Apple is reducing the availability of its Apple TV app for users with a smart TV. The reason? According to the company, there are now enough other devices on which you can watch the films and series from Apple’s streaming service.
If you have an Apple TV+ subscription, you will (soon) see a page on your Android television with other ways to view Apple’s content. You can also no longer buy or rent movies and series in the Apple TV app. Movies already purchased will remain available via the Apple app.
The Apple TV app was first rolled out on select Android TV devices in late 2020, but it wasn’t available on all Android TV devices until June last year. Less than a year later, Apple pulls the plug, so that the app can only be used to view content that you have purchased outside the app.
According to The Verge this concerns all devices that run on the Android TV operating system, but also streaming dongles such as Chromecast with Google TV. So you’ll have to find another way to watch your favorite series and movies on Apple TV+. You can currently use the Apple TV app on iPhone and iPad, among others.
Why does Apple choose this?
The choice to cancel support for Android TV is somewhat striking. There is so much supply these days that streaming services fall over each other to attract users. Wide availability seems a must, but Apple sees it differently.
That can have several reasons. For example, Apple and Google are each other’s biggest rivals and Apple will not be eager to transfer part of its revenue from the Apple TV app to Google. Apple pays 30% of every purchase amount to Google.
Also read: Streaming movies in the best quality – audio and video tips
It could also be a way to persuade more users to embrace the Apple ecosystem. It is not without reason that Apple now gives the notification to buy or rent content in the Apple TV app on an iPhone, iPad or other streaming device. Because how are you going to watch the new season of Ted Lasso or The Morning Show?
There are still other options to watch these series, without having to get an Apple device at home. This is how the Apple TV app still works on most smart TVs from Samsung and LG and on Xbox and PlayStation consoles.
â€