Apple Adds 'Fyi' and 'Feeln' Channels to Apple TV

[jblagden]

Many Apple TV Channels Require Cable Subscription

Why is it that so many Apple TV channels require a cable subscription?

I understand that some of those channels are Pay-TV channels, but there's no point adding them to the Apple TV. The main reason for adding channels to it is to make it easier to cut the cord. But the thing is, even if you still subscribe to cable, your cable provider might not be listed for those channels. My family used to subscribe to Metrocast for phone Internet and cable, and even then, we couldn't use channels like the Disney channels and the History channel because Metrocast wasn't on the list of providers for those channels.

Part of the raison d'êtra of the second and third generation Apple TVs is to make it easy to cut the cord(get rid of Cable).

But now, the Apple TV is full of channels that either require a cable subscription or are pretty close to useless, which is why I hide most of the channels on my Apple TV and organize the remaining channels in preferential order. There's just no point in adding those kinds of channels to the Apple TV.

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I just started renting an hd dvr from xfinity. To use an Apple TV, do you have to have a cable TV subscription or can you just have a cable internet subscription (through Xfinity or otherwise)? I've been a comcast customer for years, but never had a way to record or watch hd and ondemand tv series. It's taken my desire for an Apple TV away, but if I had to lower my bill, just wondering if I can cut down xfinity to just the internet.

You don't need a cable subscription to be able to use an Apple TV. You just need internet service and you'll be all set. The only thing is that there are a number of Apple TV channels such as Disney Channel and History. Otherwise, it'll be no problem. Besides, a Netflix subscription is way better and less expensive than cable.

 

[VeryVito]

I thought odds were good that Apple would launch a real TV product as soon as I gave up and went Roku earlier this month, but nope... looks like they're "doubling down" on ensuring the AppleTV remains a one-trick also-ran.

 

[2457282]

I like this recent turn on the Apple TV -- more channels that do not require a cable subscription to watch. Sure its only a few and probably not ones that I will use, but the trend is headed in the right direction.

As this happens, we will finally be able to purchase subscriptions to the channels we like and hide the rest. Given some of the pricing I am seeing, if you select more than a hadful of channels, this will get more expensive than cable. But I think that is short lived as well. When we have 1000 available channels to choose from the price will down and we will be in a good place.

For expample, Netflix, ESPN, HBO and ABC/CBS/FOX/NBC for local news at $8/month each could run $32 (assuming that the locals would be bundled as one). This gives a nice mix of options and would still be fairly cheap.

Substitute Hulu/Amazon Prime for Netflix, etc. But I like having 1000 choices even if I ultimately only subscribe to a handful.

 

[greytmom]

Why is it that so many Apple TV channels require a cable subscription?

I understand that some of those channels are Pay-TV channels, but there's no point adding them to the Apple TV. The main reason for adding channels to it is to make it easier to cut the cord. But the thing is, even if you still subscribe to cable, your cable provider might not be listed for those channels. My family used to subscribe to Metrocast for phone Internet and cable, and even then, we couldn't use channels like the Disney channels and the History channel because Metrocast wasn't on the list of providers for those channels.

Part of the raison d'êtra of the second and third generation Apple TVs is to make it easy to cut the cord(get rid of Cable).

But now, the Apple TV is full of channels that either require a cable subscription or are pretty close to useless, which is why I hide most of the channels on my Apple TV and organize the remaining channels in preferential order. There's just no point in adding those kinds of channels to the Apple TV.

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You don't need a cable subscription to be able to use an Apple TV. You just need internet service and you'll be all set. The only thing is that there are a number of Apple TV channels such as Disney Channel and History. Otherwise, it'll be no problem. Besides, a Netflix subscription is way better and less expensive than cable.

I could be wrong, but if Apple TV has enough of the cable channels that a person normally watches, they could get rid of their cable box and remote (not sure about other cable companies, but Brighthouse charges rent for those).

 

[Yujenisis]

All I want is a Plex channel.

I'm beginning to think I'm just going to have to wait until Apple releases an AppleTV with an App Store.

 

[TsMkLg068426]

Probably need cable to use those apps another pointless app I can not use, does Tim Cook not pay attention to customers what they are asking for? Seriously, Apple TV might as well be another cable company instead.

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I could be wrong, but if Apple TV has enough of the cable channels that a person normally watches, they could get rid of their cable box and remote (not sure about other cable companies, but Brighthouse charges rent for those).

You do know that the only way to access the cable network apps is by subscribing to cable right? You will still have no choice of having a cable box, the only way I see this happening with no need to subscribing to cable is A la cart not that I find a good thing. I just do not understand why cable companies blocking customers from accessing on Apple TV when I already pay for this network and why Apple is asking a some sort of percentage to authenticate access, I guess greed comes in full circles.

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All I want is a Plex channel.

I'm beginning to think I'm just going to have to wait until Apple releases an AppleTV with an App Store.

What Apple TV needs first needs is a hardware improvement it has quite some time since any news on Apple TV hardware and Apple needs to start adding apps that does not need cable and there are many of them like Crackle.


Not sure why Apple is not into improving Apple TV I understand iPhone and iPad are big sellers but Apple TV should also be important.

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If Apple keeps this up, a major UI overhaul can't be far behind. The interface is becoming really tedious with so many apps on the grid. We need whatever the innovation was that Jobs said he "cracked".

More than just UI problems just bunch of apps you wish or know that you should be able to access but can not.

 

[greytmom]

You do know that the only way to access the cable network apps is by subscribing to cable right? You will still have no choice of having a cable box, the only way I see this happening with no need to subscribing to cable is A la cart not that I find a good thing.

Yep, I do know this. But I also know that I DO have a choice of having a cable box and remote. How do I know this? Because I use TiVo, and I turned in my cable box and remote about 3 years ago.

 

[Kissaragi]

I sold my apple tv when I got a smart tv. I don't miss it.

 

[2010mini]

THIS>

I've said that same thing before. I also hate when something happens and I need to re-enter each activation.
I should Activate in Settings and be done. maybe have an "update" under Activation so when you start buying HBO, you can just hit "update" and it now adds that to a channel you can use.

The current method works for me. My friend and I share our respective paid tv accounts. I use his login for channels I don't have or is not supported by my paid tv provider, and he does the same with mine.

Win, win.

 

[Elbon]

Hopefully I'll stop getting these useless updates since my ATV 2 is no longer supported.

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I thought odds were good that Apple would launch a real TV product as soon as I gave up and went Roku earlier this month, but nope... looks like they're "doubling down" on ensuring the AppleTV remains a one-trick also-ran.

Yep. I love my Apple TVs (I have two) but I am finally starting to lose patience waiting for Apple to release an update. They're either working on something really awesome that's taking a long time to put together, or they're doing nothing. I used to believe it was the first one, but now I suspect the latter.

 

[JackieInCo]

Hopefully I'll stop getting these useless updates since my ATV 2 is no longer supported.

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Yep. I love my Apple TVs (I have two) but I am finally starting to lose patience waiting for Apple to release an update. They're either working on something really awesome that's taking a long time to put together, or they're doing nothing. I used to believe it was the first one, but now I suspect the latter.

It doesn't matter what ATV version you have, you'll get them till Apple stops updating for all ATVs. It's only the firmware that won't be updated anymore. ATV2 will still get new channels.

I have an ATV2 too.

 

[Elbon]

I also know that I DO have a choice of having a cable box and remote. How do I know this? Because I use TiVo, and I turned in my cable box and remote about 3 years ago.

Same here. Ditched cable 5 years ago for TiVo/Apple TV. No regrets.

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It doesn't matter what ATV version you have, you'll get them till Apple stops updating for all ATVs. It's only the firmware that won't be updated anymore. ATV2 will still get new channels.

I know - I was just being facetious. Except for the useless part. Most of these channels are as bad as, if not worse than, the garbage that's on cable. I use the iTunes apps and Netflix. Occasionally YouTube and the Weather app. That's about it.

 

[neuropsychguy]

If Apple keeps this up, a major UI overhaul can't be far behind. The interface is becoming really tedious with so many apps on the grid. We need whatever the innovation was that Jobs said he "cracked".

You can just hide all the ones you don't want (or most of them, anyway).

 

[Anonymous Freak]

Yay! More icons to remove!

I'm really curious about the actual usage rate for most of the channels.

Seconded. I have all of the "free with no sign-in needed" plus Hulu and Netflix; and I rarely use any of them other than Hulu and Netflix. Plus the Home networking, to watch movies sitting on my iTunes server.

 

[CausticPuppy]

OMG! Feeln!!!! FINALLY. What took so long?

This is the Apple TV update I've been waiting for.

BTW, what the hell is "Feeln" anyway

 

[greytmom]

Same here. Ditched cable 5 years ago for TiVo/Apple TV. No regrets.

I do still have cable. I actually turned it off and was quite happy without it for about a year, but a certain individual in my household acted like he was going to die a sad, painful, lonely death without certain sports channels, so we turned it back on. Never got the cable box back though, because we like the TiVo better.

 

[malexandria]

Whine

Yay! More icons to remove!

I'm really curious about the actual usage rate for most of the channels.

such a hardship....

 

[malexandria]

Hmmm...

I like the Apple TV well enough, but I no longer want my digital content tied to any company so I've spent the last 5 months burning all my Blu-rays/TV Shows. I'll still use the Apple TV to stream them - I suppose, since all my meta data is based on it and I really don't care much for Roku and really not to fond of Plex. But it will be nice to have all my stuff ripped and burned (including Extras) and then I have all my "store digital copies" on Vudu. My issue with AppleTV is I can rarely stream HD films with any consistency and half the time it says I have to wait 5 hours for a film to "download." The service just isn't good.

By comparison I rarely have issues streaming HD films on Vudu. Yeah, halfway through I'll get buffering hell, but at least there's a fighting chance - and I can download films to my PS3 - which defeats the whole point of having all my stuff in the cloud - If I have to wait hours for a film to download, I might as well break out my Disk. But I like having unlocked Digital Copies and my physical copies - Win, Win.

 

[ipedro]

Every time a new channel is added, people complain about the UI. That got me thinking. What other new Apple product doesn't depend on direct touch for UI manipulation? ...

The Apple Watch UI would work beautifully on a TV with a world of apps floating in space and the directional buttons on the remote allowing you to move quickly around the apps. The ones near the centre would be closer while those in the periphery would be smaller.

 

[octothorpe8]

Given the Amazon Fire TV and the new fire stick, I almost wonder if it's amazon that is not interested in putting Amazon video on an Apple TV. After all, less people would then want their fire box offerings. Who knows though. Amazon has always been good about putting kindle ereader software across devices.

Nah, I think they're selling those devices as cheaply as possible because they're gateways to Prime subscriptions and the Amazon ecosystem in general.

 

[hkenneth]

Still no TED on Apple TV...

 

[octothorpe8]

Still no TED on Apple TV...

If you have an iOS device, you can just go to the TED Talks site on that device and AirPlay it right to your TV.

 

[FieldingMellish]

all this amounts to is more work for me to locate and deselect them. All these additions require cable service that I have been done with for months.

 

[furi0usbee]

Instantly hid "Feeln" and "FYI" looks like crap. But the overwhelming majority of stuff on cable is crap, so, same thing.

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No thank you to "actual broadcast channels" as you put it. The only service that best utilizes that type of delivery is news (and Vevo).

I'm half with you. Believe me, I've been saying for years I don't want to buy a package, not even buy a channel, I just want the content. But we are a ways off. And for things like news, you are probably going to need the entire broadcast channel to start off. You probably will have to buy the entire AMC channel, and not just the two shows you want to watch.

The way I would love it, is that you can just buy "shows." I don't want 10 channels to subscribe to, I want 10 "shows." They can keep everything else.That would keep prices down considerably, which is why it won't happen anytime soon. So we probably have to deal with channels before we get only shows.

And yes, you can buy season passes on iTunes already, but a lot of content is not there that I watch, like Real Time with Bill Maher,and a few others. Plus, I can get the stuff I watch free right now, so unless they give me a good deal, I probably won't pay anyway.

 

[godslabrat]

What amuses me is that these cable companies have this kind of clout to demand such prices for content that is largely worthless to me. I'm not paying for cable again. Even buying my shows on iTunes or BluRay is ultimately WAY cheaper than cable ever was. I can buy a full season of a good show on disc and another on iTunes EVERY MONTH and still come out spending way less than I ever did on cable.

Once you get used to buying "shows" and not "channels", you can't go back to the old economics. This is what the cable companies need to get-- people don't care about channels and studios, we just want our content. For decades, they've made their money by selling us stuff we didn't want in order to get the stuff we did... now that choices are appearing, consumers are jumping on them, and cable companies need to either get on board or wither away. Making us authorize AppleTV channels is a way of them grabbing for a level of control that, I'm sorry, they no longer have.