Guests love it when the TV offers Netflix—finally, a hotel that understands people don’t want 40 channels of news.

The provision of apps such as Netflix (and the many other available streaming services) allows the guest to watch what they want, when they want. No more news loops, no more viewing by appointment, and best of all, no more endless repeats of The Big Bang Theory.

It’s a big win for the guest—and it should be a big win for the hotel too. Streaming services make a stay feel modern, personal, and comfortable. They’re a small detail that signals a hotel values the guest experience.

But...when the guest picks up the remote, opens Netflix, and signs in. What happens next?

Most guests won't think about the network behind the TV, or the privacy settings, or the PMS sync. They just want to watch their own content.

And when they check out the next morning, they assume — because it’s a hotel, and hotels are meant to be professional — that their details disappear too.

But that’s not always the case...

The Netflix hangover nobody wants

What happens when the logins stay live? The next guest switches on the TV and finds someone else’s account sitting there, midway through Squid Game.

That’s not great for the current guest — and especially not for the last one.

It’s not a huge scandal, but it is an awkward one — a small breach that undermines the trust hotels work hard to build.

This is what the Netflix Checkout Test is really about: not compliance checklists or complex systems, but an experience that quietly protects people without them needing to ask.

The Solution

How a hotel manages privacy on its TV system depends on the technology in use — the TV model, the platform, and whether it’s tied into a Property Management System (PMS).

In the most sophisticated setups, hospitality-certified software connects directly to the PMS. When a room’s status changes from “occupied” to “vacant,” the PMS sends a command to clear every login and stored credential.

It’s seamless and automatic — no staff intervention, no missed steps, no user data left behind.

Other methods include scheduled daily credential clears, or manual resets by staff at checkout. These work, but automation is safer and more consistent (human memory is not a reliable privacy tool).

Casting systems take it one step further: guests stream directly from their own devices via QR or code pairing, with no credentials stored on the TV at all.

No data stored means nothing to erase later.

So, how do you manage the Netflix Checkout Test?

Every setup is different — different brands, platforms, networks, and brand standards. But the principle stays the same: the guest’s data should leave when they do.

For hotels, this isn’t just a technical detail; it’s a trust decision. The moment a guest signs in, they’re trusting you with a small part of their life. A hotel should honour that trust by making sure all data and credentials disappear safely at checkout.

With no two situations identical and plenty of nuance between technologies and systems,  getting it right isn't easy. But there is an easy win: talk to an expert.

A short conversation can help you spot the gaps, fix the weak links, and build the kind of quiet, reliable privacy that guests never have to think about.

Because in a world where people stream, connect, and sign in to half their lives, the hotels that stand out will be the ones that quietly protect them while they do it.

That’s what the Netflix Checkout Test really measures — not technology, but trust.

... sang the Buggles in 1979.  Well remembered as the first music video shown on MTV, the modern pop classic laments music's evolution from radio to video. 

In the hospitality TV industry, it’s hard to ignore the parallel.

UK traditional TV viewing sees record decline, Ofcom report says...

Ofcom's Media Nations 2023 report, released on the 3rd August 2023, highlights the sharpest ever decline in traditional terrestrial TV viewing (click here to see the corresponding BBC article), detailing the huge upward trend in the consumption of on-demand media services, such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix and YouTube.

Is that good news or bad news?!

It's good news. On-demand TV services provide flexibility and choice, meaning hotel guests can watch what they want, when they want. 

Theoretically speaking, on-demand services provide an infinite amount of choice - there is a universe more content, then hours in the day to watch it.

So, no more channel-surfing marathons, no more missing the first few minutes, and no more half-watching a nondescript repeat from 2016

TV or not TV? 

So, what does this mean for the hospitality TV industry? 

If guests can essentially enjoy an infinite amount of content on the guestroom TV, where does terrestrial TV fit in? Is it becoming less important? Is it still necessary?

Well, let's make this very clear: terrestrial TV is a critical component in a modern guestroom entertainment system. 

The power of TV

Firstly, and most importantly, on-demand services are great, they're the future of TV. But not everybody is tech savvy, not everybody has access to streaming services and simply speaking, not everybody wants to watch on-demand content!

In today's world, where inclusivity is an intrinsic facet of society, why remove a viewing option for even the smallest percentage of guests? (actually, it's not a small percentage, it's approximately 20% if you’re interested). 

And anyway, isn’t there something nice about the immediacy of terrestrial TV? Or being able to watch content without having to search for it first? And actually, choosing the right TV show or movie amidst an ocean of content can be quite stressful, right?!

And let's not forget the glut of programming that can't be watched live via on-demand services - live sporting events, news and special reports, awards shows & live performances, telethons and fundraisers etc

The verdict

Terrestrial TV is an important component of a balanced TV entertainment system, complementing, not competing with a line-up of on-demand services. Most importantly, it provides viewing options for every guest, not just most guests….

Airwave strongly recommend the implementation of a balanced TV entertainment system, most definitely including terrestrial TV and a (curated) list of channels.

....What, been humming Video Killed the Radio Star?!  As a thanks for reading, here's a present for you: