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Watching network TV on Apple TV

Boyd01

Boyd01

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Original poster
Staff member
Feb 21, 2012
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4,965
New Jersey Pine Barrens
I can't get cable or broadcast stations in my rural location, and don't really care because I'm not interested. But when the kids visit, they often like to watch things. Specifically, they will want to watch the New Years celebration on Times Square when they visit tomorrow.

Is there a way to watch this live on NBC/ABC/CBS on my AppleTV? Is that something that will be streamed for free anyway (didn't have an AppleTV last year)? If not, is there some kind of code they can get from their cable provider before they leave home? Or would that only work when they are connected from their own ISP/cable company?
 
Boyd01 said:
I can't get cable or broadcast stations in my rural location, and don't really care because I'm not interested. But when the kids visit, they often like to watch things. Specifically, they will want to watch the New Years celebration on Times Square when they visit tomorrow.

Is there a way to watch this live on NBC/ABC/CBS on my AppleTV? Is that something that will be streamed for free anyway (didn't have an AppleTV last year)? If not, is there some kind of code they can get from their cable provider before they leave home? Or would that only work when they are connected from their own ISP/cable company?
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Depending on your internet provider you may be able to get some kind of streaming TV only package. I know comcast has started to bundle things like HBO/Showtime into their internet plans knowing that people just want to stream them.

For $4.99 you can get CBS.
 
OP, if you have broadband internet from your cable provider, hook up the cable to your TV and scan channels. Often a bundle of channels are available that way. Unless the rules have changed recently, the "local" networks are supposed to be freely available that way via clearQAM.

If you have a Mac or iDevice, you can probably find one of the network's streaming their programming and then airplay it through your :apple:TV to your TV. I don't know if any of them will be live streaming their New Year countdown show but check their websites.

Are you sure you can't get an antenna to work where you are? In driving around the area, you see NO antennas rising above houses? Try Antennaweb.org to verify you are out of range.

After that, things start getting more complicated. If any of those kids have DISH, they can use the DISH Anywhere app to watch the programming, airplay it through your :apple:TV to your TV. I think DirecTV has such an option too.

Then, there's the "go somewhere else" option like a friend's (with cable/satt) house or a bar.
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
OP, if you have broadband internet from your cable provider, hook up the cable to your TV and scan channels.
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Thanks, but as I posted above, no cable here - I am way back in the woods.

FWIW, this is what I learned. One of the networks (ABC I think) has an Apple TV app that allows you to watch live TV, but we could not authorize it. Wouldn't work for me since I have no cable subscription. The kids have DirectTV and evidently that isn't supported either.

They have a DirectTV app on their ipad and we tried airplaying but for some reason only the audio came through on the Apple TV and no picture. Anyway, my Verizon DSL is really poor for streaming (1.8 mbit/sec). The other networks just have news apps on the Apple TV. One of them was showing a boring fixed camera wide shot of Times Square.

But I got a cheap antenna the other day and ran a wire up to my attic for it. Even though I couldn't get a signal during the day, I was amazed that we could get the Philadelphia CBS station at 11:00 PM. That station is more than 50 miles away and really shouldn't have worked at that distance… I guess atmospheric conditions were just right. Some time after midnight it stopped working, but by that time we didn't care anyway. :) I am not interested in network TV at all myself, and really New Years Eve is the only time we want to watch anything so getting a "real" outdoor antenna would not be worth the effort/cost.

Also, I was really happy to find that the AppleTV PBS app supports all their programming. You need to create an acct at pbs.org, but it's free and easy to do. My granddaughter had a great time watching PBS Kids this morning. It streamed really well on my slow connection (I have the Apple TV set for SD). I guess those cartoons compress a lot better than live action.

Happy New Year to all!
 
Boyd01 said:
FWIW, this is what I learned. One of the networks (ABC I think) has an Apple TV that allows you to watch live TV, but we could not authorize it. Wouldn't work for me since I have no cable subscription. The kids have DirectTV and evidently that isn't supported either.
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Starting sometime in the next couple of months DirecTV customers can stream all ABC/Disney programming. That includes ESPN and ABC.

With DTV you will also be able to stream the Fox suite including Fox now, FS 1 and 2, FX, FXX and Nat Geo.

From an iPad you can you can stream to your ATV NBC shows but nothing live, except sports.

As stated above, for $5.99/month you stream CBS programming.
 
OP, you tag yourself "New Jersey The Pine Barrons" so I'm guessing about zip code 08015. If that's right and using it with AntennaWeb.Org, it looks like the most modest antenna (color code yellow) would pull ALL network TV stations and then some. If you bought a bigger antenna (green, red, blue or violet), it looks like you could pull up to 22 TV stations from multiple directions.

Given the population and city densities of NJ, it would be hard for me to believe that someone could live in a (TV) signal-free location. Yes, it might take installing a small or medium-sized outdoor antenna but that small expense (probably < $250 if you buy one and pay someone else to do all of the installation work) would likely unlock a good amount of "free*" television. If you could do the installation work yourself, the antenna itself could be purchased for <$100.

The "cheap antenna" in the attic (where it would have been hampered from pulling signals by being inside) showed that there are accessible signals in your area. I bet if you put up a quality outdoor, you'd get a fair number of channels. I read the "don't care" and "other than this one time" comments but having such access would add a lot of "free*" entertainment on demand whenever you or visiting family would desire it.

If you are uncertain about whether an antenna could tap into such signals, go walk around the neighborhood and see if you can spot an outdoor antenna on other homes. If you spy any/many, that would be a strong sign that the signals are available if you want them. If you happen to be friends with any such people in those homes with an antenna, ask them to show how the channels look on their TVs.

Just a suggestion. If you subscribe to even a few seasons of shows via that :apple:TV and those shows are available "free*" over the air, you'll likely save money by buying the antenna in as little as the first year (plus you might discover a number of other shows you like).
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
OP, you tag yourself "New Jersey The Pine Barrons" so I'm guessing about zip code 08015.
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Good guess Darryl, but you are about 40 miles too far north. I'm south of Mays Landing and already know about antennaweb. All the networks are in Philadelphia and I'm more than 40 miles away "as the crow flies". The Pine Barrens may be larger than you think. :)

pinelands.gif


I know all about antennas, have lived in rural areas for more than half my 65 years. Had a big antenna when I lived in Central NY for 20 years and could pull in stations over 50 miles away with varying quality. My grandmother lived in a little town in Illinois and had a 50 foot tower in the yard. But really, it's a pain in the butt for a lot of reasons.

And maybe I didn't make it clear enough above…. I don't like network tv and cable tv. I used to watch it for hours when it was available. Moving to my current location in 2008 where it's not available was very liberating. I have found mucn more productive use for my time. I'm not a sports fan.

I got the Apple TV so I could watch my iTunes library which contains about 500 movies and 500 TV shows and continues to grow. I have a mac mini as an iTunes server and have only used 1TB out of 3TB available.

It's a bonus if I can provide some tv access when the kids visit, but that is only a few days out of the year. No interest in putting up another antenna, no interest in paying for any subscriptions. We all agreed that this years New Years celebration was the best ever, so it's all good here now. :)

I gave them an Apple TV for Christmas and a new LED TV to replace their 10 year old hand me down 480p plasma screen. They live in NYC with a fast internet connection, so it's working out great.
 
Boyd01 said:
Good guess Darryl, but you are about 40 miles too far north. I'm south of Mays Landing and already know about antennaweb. All the networks are in Philadelphia and I'm more than 40 miles away "as the crow flies". The Pine Barrens may be larger than you think. :)

Image

I know all about antennas, have lived in rural areas for more than half my 65 years. Had a big antenna when I lived in Central NY for 20 years and could pull in stations over 50 miles away with varying quality. My grandmother lived in a little town in Illinois and had a 50 foot tower in the yard. But really, it's a pain in the butt for a lot of reasons.

And maybe I didn't make it clear enough above…. I don't like network tv and cable tv. I used to watch it for hours when it was available. Moving to my current location in 2008 where it's not available was very liberating. I have found mucn more productive use for my time. I'm not a sports fan.

I got the Apple TV so I could watch my iTunes library which contains about 500 movies and 500 TV shows and continues to grow. I have a mac mini as an iTunes server and have only used 1TB out of 3TB available.

It's a bonus if I can provide some tv access when the kids visit, but that is only a few days out of the year. No interest in putting up another antenna, no interest in paying for any subscriptions. We all agreed that this years New Years celebration was the best ever, so it's all good here now. :)

I gave them an Apple TV for Christmas and a new LED TV to replace their 10 year old hand me down 480p plasma screen. They live in NYC with a fast internet connection, so it's working out great.
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Where the kids live, does their parent(s) have paid TV service? If yes, use their credentials to activate all the channels so the kids have to live programmes such as from the Disney channels and pbs kids
 
2010mini said:
Where the kids live, does their parent(s) have paid TV service?
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Thanks, but I think we've already covered this above. I am the "Dad" and the "kids" are in their 30's with their own kid. They have Direct TV and that does not seem to be an option (at the present time) for activation of the network TV apps on the Apple TV.

As I posted earlier, I already activated PBS Kids. Anyone can do that for free without any need for cable service, just follow the instructions in the app.
 
Boyd01 said:
Thanks, but I think we've already covered this above. I am the "Dad" and the "kids" are in their 30's with their own kid. They have Direct TV and that does not seem to be an option (at the present time) for activation of the network TV apps on the Apple TV.

As I posted earlier, I already activated PBS Kids. Anyone can do that for free without any need for cable service, just follow the instructions in the app.
Click to expand...

gotcha.... what's the deal with Direct TV though? I thought they finally joined the TV Everywhere model???
 
2010mini said:
gotcha.... what's the deal with Direct TV though? I thought they finally joined the TV Everywhere model???
Click to expand...

DirecTV didn't have streaming rights with ABC/Disney or Fox/FoxSports 1 and 2/FX. However, as I said above, they will have full streaming with ABC/Disney/ESPN and Fox within the next few weeks.
 
Irishman said:
But how do you imagine that would work?

----------



Apparently some imagine that all it requires is that Apple adds an icon to the screen and bam! You've got live local network programs!
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No but every network provider (ABC, NBC,etc) should have a "live feed" option in their respective app that just streams the stations broadcast. its not difficult, doesn't need to be over complicated, its the solution to bringing down the cable companies. Each station has an App that has a live stream as well on demand content like they do now. so instead of flipping through channels, i'm flipping through apps.

As far as the current state of things. Apple could easily stream major events like dick clarks new years eve special or the superbowl, world series, etc etc by negotiating special agreements with the broadcast station and hosting it in their app on the AppleTV.
 
jimmirehman said:
No but every network provider (ABC, NBC,etc) should have a "live feed" option in their respective app that just streams the stations broadcast. its not difficult, doesn't need to be over complicated, its the solution to bringing down the cable companies. Each station has an App that has a live stream as well on demand content like they do now. so instead of flipping through channels, i'm flipping through apps.

As far as the current state of things. Apple could easily stream major events like dick clarks new years eve special or the superbowl, world series, etc etc by negotiating special agreements with the broadcast station and hosting it in their app on the AppleTV.
Click to expand...

So, if it's so easily done, why hasn't Apple done it?
 
Irishman said:
I am aware of both, which is why I would not characterize it as easily done.
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The technical aspect is easily done. Steve said he had cracked the TV problem shortly before his unfortunate passing. My guess it he had figured out the bridge that is needed between cable provider and content provider. I think we are slowly starting to see the changes. CBS and HBO are going solo with AppleTV apps for a monthly cost. I would much prefer an ala carte monthly bill for just the channels i actually watch and an App Store that would allow me to just download the apps i have subscriptions to. My guess is whatever is holding the rev 4 AppleTV back is directly related to ala carte content providers.
 
jimmirehman said:
The technical aspect is easily done. Steve said he had cracked the TV problem shortly before his unfortunate passing. My guess it he had figured out the bridge that is needed between cable provider and content provider. I think we are slowly starting to see the changes. CBS and HBO are going solo with AppleTV apps for a monthly cost. I would much prefer an ala carte monthly bill for just the channels i actually watch and an App Store that would allow me to just download the apps i have subscriptions to. My guess is whatever is holding the rev 4 AppleTV back is directly related to ala carte content providers.
Click to expand...

A la carte would be prohibitivly expensive for the end user if its to match the current revenue studios, networks and pay TV providers current make. Everyone complains about 'all the channels they don't watch' and think a la carte is the answer. Problem is, the revenue from the less popular channels go towards the content you do want on the channels you watch.

Unless you can come up with a way for all parties to make the same or more money, the current model will not change.

Oh and a la carte exists right now..... Go on iTunes, Google Play Amazon etc and just purchase the content you want. Problem solved
 
2010mini said:
A la carte would be prohibitivly expensive for the end user if its to match the current revenue studios, networks and pay TV providers current make. Everyone complains about 'all the channels they don't watch' and think a la carte is the answer. Problem is, the revenue from the less popular channels go towards the content you do want on the channels you watch.

Unless you can come up with a way for all parties to make the same or more money, the current model will not change.

Oh and a la carte exists right now..... Go on iTunes, Google Play Amazon etc and just purchase the content you want. Problem solved
Click to expand...


$4.99 a month per channel for the 6 channels i actually watch out of all the crap i pay for currently from comcast. Yeah not that expensivve
 
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