Tubi, a major ad-supported streaming platform, recently updated its Matter certification for its casting app. This signals an ongoing effort to add the universal casting feature to its mobile apps, which could bring the new standard to its massive audience of 100 million monthly active users.
The platform first received its certification in June this year, and this new certification is a renewal under the Matter 1.4 specification. Since Matter 1.4 did not introduce major updates to the “Casting Content App” device type, Tubi’s update is likely focused on stability improvements and bug fixes. Tubi’s participation in the ecosystem is a significant development for the Matter standard, adding a major, free content provider alongside subscription-based services.
What is Matter Casting?
Matter Casting is a streaming protocol part of Matter smart home standard that serves as an open-source, universal alternative to proprietary technologies like Apple’s AirPlay and Google’s Chromecast. It allows a user to start content on a mobile app (the “Casting Client”) and send it to a compatible television or streaming stick (the “Casting Video Player”) over the local home network.
The specification is comprehensive. Based on the clusters listed in the certification, the app will support a full range of controls. These include “Application Launcher” and “Content Launcher,” which allow the Tubi app to tell the TV to open the Tubi app and play a specific movie or show. It also includes “Media Playback” and “Keypad Input” for remote control functions like play, pause, seek, and D-pad navigation.
One of the most important features included is the “Account Login” cluster. This allows the mobile app to securely and automatically log the user into their Tubi account on the TV app, removing a major point of friction.
However, it is unknown if Tubi has been using this feature with FireTV, as the user experience is almost identical to its recommended Tubi Linking option. Tubi has yet to response to Matter Alpha’ inquiries as of the press time.
How it works in practice
In practice, the experience is designed to be seamless and competitive with proprietary standards. I tested the Prime Video app on an iPhone with a Matter-enabled Fire TV Stick 4K Max. I started by tapping the “cast” icon.
After selecting the Fire TV from the list, the Matter Casting protocol automatically handles the connection, logs me into the Prime Video account on the TV, and begins playing the selected content. The experience turns out to be smooth and responsive, similar to Apple’s AirPlay, even slightly faster.
A growing, but Amazon-led, ecosystem
So far, Amazon has been the primary champion of Matter Casting. Amazon Prime Video is the only major streaming app known to have fully rolled out support for the feature, and Amazon’s own devices, like Fire TV sticks running Fire OS 7 or higher and some Echo Show displays, are the main certified “Casting Video Players.”
However, the ecosystem is growing. TV makers like TCL and Hisense have also certified devices for the feature. With Tubi now renewing its commitment, the list of supported content apps is set to expand. According to TCL customer support documents, support for other apps like Plex, Pluto TV, Sling TV, STARZ, and ZDF is expected to roll out in the future.
(Source: CSA, Amazon, TCL, Tubi; Image Source: Tubi, Matter Alpha/Ward Zhou)
