TV fans furious as beloved box loses access to BBC iPlayer and Netflix within days

TV lovers have been warned that they could lose access to popular streaming services such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix within days.

A once-popular set-top box is losing support, meaning all internet apps will no longer work.

Despite being over a decade old, existing users of the Humax T1000 are not happy with the switch.

“I don't understand why they spend money to make boxes usable,” wrote one owner on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“They have already upset owners by randomly deleting the app, which has been frustrating.”

Another fuming user said: “Removing support for a perfectly working Humax T1000 is a reason why I will never buy a device with YouView on it again.”

The Humax DTR-T1000 was the first YouView box released in 2012, designed to act as a “hybrid” TV service with free-to-air channels and access to popular on-demand apps such as BBC iPlayer and Netflix.

BT and Plusnet also sold the boxes.

Why doesn't technology last forever?

Analysis by Jamie Harris, Senior Technology and Science Reporter at The Sun

Consumers regularly complain about gadgets that break too early.

People spend their hard-earned money on (often expensive) appliances and understandably want them to last a long time.

But with the rate at which technology is being upgraded today, it is difficult for companies to continue supporting older equipment, especially as the number of people using it decreases.

As apps evolve, they adopt the latest technology and features that older devices may not be able to handle. So additional resources are needed to move forward with new things while preserving their predecessors. And investing in resources means spending more money.

Eventually, companies decide it's no longer worth it to offer updates and support, causing features to disappear.

But companies are getting better at extending support longer and are being forced to be transparent about how long their devices last so that consumers can make more informed choices.

Take Samsung for example: it has promised to make security upgrades available for the new Galaxy S24 series for a minimum of seven years.

The Humax T1000 has been receiving support for about twelve years now, which some would say is quite generous in today's world.

Nowadays, most people have at least a smart TV with the most popular apps built into it.

But one of the selling points of the Humax DTR-T1000 was the ability to record shows and save them on the box.

YouView says people can still use the device to watch and record Freeview channels with an antenna, but all features that require an internet connection will no longer be accessible from February 28.

It also means that extended TV program information and images will no longer appear.

“This includes access to all apps and features such as Search, the Backwards Program Guide, and thumbnail images,” the company explains.

“We released the T1000 set-top box over a decade ago and since then we have launched more devices that use newer technologies and come with more features and apps.”

Some apps, like ITVX predecessor ITV Hub, stopped working on the kit a while ago.