Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What the heck is wrong with media companies?

Forget about all the premium channels people want...I would like to know why AppleTV can't do something like take programming which is already being broadcasted for free over the air and make it available through the AppleTV?!?!

I'm ok with watching ads; put them on just let me have my internet television.

Also, side complaint about Hulu "Plus" for AppleTV. If I have to pay to use Hulu on the AppleTV then I DON'T WANT ADS. Stop being so freaking greedy Hulu and just allow us to watch Hulu on the AppleTV with ads for free. I refuse to pay the ~$8 a month for ad-supported shows...a lot of which are broadcasted over the air for free. What a rip off! Screw u hulu!

In conclusion: media companies need to stop being so freaking greedy and embrace the Internet age. The technology is there for internet-based TV...why isn't it truly here yet?
 
Is it still working? If you go out to main menu or sleep or reboot it breaks I think.

So far it is still working, but frankly I have no desire to test what will break it just yet.

EDIT: I went ahead and tested, and sure enough, it killed it. HOWEVER, THIS fixes it quick and easily.
 
Last edited:
TWC app is horrible. Was expecting something like the iPhone weather app but more detailed.

Heck the Nintendo wii has a better weather app
 
If they keep adding channels, they're gonna have to come up with a better way of navigating them with the remote. Scrolling through a bunch of rows of icons with a 4 way pad is getting old.
 
Yes vevo!! Thanks Apple!

Am I the only one that is pissed that Vevo is censored? The first thing I tried to play said:

"Content Blocked" "You are attempting to access explicit content which is blocked on this device"

I was so excited about the Vevo app!!! WHY!!!

After browsing these forums for years I finally signed up just to voice my discontent about this situation. There are parental controls on the Apple TV why can't they use those instead of automatically censoring the content for everyone?
 
Am I the only one that is pissed that Vevo is censored? The first thing I tried to play said:

"Content Blocked" "You are attempting to access explicit content which is blocked on this device"

I was so excited about the Vevo app!!! WHY!!!

After browsing these forums for years I finally signed up just to voice my discontent about this situation. There are parental controls on the Apple TV why can't they use those instead of automatically censoring the content for everyone?

Go to settings in the vevo app, and click allow explicit content.
 
If there is going to be regional blocks I don't want USA specific apps, I want to be able to play my region's stuff. :sigh: I shouldn't have bought the thing.
 
I'm less interested in an AppleTV "app store" and more interested in seeing if adding these "authentication required" channels is just a step toward making the same channels(and more to come, I hope) available as direct subscriptions without an associated cable account in the future.

With all these apps having been released for Apple TV lately, it's starting to look more and more like content owners/creators are wanting to know the kind of demand there is for their programming on laptops, smart phones, and tablets, before committing themselves to this new content consumption medium, a fact that will surely raise eyebrows with, if not downright alienate them from, their trusted old allies, the cable/satellite operators.

A testing ground, if you will, that, if their revenues could remain the same or increase, might convince them to no longer enter into exclusive contracts with the cable/sat operators, and that may finally open everything up widely, to a true competitive television marketplace, where others like Apple could come in and compete on a level playing field, with their own distribution models.

The marketplace --us, the consumers-- will then be able to decide our preference with our wallets.
 
vevo site is down for me. the app also just hangs.

probably didn't expect this much traffic.
 
A testing ground, if you will, that, if their revenues could remain the same or increase, might convince them to no longer enter into exclusive contracts with the cable/sat operators, and that may finally open everything up widely, to a true competitive television marketplace, where others like Apple could come in and compete on a level playing field, with their own distribution models.

I think we should prepare for a really bumpy ride during this transition. The economics aren't as simple as many people think they are. Content and channels are bundled together and subsidize each other.

So something like ESPN can be high priced because a lot of people will buy it (supply and demand). Or they can not charge as much because they know a lot of people will subscribe to it.

For another example, take the Food Network. A low enough price point to entice subscribers might be unsustainable to continue producing the current content, while a price that would sustain the current content would be a much higher price.

Not to mention that good content on a network will subsidize crappy content. How many Law & Order: SVU marathons does the USA network have to run?

The point is that the networks know this and they bundle channels accordingly. I'm sure somewhere at the network there's an excel spreadsheet that balances total subscribers with expenses and revenues. As customers, we are upset that we can't pick and chose which channels we want on an individual basis. But if we did get our wish, the whole economics of it would crash. I love sports, and there are a few scripted shows that I really enjoy watching, but I have a finite budget.

The idea of subscribing to individual channels is transitional at best. But I don't think it would be the disruption we are all hoping for.

Fortunately, I think that the solution has already presented itself. Paying the content producer directly. I can totally get behind the direction that Netflix is taking, becoming both content producer and distributor. I really enjoyed the first season of "House of Cards" and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Turn capitalism loose on the TV industry and see what happens. I think that we could see more content that is better because people will pay for it and less crappy reality TV (maybe a few "decent" reality shows will still be around).

We have a couple of successful models of this already happening. Not only with Netflix, but also with YouTube. Individuals, the content creators, have a way to directly reach their audience. And through ads and partnerships, the content creators have a way to monetize their work. Users still pay nothing.

I think it's also pretty apparent the role Apple plays in this new scheme. The new way is simply an extension of what the currently do. Except now instead of only large studios, content creators can sell their content directly through iTunes, creators charge what they market will pay, and Apple plays the role of distributor in exchange for a 30% cut.

An "Indie" market for TV, but with shows the caliber of Burn Notice, Suits, House of Cards or even Zero Hour (which, despite being cancelled I thought was a really good show). Bring back Firefly. Sell it direct on iTunes and watch as we throw money at Apple.

/Sorry. What started as a quick reply turned into a wall of text. Brain is in overdrive right now, even though it's time to sleep.
 
What doesn't make sense to me is that if we have to have cable in order to view some of this content, like the new Disney Channels and HBO, then why would I even bother watching it through the AppleTV over just watching it directly on my TV through the cable box. We're adding an unnecessary middle-man.

With the App on the AppleTV you have the option for on-demand or to watch previous and missed episodes whenever you want without the need of a DVR. You don't have that option on the cable box unless you pay for the service to do so.
 
So I take it we have to wait until Disney does a deal with Sky before we will see the Disney apps over here in the UK? Who knows how long that'll take.

(Would really like to see the Disney stuff integrated as soon as possible, then I'd be able to wrestle my TV back from my 9yr old daughter! :D )

George
 
Why wouldn't Amazon Prime go for Atv if you have a subscription? Just curious; I'm really not familiar with the issues involved.

I'd love to see apps on the atv too.

Why would Apple let another service provide movie rentals? They want you to buy / rent content from the iTunes store. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see how Amazon Prime helps Apple.
 
I wish they would add some of these channels to the UK service. :(

I don't quite get Apple's strategy with this. Why add Vevo? Isn't that going to hurt their sales of music videos, especially as Vevo music videos are in HD and iTunes music videos are not. Plus Vevo is free (for now at least).

Seems to me that Apple's strategy with the AppleTV is moving them further and further down the road of eventually offering a subscription service.
 
I have a feeling that Apple TV will be updated at this Media event on Sep 10 and maybe Apple will surprise us with something like: full iOS 7 on Apple TV come with 32GB standard from current 8GB. Now that is a real kick in the ass for Sony PS4 and Xbox One. Can you imagine a top box media streaming Apple TV is also a game console which uses idevices as controllers or MFI game controllers. It's a total media center which is affordable to everyone. Who wants a $500 dedicated console anymore?
All the sudden, everything makes sense for all the activities lately related to Apple TV: TV content provider negotiations, iRadio, Record labels, game controller hardware, and the only puzzle left in this is: full iOS to take advantage of iOS games and larger storage for iOS games. This is what Apple should have done for Apple TV and now is the right time for it. iOS Game Center for Apple TV is a card that Apple haven't played yet against PS4 and Xbox One online contents. If this's true, Apple once again rock the (gaming) world with its iOS ecosystem, Apple TV.

I will take the $400 dedicated PS4 so long as that is the only system I can play games like GTA V, COD, Borderlands and other similar games on . . .
No basic iOS device is going to be able to run those type of games with 32GB standard. Those are different markets. Yes some may opt to not buy the XboxOne or PS4 because Apple TV does casual gaming, but the hardcore gamer will not be swayed. If the Apple TV starts pricing above $100 then that also begins to change the decision. Those PS4 and XB1 prices will come down over time. They offer similar features in terms of streaming that ATV does plus things like dedicated controllers and bluray players. Becomes a harder sell then.
 
I hate to be picky, but I was expecting to see Disney Jr. content thru the Disney app. Would've been perfect for my toddler..... Oh well, the content is there when he gets older :)
 
New apps if on firmware 5.2?

My ATV2 is jailbroken on firmware 5.2, and I haven't received any of the new apps (Itunes Music Fest, VeVo, etc). Do I need to be on a newer version in order to get them?
 
Out of sight....

Yeah, because the Billions of people who live outside US/Canada don't have *any* of their own TV channels. :rolleyes:

With so much money off-shore it might be nice if the company would at least make an effort to enrich the Apple TV experience for those of us that have contributed to that cash pile - or at least explain why - for the most part - there is nothing to offer overseas consumers. There is a massive opportunity here for Apple to harness the power of content creators and owners and side-step the traditional aggregators (gate-keepers) - channels and cable systems, that control paid content at the moment. Allowing apps and developers would be a start - time to really disrupt things again Apple, and thats not sticking existing channels on a hockey puck that only appeals to one country. Thats not disrupting anything.
 
The whole point of cord-cutting is no cable subscription. Most of this requires a cable subscription -- from a company that is listed. Small regional carriers are excluded.

Color me unimpressed.
 
Sports are really expensive. If you are a sports fan you can only hope and pray that the subsidy from all the other cable subscribers continues on forever. For the rest of us, though (and for those who only have a few sports they follow), direct pricing is a reality now, and it is really cheap compared to cable.

Regardless of sports, I'm unsure if direct pricing would be as good a thing as people think it would be. If channels would be less risky in scripted programming, some shows that made it might never have, including things like Breaking Bad, Dexter, etc.

Yes there are too many channels that are available that need to go away, but if possibly risky shows will be cut out for things that are perceived to be "safe and mainstream" that more people want but have less creativity, I'm unsure if that is good in the long run.

On another note, pricing for cable used to not seem so bad when it wasn't bundled with the internet....but not that we are all paying for the internet, seems logical to charge more for internet bandwidth.

And no comment on how most internet providers are the same as cable companies, and what would prevent these same companies from jacking up internet pricing due to increased bandwidth from people watching shows that way instead of through regular cable.

I don't think cable is ideal, just that there are a ton of challenges.

At least that is what this rare guy who loves both sports and technology sees...
 
Pretty Useless Apps

Why are networks like Disney wasting our time with this? HBO Go is great because it actually gives users access to, practically, their entire catalog. Disney's app is just as awful as their OnDemand offerings. No complete seasons of anything, no rhyme or reason to the 2 or 3 episodes from each show that they do feature, no movies - no older Disney Channel stuff like Hannah Montana, Wizards of Waverly Place, etc. Don't even bother clicking Other "Seasons" as they'll only have a sampling of 4 or 5 episodes. This is just awful and pointless.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.