How does ATV choose a show's source?

[srbNYC]

There are shows I watch regularly that are carried by multiples networks/apps on my ATV, but it rarely chooses the one I prefer. For example, I chose SNL in my Hulu watchlist, but new episodes show up in Up Next via USA Network, and that's what launches if I select the new episode.

I supposed I could turn off USA as a TV app source, but I don't want to resort to that. Is there any way to force a default app? I would have thought it would automatically the be app through which I selected the show but alas, no.

 

[JBaby]

Whatever service you watched last will be the service it chooses. For example I’m bingeing Chicago Fire on Hulu. If I watch The Rachel Maddow Show on in the NBC app the next time I go to watch an episode of Fire it will choose NBC.

 

[srbNYC]

Thanks for the fast reply. I wish that worked for me. Citing my example above, I've almost never even launched the USA app, and I watch shows on Hulu all the time. And yet, the new episode of SNL just showed up as a USA program.

 

[JBaby]

I wish that worked for me. Citing my example above, I've almost never even launched the USA app, and I watch shows on Hulu all the time. And yet, the new episode of SNL just showed up as a USA program.

It’s supposed to prioritize your subscriptions first. But I think it priority is free > subscriptions > iTunes.

 

[pmiles]

I've noticed that AppleTV tends to use all the apps/chennels that you have INSTALLED as a point of reference. I can get Up Next references from channels that I don't currently have a subscription to and haven't been on for quite some time. If some of those channels also carry the same shows, it can sometimes point you to that channel instead. Another words, not truly smart. The apps themselves obviously only look at themselves and are thus more reliable. I tend to switch to the app I want to watch a show in and go from there. AppleTV tends to be in the business of trying to get you to subscribe to something or buy something. The actual channels are more reliable.

 

[BF1M]

This drove me crazy watching Wings. It would hop around between Hulu and iTunes. Needs work for sure.

 

[srbNYC]

It's deeply annoying for an interface.

 

[waw74]

I've almost never even launched the USA app

if you don't use the USA app for other shows, you can remove it from the TV app's sources list, it might help with your issue.

Main settings app -> Apps -> TV
Scroll down, and all the streaming apps are listed under "connect to TV"