New Apple TV app and Apple TV Channels unveiled

Apple hopes to be a new destination for cord cutters, though Netflix remains a no-show. Jason Cross reports

After months of speculation, rumours, and leaks, Apple has finally taken the wraps off its plans for the future of TV, and it comes in two parts: There’s a new subscription service coming this autumn called Apple TV+, and an overhaul of the Apple TV app, coming this spring. We’ve covered Apple TV+ in a separate article (see page 46), but here’s what you need to know about the new TV app.

A new design, but not many new features

Though the TV app has a newly refreshed design, you’ll recognize many features from the current app. The Up Next section – which shows a list of next episodes for programmes you’ve watched, as well as TV shows or movies you stopped in the middle of – is still there. So are the sections for TV Shows, Movies, Sports, Kids, and your Library of shows or movies you own.

Apple TV Channels integrates on-demand services

The biggest change to the TV app is the addition of Apple TV Channels, where you can subscribe to a host of premium TV offerings right from the TV app. Apple showed a list of 26 partners, including Starz, Epix, CBS All Access, Comedy Central, Showtime, HBO, and Cinemax. You’ll subscribe (or start a free trial) to any of these Channels from right within the TV App, using your existing Apple ID, with just a few taps.

Then you’ll be able to enter each channel to see the content it offers, all available on demand, playing directly within the app. There are no additional apps to install, and Apple promises the highest quality picture and sound available, full Siri integration, and quality of life features such as a ‘skip intro’ button.

Apple also says that Channels content will be downloadable to watch offline.

The Netflix, and Amazon situation hasn’t changed

The new and improved Apple TV app still doesn’t integrate with Netflix. So, if you want to watch

Netflix on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV, you’ll have to launch the Netflix app. And Netflix shows won’t show up in your Up Next queue.

Amazon Prime Video sort of half supports the Apple TV app. If you have it installed, it will integrate the content into recommendations in the Watch Now tab, and you’ll see its programmes in the Up Next list. But you won’t be able to subscribe to or watch that content directly within the TV app, as you would with Apple TV Channels. Instead, you’ll need to jump out to the associated app to do so.

In other words, the new TV app treats Netflix, and Amazon Prime Video exactly as it does today.

The new app comes to iOS in May, macOS in the autumn

The redesigned app, with access to Apple TV Channels, will land on iPhones, iPads, and Apple TV in May. But

there is big news for people who like to watch on their Mac: Apple is going to bring the TV app to macOS for the first time. That won’t happen until the autumn, presumably as part of macOS 10.15.

Apple is bringing the TV app to smart TVs

Want to watch on the big screen but don’t have, and don’t want, an Apple TV? Apple is also bringing the TV app to smart TVs. Its partners include Samsung, Sony, Vizio, and LG (all the brands that announced AirPlay 2 and HomeKit support earlier this year). Apple says it will start rolling out to Samsung TVs in the spring, with other brands to follow.

The TV app is coming to Roku and Fire TV, too

Do you already have a Roku or Fire TV box? In a bit of a shocking turn of events, Apple announced that the TV app is coming to both of those devices, too. It hasn’t given a time frame for its release on these platforms, though.

Family Sharing is included for Channels

All the Channels you subscribe to will have Family Sharing enabled at no extra cost, so you can share your subscriptions with your family without sharing your password. Just as with Apple Music, your family members will have their own recommendations, Up Next queue, and so on.

Note that free Family Sharing is only for Apple TV Channels, not for external services that integrate with the Apple TV app, but you subscribe to outside of it (like Hulu or Amazon Prime video).

The TV app will be available worldwide

The TV app is currently available in 10 countries only. The new app will be available in over 100 countries. However, that doesn’t mean that every service which integrates with it, and every Apple TV Channels partner, will be available in all 100+ countries. Some regional restrictions will apply.