Amazon’s Fire TV platform has been updated to include support for a new voice command: “Alexa, play something on Netflix,” which should make it easier to find new Netflix material.
The new voice command is an extension of Netflix’s Play Something feature, which began testing in August 2020 on a number of connected devices (set-top boxes, game consoles, and so on). The capability has since been introduced to smart TVs and Android devices, with Netflix planning to bring it to iOS devices as soon as possible. It’s now also compatible with Fire TV and Alexa.
Play Something is stated to consider a Netflix user’s viewing history when selecting a movie or TV show for them to watch, allowing it to avoid selecting something they’ve already seen. (And, presumably, something that will appeal to their viewing preferences.) That way, consumers can try something new without worrying about paying a monthly price to watch the same item over and over.
“We’ve noticed that Fire TV customers who use voice engage with content nearly twice as much as those who don’t,” says Amazon Director of Fire TV Charlotte Maines in a statement accompanying the news. “With Fire TV and Netflix’s ‘Play Something,’ we can swiftly assist clients in finding the proper TV show or movie.”
The “Alexa, play something on Netflix” voice command is now available on all Fire TV devices in the United States and Canada, according to Amazon.
