Unable to watch movies/shows from streaming sites on Macbook Air with M1

Jamm327 wrote:

I am unable to watch content from any streaming sites (Netflix, Prime, Hulu, etc.) on my MacBook Air with the M1 chip. I can sign in and access the sites, but upon playing the movie or show I merely get a dark screen. I can hear the audio and access the controls (play, pause, etc.), but cannot see any of the video.

…

I can run numerous apps or windows or stock charts with no problem, and that is even while supporting three external monitors.

The M1 MacBook Air does not support three external monitors. It supports a maximum of one external monitor. That means that you are driving at least two of those monitors not via hardware-supported video, but by some software-based "workaround" based on a technology like DisplayLink.

When a commercial streaming site that uses DRM (Digital Restrictions Management – intentional incompatibility) sees that you are using such a workaround, it may intentionally "black out" video. This might happen not just on "extra" monitors attached using the workaround, but also on the built-in screen – the screen where the DRM-infested streaming service would normally be happy to play video.

It also might happen if you merely load the driver software that the "workaround" requires – whether or not you have any extra displays actually attached.