Streaming platform Plex has announced a major update to its UI today which allows users to search for movies and shows from different platforms in one library, making the need for switching between multiple apps obsolete.
The update is called Plex Discover & Plex Universal Watchlist. On the Discover page, you can view content from paid-for platforms like Netflix and free services such as All 4 all in one section. The search bar on the Discover page can be used to find content with keywords such as the names of actors or directors.
When you launch a show or film, you will be redirected to the platform where it is hosted – and if this is a paid-for service, you will need a subscription for it (or will have to pay to rent it/buy it). Plex is free to sign up for and includes apps for web, iOS, Android, Android TV, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV. Whilst you can download Plex on Roku TV, the new features aren’t yet available.
The Universal Watchlist, meanwhile, is a curated playlist of content that you want to watch. The Discover page includes upcoming cinematic releases such as Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and other content that is not yet released. Trailers for upcoming releases appear at the top of the page.
You can still add these to your Universal Watchlist to keep an eye on when they become available. You can do the same for any titles that are not yet available in your country. As an example, you can add Our Flag Means Death to a watchlist: a show that is currently exclusive to HBO Max and not yet available in the UK.
Plex cited an Accenture report which claims that 60% of those surveyed find navigating multiple apps on TVs frustrating. In addition, the research claims that US viewers collectively spend on average 600 million minutes searching through various streaming platforms looking for something to watch. Therefore, these new features could help viewers save time switching between various libraries.
Plex recommends content on its trending section based on data given by companies it has partnered with – it does not scrape the algorithm data directly from streaming services.
On Plex, you can watch loads of free content (like rival Pluto TV), and access downloads and HDR content by upgrading to a paid account, with prices starting from £3.99/$4.99 per month on a rolling contract.
You can sign up for a free Plex account over on the website and access the Discover page by clicking on the dropdown menu, and then clicking ‘More’.