Copyright The Street
When technology companies cease to support software or discontinue certain applications, many users often feel disappointed. The impact depends on the type of service, the number of users relying on it, and how long it has existed. We are all dependent on technology and enjoy the comfort it provides. When some of that comfort we’ve become accustomed to is removed, we feel frustrated. Sure, there should be other options or similar services available, but no one likes adjusting, especially when it’s not their own choice. Sometimes companies discontinue services that are not widely popular. For example, Google (GOOGL) announced in July this year it will shut down Android’s Instant Apps by the end of the year, due to “low” usage of the functionality. “Usage and engagement of Instant Apps have been low, and developers are leveraging other tools for app discovery such as AI-powered app highlights and simultaneous app installs. This change allows us to invest more in the tools that are working well for developers, and help direct users to full app downloads to foster deeper engagement,” Google spokesperson Nia Carter told The Verge. In the more recent news, Google made a bigger move, killing a service that millions used. Google suddenly ends partnership with Movies Anywhere, eliminates service for millions Google has officially ended its longstanding partnership with Movies Anywhere, the popular service that enabled consumers to access purchased films across various accounts. Starting October 31, 2025, Google Play and YouTube users can no longer sync new purchases to their Movies Anywhere libraries, reported Cord Cutters News. Users also can’t redeem digital codes through Google’s platforms into the shared locker. The silver lining is that previously acquired titles will remain accessible on Google devices. Until now, film buffs could purchase a movie on one platform, such as Amazon, Apple, Vudu, or Google, and instantly stream or download it on any connected account. The technology behind it, Disney’s KeyChest technology, relied on libraries from larger studios, such as Disney, Warner Bros., Universal, Sony, and the former 20th Century Fox. In 2020, Movies Anywhere boasted more than 10 million users, according to the Digital Entertainment Group. However, Cord Cutters News suggests that the service had around 100 million users at its peak. Official public figures on the number of users remain undisclosed. The “buy once, watch anywhere” feature, on which Movies Anywhere was built, no longer appears sustainable, as the service has lost one of the world’s biggest digital retailers. Disney and Google’s recent fallout The news that Google Play and YouTube users can no longer access Movies Anywhere follows the recent dispute between Disney (DIS) and Google, which resulted in Disney removing access to Disney movies on the Google-owned stores. YouTube failed to reach a new content distribution agreement with Disney, such that the following channels are no longer available on Google’s pay TV platform: ABC ESPN The Disney Channel FX Nat Geo YouTube TV said in a blog post on October 30 that Disney “used the threat of a blackout on YouTube TV as a negotiating tactic to force deal terms that would raise prices on our customers.” Disney’s move to pull its content could benefit its own streaming platforms, including Hulu + Live TV and Fubo, YouTube said. The failure to reach an agreement impacts more than Disney titles, as it includes content from subsidiaries like Marvel and Pixar, and even pre-acquisition Fox films such as “The Sixth Sense.” While Movies Anywhere’s Terms of Use haven’t been updated since August 29 and still list Google/YouTube as one of its digital retailers, the help page for digital retailers includes a notification stating: “Effective 10/31/25, Google Play/YouTube will no longer participate in the Movies Anywhere program.” This means current digital retailers partnering with Movies Anywhere include: iTunes Amazon Prime Video Fandango at Home Xfinity (for Xfinity TV subscribers only) Verizon Fios TV (for Verizon Fios TV subscribers only) DIRECTV (for DIRECTV subscribers only) New purchases made on Google will remain in Google’s ecosystem, meaning they won’t be accessible on Amazon Fire TV or Microsoft devices linked to Movies Anywhere. Google Movies Anywhere users are disappointed and frustrated The news of Google ending its partnership with Movies Anywhere reached Reddit, where users expressed their opinions, sharing overall negative sentiment and concerns around what this means for their digital libraries and the future of “buy once, watch anywhere.” Some users expressed optimism, trusting that the loss of access to Movie Anywhere isn’t forever: “Likely temporary and will be restored when their negotiation standoff inevitably ends,” wrote user ard8. At least one user has already experienced the fallout, sharing their frustration: “Yeah, f**k Google Play. I bought SINNERS on 10/31, thru Movies Anywhere, only to have it NOT APPEAR. I emailed the contact and yeah, they said Google ended their partnership. I tried to get a refund, so I could repurchase it on a different retailer….and NOPE. Needless to say, I told them they lost a customer for movies and TV,” wrote Plenty-Discipline-76. User Mackattack00 concluded that “iTunes/Apple TV are gonna be the only ones left standing,” which is a comment that resonated well with the crowd on Reddit.
