BBC iPlayer and Siri for Apple Music Coming to New Apple TV in Months Ahead

[Sharkus]

Netflix will likely be a pre-installed app. At the very least, it will be available day 1. It's part of the default universal search along with Hulu.

From what I've seen of the dev units running the GM of tvOS, even the App Store app isn't visible at present. It's my guess that either later today, or first thing tomorrow, the app Store app will appear, and then you'll be able to download apps, and that will include nextflix. It's possible Apple might push something onto the device, in a similar manner as the current apple tv when it gets new "channels" for Netflix, so think of it as an alias, so tapping on it goes and gets the app. I've no idea though.

** edit **
Rumor has it that the reviewer devices have an updated build of tvOS with the App Store, so there could be another tvOS update for developers to enable the App Store for their devices.

On the subject of iPlayer. Good to see BBC deciding it might be a good idea to do this. I suspect the Auntie Player showed that it's not that difficult to do, and people DO want this. Would have been nice if it was there for the launch of the device.

Wether it'll work via a VPN, I don't know, but would be hopeful that it would, as an ex-pat it would be nice to use iPlayer to watch shows, rather than obtaining them by other methods

 

[The Phazer]

On the subject of iPlayer. Good to see BBC deciding it might be a good idea to do this. I suspect the Auntie Player showed that it's not that difficult to do, and people DO want this. Would have been nice if it was there for the launch of the device.

You suspect incorrectly.

 

[Sharkus]

You suspect incorrectly.

How so? They originally said they had no plans to do it, then all of a sudden have a change of heart, and in the time between, some bright sparks have come shown that there isn't that much work in getting something up and running, and I'm sure the resources the BBC has could get their own thing up and running just as quickly, and without having to resort to any workarounds that might have been required for Auntie Player to access the various sources.

 

[thekeyring]

In the coming months hey? I already have iPlayer built into my 4k TV and numerous other devices. Thanks though Apple.

But for the rest of us who don't, and who want all our TV services in one place, it's nice to have.

Honestly...

 

[Reason077]

They originally said they had no plans to do it

Err, did they?

iPlayer is already available on pretty much every other Apple device, and on pretty much every other set top box that has an API (Now TV, Amazon Fire stick, Chromecast), as well as being built in to all modern smart TVs sold in the UK. Clearly, BBC are pretty keen on making it as widely available across all devices as possible.

I can't imagine any reason they would not be doing an Apple TV version now that it has an Open API.

 

[ke-iron]

Hahaha, WHAT? They are meaning to say they actually managed to launch this thing without Siri support for Apple Music? I am at loss for words...

Hmm lets see. They've only been working on getting the new MacBook, Apple Watch, iPhone, iMac, Apple TV, iPad pro, iOS 9, Mac OS X El Capitan, Apple Music amongst other software and hardware that they also have to make cross compatible regardless of it being an iOS or Mac OS device and all out in the same year. Not to mention the software and hardware they're already working on for next year. So yea give them a break. Siri control will be added to it in a few months.

You fail to realize Apple is fighting many battles on many fronts all at the same time, and probably more than any of their competitors.

 

[Reason077]

In the coming months hey? I already have iPlayer built into my 4k TV and numerous other devices. Thanks though Apple.

It's built in to my LG TV too, but that doesn't mean I don't want it on Apple TV. Better performance, slicker UI, potential integration with Siri all come to mind.

 

[Twimfy]

Seriously, I am happy to hear about Apple Music, but scratching my head about why they didn't work to make it available at launch.

I'm just pleased they made an announcement as for the past few weeks I assumed the functionality was either broken or disabled...or required very specific commands nobody could figure out lol.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

It's a free service for UK residents, funded by our TV license. I'm not aware of any legal availability outside of the U.K.

Earlier this year the BBC mentioned plans to roll it out in Europe, but haven't heard anything further since then.

 

[Jakexb]

I'm going to get crucified for this, but Apple's MO lately seems to be all about releasing things that aren't ready to be released.. aka lacking some obvious features.

I'm sure there was a huge debate internally. But it looks like they knew they wouldn't have the new video streaming subscription service ready ( which I bet is tied into the infrastructure for Apple Music as well ) until after Christmas and they didn't want to miss on the Christmas gift sales. The AppleTv is probably one of the most "giftable" Apple products.

 

[x86isslow]

I would happily pay for access to it here in the States. I hope they make this happen.

(Love the modification to my favorite Doctor Who logo, btw.)

Typically your local NPR/PBS station licenses the content.

 

[garylapointe]

In the coming months hey? I already have iPlayer built into my 4k TV and numerous other devices. Thanks though Apple.

It's the BBC's choice not Apples.

Gary

 

[BruiserB]

Next year? is it just me or is Apple still treating the Apple TV like a hobby project? Next to no marketing on it, hell it's not even displayed on their homepage, they don't seem to be investing in it at all which is a shame as it has a lot of potential.

I'm sure they're saving the big marketing push for when they can finally offer some sort of TV package to go with it.

 

[BMox81]

I'm sure there was a huge debate internally. But it looks like they knew they wouldn't have the new video streaming subscription service ready ( which I bet is tied into the infrastructure for Apple Music as well ) until after Christmas and they didn't want to miss on the Christmas gift sales. The AppleTv is probably one of the most "giftable" Apple products.

It was until they decided to price it at £129! Now it's in the main present category.

I mentioned to the wife that BBC iPlayer was coming to the new ATV and it was the first time she'd even been remotely interested in it. I've had the 3rd gen for about a year now.

What's crucial is that the others now decide to play ball. Only then will it really be of any use in the UK.

 

[johngordon]

How so? They originally said they had no plans to do it, then all of a sudden have a change of heart, and in the time between, some bright sparks have come shown that there isn't that much work in getting something up and running, and I'm sure the resources the BBC has could get their own thing up and running just as quickly, and without having to resort to any workarounds that might have been required for Auntie Player to access the various sources.

It seems more likely that any change of heart was because of the new Apple TV and TVOS rather than anything else.

Did those developers get something up and running on the old Apple TV, or did they just have a change of heart when they got hold of the new one?

Will be interesting to see how it plays on the Apple TV - its better than it was on Virgin Tivo boxes since they updated it, but still get more buffering than you'd hope for.

 

[garylapointe]

People in the United States:
BBC iPlayer is available for Mac and Windows but if your computer isn't in (or doesn't appear to be in*) the BBC viewing area, the software won't work. I think they even have an iOS app, but it isn't in the US iTunes stores.

Unless something significant changes and they go to a subscription service of some sort, it's not going to run on US versions of the AppleTV.

Gary

* = VPN software can make your computer appear to be in other locations.

 

[johngordon]

It was until they decided to price it at £129! Now it's in the main present category.

I mentioned to the wife that BBC iPlayer was coming to the new ATV and it was the first time she'd even been remotely interested in it. I've had the 3rd gen for about a year now.

What's crucial is that the others now decide to play ball. Only then will it really be of any use in the UK.

Presumably they will, especially if they have iOS apps.

It's a shame we won't be getting HBO for years though, as they have their exclusive deal with Sky. Given the way things were going with streaming boxes, it was a bit surprising they renewed that for another five years fairly recently.

 

[johngordon]

It's built in to my LG TV too, but that doesn't mean I don't want it on Apple TV. Better performance, slicker UI, potential integration with Siri all come to mind.

Exactly - its good to see it on different devices, especially as they seem to make improvements to some devices, while others retain legacy versions. We had a version on our Sony TV from 2010 - a early internet connected tv, which you'd hope future proofed it to some degree. But within a year nothing was really getting updated on it, and the version of iPlayer remained pretty basic. The version on Virgin TIVO is pretty good now, but it will be interesting to see it on Apple TV nonetheless. Although I wonder if the with to HTML5 makes it a bit easier to keep them fairly consistent across different platforms than it did in the past.

 

[OllyW]

It's a shame we won't be getting HBO for years though, as they have their exclusive deal with Sky. Given the way things were going with streaming boxes, it was a bit surprising they renewed that for another five years fairly recently.

You can already stream HBO content from Sky on the Apple TV using the Now TV app.

 

[BMox81]

Presumably they will, especially if they have iOS apps.

It's a shame we won't be getting HBO for years though, as they have their exclusive deal with Sky. Given the way things were going with streaming boxes, it was a bit surprising they renewed that for another five years fairly recently.

A change of region should sort that out no?

 

[BMox81]

You can already stream HBO content from Sky on the Apple TV using the Now TV app.

The Now TV platform is awful.

 

[OllyW]

The Now TV platform is awful.

I haven't had any problems using it.

 

[johngordon]

A change of region should sort that out no?

I guess, if you know what you're doing. Wouldn't you still need a US based bank / credit card account to sign up though?

I suppose it can be done, but probably not for the layman.

 

[johngordon]

You can already stream HBO content from Sky on the Apple TV using the Now TV app.

That's true. I've only used it for the odd Scottish football match though.

Does it include all the stuff that Sky subscribers get? I remember looking at the website, and it looked like there were a few *s, suggesting that some of the newer, better stuff might be Sky only?

 

[leon44]

This kind of thing is key in the UK where having apps for all the main free TV providers makes it a much easier sell for the average person. iPlayer, ITV player, 4OD and Demand 5 are the minimum required for the average UK potential buyer.

Agreed, except of course Demand 5...