied heavily on a cast-style companion app for live-streamed cooking classes. When casting became unreliable, the publisher implemented three changes: (1) added a web-based TV app with WebRTC fallback, (2) implemented QR-based pairing for synchronized recipe steps and timers, and (3) integrated SSO with major TV platforms to enable one-tap opening on smart TVs. The result was higher completion rates for live events and fewer support tickets — a pragmatic example of how businesses adapted without waiting for a single new standard.

Quick checklist — how to test if your setup will keep working

• Does your TV have a native app for key services? If yes, is it signed in to your account?
• Can you start the same title on the TV using a QR code or "Open on TV" deep link?
• Do you have a reliable fallback dongle or HDMI source?
• Have you retained or retired older casting adapters? Older Chromecast dongles may still work with some apps.
• Do your favorite services offer a web-based TV fallback that supports remote pairing?

Final takeaways — what consumers and industry should remember

Casting as a form has changed, not vanished. The underlying idea — phones as convenient entry points and controllers for big-screen playback — remains important. But the specific plumbing matters: better DRM, more control, and richer TV features are driving services toward native apps and cloud-first handoffs. For consumers, the name of the game in 2026 is flexibility: invest in devices and workflows that support both native TV apps and modern web-based companion experiences.

Call to action

Facing casting disruption? Start with a quick device audit: check app availability on your TV, enable single sign-on, and keep a reliable HDMI fallback. If you're a publisher or developer, evaluate WebRTC and cloud handoff strategies for second-screen features. For deeper coverage and step‑by‑step guides to updating your home setup, subscribe to our newsletter and get weekly explainers on evolving streaming standards, device ecosystems, and practical tips to keep your living room playback seamless.

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