DirecTV Now Supports Single Sign-on for Upcoming 'TV' App on iOS and Apple TV

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 updates will bring a new "TV" app where users will be able to view much of their TV and movie content from across various apps, all centrally located to make it easy to pick up where you left off and receive recommendations on additional content.

The new TV app has been gradually going live on both platforms for U.S. users during the beta testing period, and it works hand-in-hand with a "Single Sign-on" feature that will let subscribers to certain pay TV services authenticate their accounts once on a systemwide basis and receive access to content across all supported apps for which they are eligible.

When the early beta of Single Sign-on began going live earlier this month, there were four supported TV providers, with Dish Network and its Sling TV subsidiary being the most recognizable while small regional services GVTC Communications and Hotwire rounded out the list.

Full support for Single Sign-on will require apps to be updated to recognize the systemwide authentication, but the provider listings have offered a glimpse at which providers are currently on board with the feature.

As of this week, another major provider has joined the Single Sign-on program, with AT&T's DirecTV now appearing in the TV Provider list for authentication. The addition of DirectTV's 20 million U.S. subscribers makes it the biggest provider to support the feature so far, displacing Dish Network and Sling TV.

The addition of DirecTV isn't necessarily a surprise, as Apple had touted "DirecTV, Dish Network, and more" in its press release announcing the new TV app last month, but it's apparently taken DirecTV a few extra weeks to prepare. Still notably absent are the major U.S. cable companies such as Comcast and Charter/Time Warner, and there's no word on if or when those companies will be coming on board.

Apple has announced that the new TV app will become available to the public in December, indicating the company intends to release iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1 within that timeframe.

Article Link: DirecTV Now Supports Single Sign-on for Upcoming 'TV' App on iOS and Apple TV

 

[Icaras]

Confusing title. I read "DirecTV Now" supports single sign on. Naturally I was excited because the service still yet hasn't yet launched. Still waiting for the real news about DirecTV Now...

 

[lolkthxbai]

Why isn't there a change log forum for the AppleTV? There's one for every other device.

 

[pietrov]

Hoping that it will provide support for iptv app support soon...

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

Can confirm that I was able to sign on with my directv credentials. But it doesn't seem to show any apps connected to directv under find my apps section at this point.
[doublepost=1479798853][/doublepost]

Confusing title. I read "DirecTV Now" supports single sign on. Naturally I was excited because the service still yet hasn't yet launched. Still waiting for the real news about DirecTV Now...

Same here. Maybe it should be re-worded better. I was able to use my regular directv credentials no problem.

 

[b1wils1]

Awesome news. Also nice because I'd rather move towards using the AppleTV more, as I'm not wild about the DIRECTV user interface.

 

[ziggie216]

Wondering whats the chance of PS Vue would be included in this TV

 

[seanbperiod]

Shaking the dice "C'Mon TWC!"

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

Not sure if it is working yet. Course they just launched it. I tried downloading some tv apps to see if it works as advertised. And those apps still prompt to go online to sign in to my provider. Guessing they all need to be updated to recognize the single sign on feature still.

 

[mariusignorello]

I think hell will freeze over before Comcast is on that list. They don't seem too thrilled about Apple's plans.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

Yeah cool. All this support so Apple can give up and cancel ATV and bow out to the wildly more supported and popular Roku. RIP...Cinema Display, Airport, and MacPro. Yeah that's right, I'm calling it. ATV will last a bit longer as it's kind of in the iOS family, but not enough to let it live.

 

[macs4nw]

Yeah cool. All this support so Apple can give up and cancel ATV and bow out to the wildly more supported and popular Roku. RIP...Cinema Display, Airport, and MacPro. Yeah that's right, I'm calling it. ATV will last a bit longer as it's kind of in the iOS family, but not enough to let it live.

Still can't believe Airport though. The biggest mouth-gaper on that list..... go figure.

 

[benjitek]

It also appeared in the previous beta, not new to the latest beta. It doesn't really do anything yet, they're just getting it ready.

 

[1applerules1]

What about Cox??

 

[ConnYoungy]

Its a shame this has no use in the UK

 

[cardfan]

Yeah cool. All this support so Apple can give up and cancel ATV and bow out to the wildly more supported and popular Roku. RIP...Cinema Display, Airport, and MacPro. Yeah that's right, I'm calling it. ATV will last a bit longer as it's kind of in the iOS family, but not enough to let it live.

It's a shame they weren't selling so well. Many bought them as antiques.. I guess Apple thought updates weren't needed.

 

[Lankyman]

Its a shame this has no use in the UK

I totally agree. I'm no longer sure why Apple sell the product outside of the U.S. as it's clearly only receiving any real development in that country. TBH, apart from accessing some movies I purchased from iTunes and an odd bit of AirPlay now and again from my Mac it's become something of a paper weight in our home.

I have started purchasing media from Google to use with Chromecast - a far better option in the UK and Europe.

 

[oldoneeye]

One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them

 

[CaryMacGuy]

Come on Time Warner Cable | Spectrum!

 

[Good User Name]

I can't help but feel that they've got this thing all backwards. The TV app is acting like a new home screen and tracking what's immediately at hand for viewing and doing. Why not make an "Apps app" that makes a folder of all the apps and leave the functions of this new TV app to the actual home screen?

 

[CarpalMac]

Why isn't there a change log forum for the AppleTV? There's one for every other device.

Because it'd be depressing and lonely...

 

[Rob_2811]

"The future of TV is stuff that will never work outside the US™"

 

[BuffaloTF]

Can confirm that I was able to sign on with my directv credentials. But it doesn't seem to show any apps connected to directv under find my apps section at this point.
[doublepost=1479798853][/doublepost]

Same here. Maybe it should be re-worded better. I was able to use my regular directv credentials no problem.

Any chance you also have AT&T for cell service? I'm a bit worried about the shaded text that says "AT&T User ID"... I'm in the boat of 'there's no chance in hell I'm combining these accounts' as I don't want to lose my respective discounts.

 

[Rocketman]

Charter Spectrum advertises a lot. I wonder if they will go.

 

[Boghog]

Slightly confused: "Library lets you watch all the content that you own." Does that mean we get access to our iTunes home-sharing content?