Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster


Roku has teamed up with Apple to offer the Apple TV subscription service on the Roku Channel, giving Roku users easy access to Apple's streaming service. The Roku Channel is available across all Roku devices, and it provides access to free content as well as premium subscriptions.

apple-tv-on-roku-channel.jpg

With the partnership, Apple could see subscriber growth, while Roku will be able to offer subscribers access to popular content like Formula 1, Major League Soccer, and Major League Baseball. Apple TV via the Roku Channel is still priced at $12.99 per month or $99 per year, with a 7-day free trial.

roku-apple-tv-integration.jpg

Roku has partnered with a long list of premium services, including Starz, Paramount+, HBO Max, AMC+, Britbox, Crunchyroll, Shudder, and more, with a full list available on the Roku website. With Roku Channel, premium services are managed through a user's Roku account. There has been an Apple TV app available on Roku since 2019, but the Roku Channel recommends Apple TV content alongside other content, and makes it easier for customers to subscribe.

Apple TV on the Roku Channel can be watched on a long list of devices, including smart TVs, streaming players from Amazon, Google, and Roku, the web, and on iOS and Android devices.

Apple has a similar feature for third-party services, Apple Channels. With Apple Channels, users can subscribe to premium content through the Apple TV app and manage that content through their Apple Accounts.

Article Link: You Can Now Subscribe to Apple TV Through the Roku Channel
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: Z-4195 and KeithBN
I cannot get behind the mentality of intentionally locking yourself into a single platform… I attempt to use every service through the best pipeline for it. I don’t subscribe through third parties because that usually adds costs and puts weird restrictions on customer service where they’re not allowed to tell you that the intermediary is causing the problem…
 
I've been staying with someone who has a Roku TV.

Man is Roku ever a garbage experience.

I pulled out one of my extra Apple TVs and straight up gave it to her.

Friends don't let friends use these awful OS & hardware experiences.
apple just wants you to subscribe to apple tv service even through 3rd party hardware/OS
 
  • Like
Reactions: turbineseaplane
I cannot get behind the mentality of intentionally locking yourself into a single platform… I attempt to use every service through the best pipeline for it. I don’t subscribe through third parties because that usually adds costs and puts weird restrictions on customer service where they’re not allowed to tell you that the intermediary is causing the problem…
My wife staffed a Hilton in college... and she's told me crazy stories but the big lesson is to book through the vendor always without an intermediary. When they bump people out of rooms or generally treat them poorly with little recourse? It ain't the Hilton Gold... it's always the Expedia shopper. They make near $0 on those rooms and know their business does not matter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JM2 and nt5672
Nice of them to add Apple TV to Roku boxes. It'd be nice if they returned the favor and added the Roku Channel to Apple TVs. There's not a ton of stuff on there that I care to watch, but there are a few, and I don't want to watch them on a small screen or deal with AirPlay.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CoMoMacUser
I've been staying with someone who has a Roku TV.

Man is Roku ever a garbage experience.

I pulled out one of my extra Apple TVs and straight up gave it to her.

Friends don't let friends use these awful OS & hardware experiences.

We have an Apple TV 4K and a TCL Roku TV. The wife and kids vastly prefer the Roku interface, enough that the Apple TV got relegated to the exercise room, connected to an old Samsung TV.

I do have a Firewalla, and it blocks all the Roku ads and tracking, so maybe that's why?

Nice of them to add Apple TV to Roku boxes. It'd be nice if they returned the favor and added the Roku Channel to Apple TVs. There's not a ton of stuff on there that I care to watch, but there are a few, and I don't want to watch them on a small screen or deal with AirPlay.

The Apple TV app has been on Roku for years, you just couldn't subscribe with it.
 
Last edited:
Nice of them to add Apple TV to Roku boxes. It'd be nice if they returned the favor and added the Roku Channel to Apple TVs. There's not a ton of stuff on there that I care to watch, but there are a few, and I don't want to watch them on a small screen or deal with AirPlay.
They talked about this on the Upgrade podcast. They said Apple really needs to have a ‘live’ TV option. I use Roku’s ‘live’ TV option all the time, even if it’s just to watch old sitcoms or dramas or cooking shows.
 
I have two Roku TVs. Rarely have issues with them.
Same. I have a couple of Roku sticks that replaced my old Apple TV, and they're fine. I can't imagine paying $200+ more just so my apps load a few seconds faster the one time per day I open them. I also have Pi-hole set up, so no ads or telemetry. Even mid-roll ads in Disney+ are getting blocked.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MarkIII
I've been staying with someone who has a Roku TV.

Man is Roku ever a garbage experience.

I pulled out one of my extra Apple TVs and straight up gave it to her.

Friends don't let friends use these awful OS & hardware experiences.
Was it a $10 Roku stick? There is nothing wrong with more powerful Roku models. And they have better remote controls than Apple TV.
 
The Roku remote is worth switching alone. I gave up my atv years ago.

Same here. We have a TV in my wife's office with Roku built-in plus added Roku streambars to our other TVs so we get improved sound AND a nice streaming solution. Its great having the same UI and remote for all TVs without buying yet another piece of hardware.

The downside to Roku is they show ads on the home screen and you can't program the shortcuts on the remote, they default to certain apps... one of which is Apple TV (the service). The only thing I miss from Apple TV (the hardware) is direct access to my photos and music. However Roku supports AirPlay so I just sync up my iPad for that now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kenta_
Same here. We have a TV in my wife's office with Roku built-in plus added Roku streambars to our other TVs so we get improved sound AND a nice streaming solution. Its great having the same UI and remote for all TVs without buying yet another piece of hardware.

The downside to Roku is they show ads on the home screen and you can't program the shortcuts on the remote, they default to certain apps... one of which is Apple TV (the service). The only thing I miss from Apple TV (the hardware) is direct access to my photos and music. However Roku supports AirPlay so I just sync up my iPad for that now.
The rechargeable remote has 2 programmable shortcut buttons.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.