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I'm hoping that Apple is lining up all these channels for the time when they really do compete with cable providers. For now, the channels are redundant. If I need a cable subscription to access the Apple TV version, why not just watch it on cable? If I want to watch past episodes, most are available online anyway.

Friends and family... borrow their logins.
 
Anyone know if DirectTV counts as a "cable TV provider?"
Yes.
"Cable TV" is, for lack of a better term, a colloquialism for "provider of numerous pre-scheduled channels of video" (as different from single-channel over-the-air broadcasters). While dominantly wired (fiber included), subscribers don't much care how it actually arrives.

We need new terms for old definitions. "Cable TV" doesn't require cable, "TV" doesn't really include on-demand or streaming or physical/local media, "streaming" doesn't usefully differentiate live vs on-demand, "cut the cord" usually means internet-only use of the still-intact wire/fiber, etc.
 
I'm happy to have some new content.... Not happy have to verify with cable provider i won't pay for subscription service in the future..... The content providers that will win me over will be the ones that offer content paid for with ads because I'm not gonna pay 50+ bucks per month for internet and 40+bucks per month for content same difference as having cable now so if any of you are content providers give me content with adds and you will get my attention
 
National Geographic channel sucks. As with other, "educational" channels like Discovery and History, insightful documentaries have long since been replaced with reality shows, "stories from the bible", "ghost hunters", "alien encounters", etc. As someone else already commented, "meh, another channel to hide on my Apple TV."

If you want the sort of programming that people expected from National Geographic, just turn to PBS' Nightline and NOVA.
 
Dear Apple,
I despise Authentication - it's a waste of my time.
Just another channel to hide.
It seems the only channels I watch are Red Bull, Netflix, and the occasional rental.
 
I'm cool with it and appreciate having the programming. We just use the login credentials of a relative who has a cable package to optimize our AppleTV use. Once a new ATV channel is activated, we do not have to repeat login.

I understand the broader philosophical concerns, though.
 
I'm cool with it and appreciate having the programming. We just use the login credentials of a relative who has a cable package to optimize our AppleTV use. Once a new ATV channel is activated, we do not have to repeat login.

I understand the broader philosophical concerns, though.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Apps are sandboxed and cannot share those credentials.
 
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I'm happy to have some new content.... Not happy have to verify with cable provider i won't pay for subscription service in the future..... The content providers that will win me over will be the ones that offer content paid for with ads because I'm not gonna pay 50+ bucks per month for internet and 40+bucks per month for content same difference as having cable now so if any of you are content providers give me content with adds and you will get my attention


Actually, what you'll get is the $50+ bill, plus crappy content, plus commercials.

The only channels worth watching anymore are HBO and PBS.
 
Unless you're able to subscribe to individual channels like this without the need for a cable tv subscription then what's the point? Might as well just watch it through your cable tv box.

Well no. The difference is that instead of dealing with your cable company's crappy box interface and watching new episodes on a fixed schedule, you get to watch whatever shows you want, whenever you want, via a slick Apple UI, with access to all past episodes.
 
I'm hoping that Apple is lining up all these channels for the time when they really do compete with cable providers. For now, the channels are redundant. If I need a cable subscription to access the Apple TV version, why not just watch it on cable? If I want to watch past episodes, most are available online anyway.

Apple can only do so much, and I wouldn't hold my breath for them to become an ISP anytime soon.

What we need is for the FCC's net neutrality rules to start to have an impact so we see the separation of internet access from TV programming and some real competition for the established cable companies.
 
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Not horribly enthused. Nat Geo is just another icon in the sea of icons, advertising me to return to the cable television plan I cancelled.

I'm a cord cutter. I've got a TV and Blu-Ray player that stream things, and a Roku and an Apple TV and a TiVo. The best one-controller convenience is the TiVo; it plays my OTA TV as well as Amazon and Netflix and YouTube.

Apple TV will never have an Amazon channel. The Roku, and the TiVo especially, kick Apple TV's butt in the UI and remote control department.

And iTunes has been less than reliable for delivering content to my Apple TV.

I'm hoping they announce something really good next week, because the Apple TV is a buggy little box whose only saving grace is that I can mirror my laptop monitor to it.

EDIT: I guess I never figured out how to hide channels on Apple TV, mostly because I haven't found out how to make it have a purpose.

I'm the other way. I prefer to use the apple tv. Remote on my phone. Purchased movies sync to my phone and children's rooms via family share. Perfect for the office because of the uncompressed use of airplay. Now i understand that chrome cast and the roku might offer these features, but i haven't seen an implementation that works as efficiently as apple tv.

Airplay alone is enough to keep me from switching. Google's agent compresses too much and disconnects without expectation.

My son loves to play games on the apple tv.

My family has 4 apple tv's in our house. We have cable but only because I got Comcast to give me 100/mb with digital cable and hbo for the cost of 50/mb. No one watches it unless it is football season.
 
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Well no. The difference is that instead of dealing with your cable company's crappy box interface and watching new episodes on a fixed schedule, you get to watch whatever shows you want, whenever you want, via a slick Apple UI, with access to all past episodes.
That seems like a pipe dream. As we have seen with Sling TV, the networks will find a way to screw it up. Like disabling the 30 minute buffer, disabling trick play for VOD, and disabling their shows on VOD all together. It may be great for live tv, but my expectations for a service made for today's DVR world are pretty low.
 
National Geographic channel sucks. As with other, "educational" channels like Discovery and History, insightful documentaries have long since been replaced with reality shows, "stories from the bible", "ghost hunters", "alien encounters", etc. As someone else already commented, "meh, another channel to hide on my Apple TV."

If you want the sort of programming that people expected from National Geographic, just turn to PBS' Nightline and NOVA.
well said so much for educational
 
"Siri" switch to Nat Geo.

"OK, calling Matt Giron"

Do we really need a new MR post whenever Apple adds a channel?
We get it , they will add channels and initially those which are easy to negotiate with,
as in not super popular.

What is your problem? I don't routinely check for new channels, so this announcement is welcome. If you don't like, why did you go into the thread? And I'd certainly rather read a new announcement than the overwhelming useless and childish posts that follows. Sheesh. Just what is your problem? Is there anything that people won't moan and groan about in these forums? Really annoys me.

Please tell me there is an ignore feature on this forum. I would enjoy reading these thread so much more if I could ignore about 1/2 of the posters.
 
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Another channel added to AppleTv, another round of commenters mad that Apple can't break the requirement(that they didn't create) of a cable subscription to access the channel.

I love Apple, Apple is a great company. If you think there is some simple way to breakup the current business model for tv and content producers, you are sorely mistaken. There are billions upon billions of dollars at stake, and Apple isn't going to break it in a day, week, or even years.
 
Dear Apple,
I despise Authentication - it's a waste of my time.
Just another channel to hide.
It seems the only channels I watch are Red Bull, Netflix, and the occasional rental.
Interesting. When you use Netlix, do you use it without authenticating first?
 
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"Needs" depends on who is needing. They're most likely having a difficult enough time negotiation with the network behemoths in one country. Adding others to the list seems a bit much for now, especially on the verge of what appears to be quite a large relaunch of hardware & software.

With Apple's user base and geographic reach (and thus buying power) they should focus on creating a new paradigm and negotiate regional licenses (e.g. European, Asian etc) in stead of country specific licenses. Let the users figure out which channels to block or ignore on the Apple TV. I'd rather have 500 Dutch, English, German and Polish channels on my Apple TV NOW and go through the trouble of selecting the good ones, rather than only 5 Dutch channels on my Apple TV in 5 years.
 
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