Apple Adds Intrusive 'Featured' Section Above 'Up Next' in TV App

[MacRumors]

Apple is making some changes to the TV app, and users are not happy with the updates. The updated design appears to be visible primarily for iOS 16.2, iPadOS 16.2, tvOS 16.2, and macOS Ventura 13.1 beta users, but it is likely a server-side change that Apple is introducing that will eventually roll out to all TV app users.

Apple's new design adds a Featured section to the top of the "Watch Now" section in the TV app, with the featured content placed above the "Up Next" watchlist. The change makes it more difficult for users to get to the content they are interested in, with random TV shows taking up the majority of the screen.

In the current release versions of iOS, iPadOS, tvOS, and macOS, "Up Next" is at the top of the "Watch Now" tab for quick access to shows and movies that are in progress or that have been placed on a watch list.

There are a number of complaints about the new design on Reddit from users who are unhappy with the way that Featured TV shows and movies supplant Up Next content. This section seems to display quite a few Apple TV+ shows and movies, but it does also highlight shows and movies from other streaming providers. Regardless of content shown, TV users do not seem to want suggested content replacing their chosen content at the forefront of the app. From Reddit user robber3572:

I don't mind the discovery aspect, which I agree is what the tv app is all about. It's highlighting this featured content above (literally and figuratively) the content that I watch on a regular basis that's annoying and intrusive. This featured content is now prominent in the tv app and it highlights shows/movies I would never have an interest in watching.

The TV+ tab in the TV app already had this design that puts content above watch lists, and it is expanding to the Watch Now tab as well. When the Up Next section is selected on the Apple TV, the Featured section is still visible, and the previews of Up Next shows are gone. Featured also dominates the interface on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

At the current time, there is no way to disable the featured section to put Up Next content back at the top of the app, and it is not clear if Apple is still tweaking the design or if this is a finalized look. What's worse, the featured content seems to autoplay, ignoring settings for Up Next that prevented shows from previewing content. There does not appear to be a way to turn off autoplay for featured shows and movies.



Article Link: Apple Adds Intrusive 'Featured' Section Above 'Up Next' in TV App

 

[Hiddecollee]

I am not seeing it here in the Netherlands (with the beta's running). Hopefully they will reverse this quickly though

 

[dk001]

Ouch!
Does Apple have someone new changing the direction?

 

[JPack]

Obviously for paid ads, ads, and more ads.

 

[kjvmartin]

Ok, how do we get away from this? What company isn't doing it?

 

[cuiver]

Someone at Apple:
”Well, let's just throw these against the wall and see what sticks.”

 

[mikethebigo]

I imagine Apple wants a uniform experience across the platform, but still IMO it should be either you see these ads OR you pay for Apple One, in which case you are providing the services revenue yourself and the ads should be turned off.

 

[aloysiusfreeman]

*shrugs* bigger problems to worry about than what is basically industry standard of streaming services

 

[itcomesinwaves]

Reminds me of the “Radio” tab in Apple Music. You have to scroll 3 full screens down through their promoted stations to get to your “Recently Played“ section.

Edit: typo & photos

 

[ProfessionalFan]

"Up Next" should be at the top or they need to at least add a setting where you can change the menu order.

 

[McKodiak]

So, Apple is advertising apps in their app store and tv shows and movies in their tv app. This sounds reasonable to me. If I see a Viagra add in the app store and/or in the featured section of the tv app, I may have an issue.

 

[SteveJay10]

Terrible idea. Up Next is where one keeps the shows and films to watch. Don’t care what Apple features.

 

[antiprotest]

Apple is making a big shift toward an ad heavy direction. Much more to come. Probably Facebook-like tracking next.

 

[canadianreader]

I don't like how Apple is becoming.

 

[Mousse]

Apple is making a big shift toward an ad heavy direction. Much more to come. Probably Facebook-like tracking next.

Why would Apple need to track you across different apps? They already have access to all your data on their iCloud server.

 

[chouseworth]

“There does not appear to be a way to turn off autoplay for featured shows and movies.”

Yes, there is. I bought a Roku 4K stick yesterday from BB for $25 in a pre-Black Friday sale. It works perfectly streaming Dolby Vision and HDR10+ from more services than even Apple and avoids the Apple intrusion. The competitive market for hardware streamers is a great thing.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

If I’m not mistaken, there is an option to have the “up next” section right on your home screen above all the apps for the ATV, correct?
If so, that solves the issue people are having. Just put that on your home screen.

 

[vegetassj4]

More ads....To a dark place this line of thought will carry us.

 

[avatar77]

Call these what they are - advertisements. Google (not unexpectedly) ruined my beloved ShieldTV with this crap.

 

[McWetty]

If this ad based model is the direction Apple wants to go in, I’ll go back to Windows and suffer on cheaper hardware. I refuse to pay for a premium experience and be subject to ads.

 

[BWhaler]

Doesn’t Apple realize that the main value in AppleTV is no ads? If we wanted an interface littered with ads, we’d just use the native SmartTV interfaces?

Clearly Tim has green-lit a plan to get billions in ad money from Google and Facebook, and we’re beginning to see the implications.

it’s going to get much, much worse.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

Between the App Store, and now Apple TV Plus, Apple is not even trying to hide that they are all in for ads. End of an era. Sad to see you go, Apple.

 

[earthTOmitchel]

"Up Next" should be at the top or they need to at least add a setting where you can change the menu order.

This is what I hope happens. I don't really care what they add in a broad sense, but give me an option to turn things on/off. I really, really want my Up Next to stay up top.

 

[WiiDSmoker]

*shrugs* bigger problems to worry about than what is basically industry standard of streaming services

So you’re saying Apple follows others and is no longer special, got it.

 

[CMoore515]

Just put "Up Next" first, then I won't care.