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UK's EE TV Platform Launches With Customized Apple TV 4K

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EE TV, a new broadband TV platform from EE, today launched as a BT TV replacement service in the UK, offering subscribers the option of an Apple TV 4K with customized remote control.

ee-tv-apple-tv-4k.jpg

EE TV offers access to more than 70 Freeview channels, a Netflix subscription, as well as premium channels from Sky, Discovery, Eurosport, TNT Sports, and more.

To access the platform, subscribers can opt to receive one of three set-top boxes: A standard EE TV "mini" box, a "pro" EE TV box that includes a hard drive for recording live TV, or – in what EE is calling a "UK-first" – a bespoke Apple TV 4K set up for EE TV content consumption.

Made in partnership with Apple, the custom Apple TV 4K features a streamlined setup process and the EE TV app preinstalled, featuring live streaming and on-demand content, with quick access to live channels and third-party apps such as BBC iPlayer, as well as a unified search to find content across multiple platforms. The Apple TV also comes with a custom EE-branded remote including a special TV guide button and channel rockers.

The EE TV boxes offer a similar hub that combines live broadcast TV, access to UK catch-up and on demand apps, and the ability to buy and rent content, but they lack access to the other services that Apple TV typically provides. Those new to EE TV are also eligible to six months of Apple TV+ for free.

ee-apple-tv-remote.jpg

All 24-month contracts come with live free-to-air channels and catchup. The platform also offers a range of additional services and premium channel packages, priced between £4.99 and £76, with customers able to flexibly add or remove packages from month to month. EE also offers subscribers a bonus EE TV Box Mini for "free multi-room TV." For more information, see the EE website.

(Thanks, Ross!)

Article Link: UK's EE TV Platform Launches With Customized Apple TV 4K
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2023/12/06/uk-ee-tv-platform-custom-apple-tv-4k/
Last edited:
How can they have the app preinstalled? Is the AppleTV set up, before being sent to the buyer and what AppleID do they use? Does anyone know how this is done?
 
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iBluetooth said:
How can they have the app preinstalled? Is the AppleTV set up, before being sent to the buyer and what AppleID do they use? Does anyone know how this is done?
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Guessing they made a deal with Apple to have the Apple TVs "tagged" into an Apple-internal sort of MDM profile that downloads the EE app automatically on setup at the customer's home. They wouldn't even have to open any of the boxes or touch the Apple TVs.
 
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For UK residents, this could be quite good, especially if it means we can avoid using the dismal ITV App.....
 
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Interesting but a shame the iPlayer app is total tripe on TV. Every time I load it it just says "Something went wrong", there's no 4K streaming, no subtitle support, no kids profile support… blargh.

The BBC view TV as proprietary and extra work to support, so have done the bare minimum. They had to be shamed into making an iPlayer app for TVOS in the first place, after a dev did their own version and posted a video on twitter showing it only took a few hours… 🫣
 
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Rob__Mac said:
Interesting but a shame the iPlayer app is total tripe on TV. Every time I load it it just says "Something went wrong", there's no 4K streaming, no subtitle support, no kids profile support… blargh.

The BBC view TV as proprietary and extra work to support, so have done the bare minimum. They had to be shamed into making an iPlayer app for TVOS in the first place, after a dev did their own version and posted a video on twitter showing it only took a few hours… 🫣
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Eh? Works perfectly for me. Subtitles the lot...
 
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I have my mobile phone with EE, and my broadband with BT, the company that owns EE. When I log into the EE site, I see no pricing, I just see a link that says "login and save." But when I click that, I just get taken into my account information. There seems no way to see a price for this, but this may be, because I don't get my broadband from EE. This is a bit surprising, since the two companies work together; you would expect that you could get this with either EE or BT broadband. Not that I'm particularly interested in the service, because I already have an Apple TV, but I am at least curious to find out what they offer.
 
Kazgarth said:
I don't like the way Apple going with per-installed apps from telecommunication companies.

The major distinction of Apple products is being free from junkware (eg. Android phones have carrier junk apps per-installed).
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You can only get it purchased from the provider though, I can’t imagine someone would purchase an Apple TV from the provider without wanting to use their app to access their services.
 
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indyandy said:
Salt in Switzerland has had a similar deal with a custom remote as optional add-on for years.
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Yeah this looks like exactly the same remote, just with different branding.

I wonder if you also get the official remote included or if it's only this custom one. I saw the use case for these custom remotes back when Apple shipped the useless original Siri remote which was clearly designed for some kind of robot or alien to hold and use, certainly not humans. However, the current remote is really rather good in my opinion.
 
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u1725 said:
Guessing they made a deal with Apple to have the Apple TVs "tagged" into an Apple-internal sort of MDM profile that downloads the EE app automatically on setup at the customer's home. They wouldn't even have to open any of the boxes or touch the Apple TVs.
Click to expand...
Nope. Custom tvOS image.
 
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