Sony is removing some features from its latest Bravia smart TVs next month, a move that will affect people who use an antenna or set-top box.
People who use an antenna with the affected TV models will see a reduced TV guide “until the end of May 2026,” according to a support page seen by Cord Cutters News. According to the support page, “Program information may not appear depending on the channel,” and “Only by program.” Recently Viewed Channels For channels delivered via antenna” may be shown.
Users will also no longer see channel logos or thumbnail images in the program descriptions of TV channels distributed through antennas.
Sony is also removing the dedicated menu for set-top box users and replacing it with a “control menu.” This should mean less dense menus, but it is also expected to have fewer functionalities for set-top box users.
Finally, TV menus on affected models will no longer show thumbnail images for programs. This means that the TV Guide integrated into the Google TV operating system (OS), which shows aggregate content for content accessible via antenna, free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channels, and some other live streaming services, will no longer include preview images, which can be helpful in identifying shows and movies.
Sony said the changes will affect the following TVs:
- 2025 models: Bravia 8 II (XR80M2), Bravia 5 (XR50)
- 2024 models: Bravia 9 (XR90), Bravia 8 (XR80), Bravia 7 (XR70)
- 2023 model: Bravia A95L series
Sony’s support page says: “We appreciate your understanding and apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.”
loss of efficiency
Sony did not explain why it was removing these features. Ars Technica reached out but did not receive a response prior to publication. We will update the story if we get any response.
It’s possible that Sony is looking to reallocate resources to more commonly used features. The use of antennas and set-top boxes has largely declined in favor of on-demand streaming. However, both types of hardware still have dedicated users. Nineteen percent of respondents in a 2025 survey of 2,200 American adults conducted by Horowitz Research said they use an antenna. And in a 2024 survey of 1,600 U.S. TV viewers who have broadband access and were ages 16 to 74, conducted by Hub Entertainment Research, 26 percent of respondents said a set-top box is their “default device for watching TV.”
<a href