I wont be surprised if within the next 3 years Plex completely removes user generated and privately hosted libraries, replacing it with paid-for online media libraries.
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This is the darkest future 
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Ironically, this thread…
…Is finding me new YouTube channels to subscribe to that I wont be able to watch in Plex 
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That used to be a thing. PlexIt. Very early on, worked really well.
Notice you can’t cast these (all I tried failed at least). This completely cripples the feature for me.
Any user who signs up not even knowing what Plex really is thinking it is like Netflix/Amazon. Someone who wants News,Podcasts or the new web shows. I agree that I think it devalues the service but the option to turn it off is at least available (it was not when News first launched…). I hope Plex does not end on the path that Boxee Box did but it seems like they are heading there. First gen was all about local media, 2nd version was about netflix streaming (this was I think the first box that streamed netflix) and they gutted the local media and eventually had to sell to Samsung who stopped them. I view Plex as the filler for Netflix and Amazon. Lately though, tv/movies get pulled so often from each service that unless it is an original series it is almost impossible to know if it will be there when you want to watch it.
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So if I understand this correctly. This is being removed:
"This notion of needing to run a server at home to access media from the Internet just doesn’t make a lot of sense, which is one of the reasons [we’re retiring them]"
And it gets replaced with, literally the same thing (local server used to access internet content) only this time it is “curated”.
I am trying to “makes sense” of this, but failing miserably.
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Nope. I actually can’t find it, but I very much look forward to being able to turn it off.
Tell us you are dropping stuff to focus on fixing the product then launch this nonsense? Bizarre.
Found it. Disabled it. What a load of crap lol.
Completely agree. What if you don’t like the politics, conservative or liberal and this is pushed on you. I would imagine they will also want to start selling subscriptions to this content in the near future.
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So, the plugins provided access to web media. Plex got rid of them because nobody used them. Now plex is adding web media to core? Did they forget announcing just last week that nobody used it?
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Nay. And I’m getting tired of having to explain to 3/4 of my shared users who only have Plex to view my photos and movies that, no, I didn’t add news. No, I didn’t add podcast. Now this.
Plex is now trying to become clickbait media.
Go90 didn’t work for Verizon. Comcast Watchable didn’t last, and online tech site reviews of stream pix aren’t great. Yahoo Screen was killed. I’ve little idea why companies keep investing time and money for this type of content.
When Plex finally irons out dvr on all clients, adds amazon prime and Netflix capability like my TiVo has, then, and only then, might I become satisfied with the company again, possibly replacing my TiVo. As it stands, the tivo plug in will eventually die, causing me to have to switch to my TiVo more.
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Exactly, and this is no use to me. For me, I used Watch Later for (don’t laugh y’all) knitting technique videos from various sources.
The husband used it for woodworking videos. Not whole channels, just “this is a video that will help in what I’m doing.”
This is throwing the kitchen sink at us when all we wanted was a spoon.
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From what I can see, this is the reason it’s valuable to Plex (emphasis mine):
Keep in mind, all the content in Web Shows is officially licensed with partnership agreements, so we can’t guarantee a suggestion will make it into the catalog.
Plex is monetizing this, but can’t monetize our own diverse niche media choices.
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I see nothing wrong with the technology but hate the implementation. With different forethought and slightly different architecture they could have made News, PodCasts and Web Shows as available Libraries that the admin could turn on or off.
This would then allow new servers to start off with some content. It would also give full/easy control to the admin to turn on/off the feature for all users connected to HIS/HER server.
Web Shows is really lacking but PodCast isn’t bad. News needs the sources people actually use in real life to make that a better proposition and get people to use it more.
If they used this framework and partnered SMARTLY with for example some of the “learning companies” that have online courses I think that would be a hit. I know I’d think it would be cool to drill down to \computers\programming\C#\advanced programming or
\business\small business\accounting\tax planning for example and be able to watch course in subjects. There is a ton of stuff like this online and it wouldn’t be hard to find a few partner companies. Some even provide for certification ($) tests after taking the free courses so there would be potential for income as well.
So there is nothing wrong with the technology per say but it should be implemented differently and they need better content partners.
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They won’t remove privately hosted libraries completely, but eventually plex is going to look like Stremio.
I view Netflix and Amazon as the filler for Plex.
Exactly. So if I find something I like on Netflix, I purpose to put it on Plex so that I can keep it indefinitely, or at least not be worried that the content will go away before I finish it. If it’s on both Netflix and Plex, I watch it on Plex. But I watch files on my server, not online content.
Certainly I like the idea of a central app for all my content—local and online—but Plex’s interface for online content is not interesting, intuitive, or friendly compared to other apps. Plex’s News app is clunky and doesn’t let me curate my own sources. Plex’s Podcast section is in no way superior to Podcast Addict or even Google Play Music. And, finally, *waves hand slightly* these aren’t the Web Shows I’m looking for. I don’t like the selection. I don’t like the interface. I liked Plex’s interface for local content, and that’s why I pick Plex over Emby… at least, I liked Plex for Android v6. I hate v7 and PMP’s layout, and so does my wife.
I speak for myself, but I wouldn’t be surprised if others agree. Plex needs to focus on the personal media server aspect of the software first and foremost, rather than working toward being a jack of all trades but master of none. They need to make a software that does one thing and perfect its ease and mastery of doing it well: to access your own personal library of content, be it movies, shows, music, audiobooks, home videos, et al., and make it as easy, straightforward, and elegant as possible. And they need to listen to customer feedback, and to make the customer feel like feedback is heard and appreciated.
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this is kind of where i am.
I’m FINE and would LOVE for plex to be my one app for web content, podcasts, news, everything.
But plex is right now straight up bad in all those areas. There are better apps for allllll that content, spreading the focus out so much makes no sense to me if they arent gonna be actually good at it.
Maybe you are right, but i feel like Plex is making deliberate efforts to disassociate itself from “piracy” (I’m not saying that all Plex users condone or commit piracy).
I think Plex is trying to secure sustainable revenue streams and doesn’t mind changing its core offering in order to adapt and survive/grow
I just went in and disabled it. If I wanted to watch YouTube, I’ll go watch YouTube.
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