Apple Adds ABC, Bloomberg, Crackle, and KORTV Channels to Apple TV

[muguam]

My ATV wish list

0) USB port for connecting USB flash drives containing media files
1) the ability to connect to a shared drive (like a Time Capsule) or a USB drive in #0 above, browse for and play media files
2) FrontRow-like user interface (for #1 above) (not a deal breaker- I just miss using Front Row)
3) Hulu
4) ability to install and run iOS apps (with remote control using iPad or iPhone)
5) Ability to change the positions that available channels appear, like we can change the way apps appear on other iOS devices (more personalization)


That's it for now... maybe more later....

I don't think these are unreasonable requests.

 

[diegogaja]

Actually...

I would guess it's not an apple thing but more likely a individual company/app thing. I signed up for Hulu and Crunchyroll 'IN APP' on the ATV so it can be done.

Until you can sign up explicitly within the 'apps' theres no point to adding these channels as you already need a cable subscription with your TV so you may as well watch them on that?!

 

[muguam]

Hulu?

I would guess it's not an apple thing but more likely a individual company/app thing. I signed up for Hulu and Crunchyroll 'IN APP' on the ATV so it can be done.

Interesting, I didn't think Hulu was available... I'll have to check this out... Thanks.

 

[diegogaja]

I know right!?!

I would think it would at least have the same functionality of the IOS app....as limited as it is (similar to free Hulu stuff).

I love how ABC, broadcast free, over the air, to my house, on public radio waves requires a CABLE SUBSCRIPTION to access.

 

[alent1234]

Do you truly believe this implementation is what Steve Jobs had in mind..? Hardly.



Hulu would solve most of the complaints here. The majority of new shows are available there. I agree though that the ability to have a splash screen with my favorite shows that automatically opens the right app would be ideal (a la the Fanhattan app on ios). I expect that is forthcoming.

why not?
the biggest issue with cable is paying a lot of money and having to sit in front of the TV at a certain time. having a single point of billing, aka your cable company but being able to watch content whenever you want is what everyone wants.

 

[tdmac]

never understood why we need a cable subscription in order to watch free OTA channels on Apple TV.

No wonder they are fighting Aereo.

They are free only if you pull them off the air with an antenna. They are not free by any other means like cable, internet, satellite etc. i.e. you can't just get free cable with just the typical OTA broadcast channels.

What is happening is that you are circumventing the need for a cablebox by adding these channels to ATV. If all channels were avail, you would have no need for cablebox on that TV.

IMHO, the current direction is adding all the content. Phase 2 is a redesign on the GUI and the ability to easily find/navigate content on the device. There will probably be new ATV hardware that may have functionality that makes this easy and seamless. i.e. making you want to upgrade to take advantage of these features. Or this will use your mobile device to control. Apple has a direction but needs more and more content providers on board before things change to make it worthwhile. Also, by adding broadcast stations and hopefully on-demand content as well, you also minimize the necessity for a DVR as well.

 

[antman2x2]

I don't think I've touched a single app on my apple TV since I got it and I use it everyday. I stream everything from either my iPhone, iMac or iPad.

 

[diegogaja]

Maybe...

Speak for yourself. Actually I'm really happy with his current update, even though it's limited, it's exactly what I've been waiting for. So no, it's not a worthless update. Thank you for your opinion though.

Like others have already said, this is a worthless update. There is no value in adding channels that require a cable-subscription to watch.

Bryan

 

[TrentS]

NutFlix...

Yes, I also use Netflix, but ... um ... you know ... not everything is on Netflix

True. I am in the midst of my one free month of Netflix, and sadly have discovered that new released movies are very slim to none on Netflix. Does anyone know how often they add new release movies? And when they do add them, how many?

 

[e-coli]

Please add CBS for sports, and don't make me have to have a cable subscription already. It really defeats the purpose.

 

[diegogaja]

Haha. You make it sound like its a bad thing.
I enjoy all types of shows including the occasional anime binge. Also, I watch a lot of Chinese and Korean TV for pleasure (helps me keep up my language skills for work too).

You are the first person I have seen admit to watching crunchyroll.

 

[ralphkaz]

0)
5) Ability to change the positions that available channels appear, like we can change the way apps appear on other iOS devices (more personalization)

this is already possible - if i remember correctly you hold the select button until they start to jiggle (like in iOS ipad/iphone) and then you can move them around...

 

[CausticPuppy]

ABC?


This is getting good. No more need to airplay from the ABC iPad app.

 

[Peace]

Please add CBS for sports, and don't make me have to have a cable subscription already. It really defeats the purpose.

That's ( requiring cable service ) never going to happen.

 

[padrongus]

Not sure that I care for these updates anymore since my ISP is capping data. I will probably cancel Netflix this week. The only solution I see that makes any sense is that Apple gets into the ISP business or that other companies stop capping data since this is a problem that will seriously affect how people use streaming media once they start receiving overage bills.

 

[diegogaja]

Do you own an ATV.

1-Maybe not unreasonable but in this Day and age it seems very unnecessary. If I have a file like that I just pop it into my computer downloading iTunes, then I can stream it from my iTunes to my Apple TV.
2-I misfire also, but it's not much different from ATV.
3-Hulu is already available on a TV. I've been watching it ever since I bought my first one the couple years ago. In fact, it's the app that gets most used on my Apple TV. Hence why I labeled this answer the way did.
4-that would be nice, but a little redundant since you can airplay from the iPad. But I agree with you… It would be nice.
5-as many have said many times before… You can hide and you can reposition all of the apps on Apple TV. You can learn how to do this by searching on Google.

0) USB port for connecting USB flash drives containing media files
1) the ability to connect to a shared drive (like a Time Capsule) or a USB drive in #0 above, browse for and play media files
2) FrontRow-like user interface (for #1 above) (not a deal breaker- I just miss using Front Row)
3) Hulu
4) ability to install and run iOS apps (with remote control using iPad or iPhone)
5) Ability to change the positions that available channels appear, like we can change the way apps appear on other iOS devices (more personalization)


That's it for now... maybe more later....

I don't think these are unreasonable requests.

 

[TrentS]

IFC Is The One For Me!

Crackles been around for a long time, has the screen quality gotten any better?

It all depends on your internet speed, I believe. As for a content app, I'd love to see one for the IFC channel.

 

[alent1234]

Please add CBS for sports, and don't make me have to have a cable subscription already. It really defeats the purpose.

i see pigs flying outside,

oh wait

 

[Tilpots]

Live local news, weather and sports has always been free OTA and for most, over unencrypted cable. To expect them to be free thru a new device is not asking for something out of the ordinary. It already IS the standard. The content is paid for by unskippable advertising because the live nature of this programming makes delayed viewing prohibitive. The free model has worked well from the dawn of TV delivery. Do not expect it to change because Apple has gotten involved.

 

[darkazcura]

Not to nitpick, but if you cut the cord, how do you have access to HBO GO?

Pretty sure you can get HBOGO without a premium cable package now through Comcast's Internet Plus package. They give you like 20 basic cable channels, but it is pretty darn close to HBO while being a "cord cutter".

 

[jc1350]

I thought the same, but my understanding is they come with a lot of on-demand content. At least that's what I've been told. The only one I've really been interested in thus far (Disney) isn't available with my provider (DirecTV).

Not for Disney channel programming (at least that I'm aware of).

If you jump through the hoops in the AppleTV channels for Disney et al, they seem to point the lack of usability on DirecTV with some message urging you to contact DirecTV to ask them to allow it. My take on this is that the content providers like Disney want yet more money to allow Internet streaming and DirecTV is not willing to pay.

 

[barkomatic]

Apple TV is becoming an extension of cable service rather than a competitor to it. I'm not paying $180 a month so I can watch programming that is broadcast for free on ABC. What a disappointment, I doubt I'm buying another ATV since its clear they are in bed with the cable companies.

 

[Tech198]

Companies are only getting on-board because they know its still tired to cable providers... ......

(dreams of a day when they also become un-bundled too) ....

 

[curmudgeon32]

Would be great to have the ability to hide some of the channels not interested in, now that they have so many.

You can! Go into Settings > Parental Controls (I think, something like that, not in front of my TV at the moment) -- you can hide any channel from there.

 

[jtrauscht]

The absence of Amazon Instant Video is still baffling.

Direct competitor. Amazon will never agree to do it.

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for WATCH ABC the asterisk said this:
Free with your subscription through participating cable and satellite providers.

Yeah, kinda defeats the purpose, doesn't it? We cancelled our cable TV too, and now we just do Hulu+ and Netflix. You can get most of your ABC/NBC/FOX/SyFy shows through HULU – sure wish CBS/AMC would get on board.