"Hey Siri" support and possibly wireless charging case alongside AirPower charging mat.
BBC iPlayer and Siri for Apple Music Coming to New Apple TV in Months Ahead
Just over a week after developers pressed BBC to bring iPlayer to Apple TV by building their own proof-of-concept app, the British public broadcaster has now confirmed on Twitter and its website that it will be launching the streaming service for the new Apple TV in the "coming months."
BBC iPlayer is an on-demand video service that allows viewers to catch up on TV show episodes and other content airing on the popular British channel. The app was not available on previous Apple TV boxes, except over AirPlay using an iPhone or iPad, despite versions existing for Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and other streaming devices.
BBC has reversed course since the new Apple TV was announced in September, at which time it announced on Twitter it had "no plans currently" to develop an iPlayer app for the latest set-top box. iPlayer had more than 220 million TV requests in August from users on other devices, the BBC says, so a native tvOS app will be a welcomed arrival for many viewers in the United Kingdom and abroad.
Apple also confirmed to BuzzFeed News that Siri is coming to Apple Music on the new Apple TV at the beginning of next year. This functionality will allow Apple TV users to say commands such as "play the top songs from Taylor Swift's 1989 album" or "play more like this" to control Apple Music on the big screen.
The new Apple TV launches October 30, coinciding with the first deliveries to customers.
BBC iPlayer will be coming to the new Apple TV in the coming months...
— BBC iPlayer (@BBCiPlayer) October 29, 2015"Available on over 10,000 devices, BBC iPlayer is one of the biggest and best on-demand video services in the world, and has transformed how UK audiences watch programmes online," said the BBC's director-general Tony Hall.
"I am delighted that iPlayer will be coming to the new Apple TV in the coming months, helping to bring the BBC's distinctive and loved content to an even wider audience."
Auntie Player proof-of-concept iPlayer app for the new Apple TV
BBC iPlayer is an on-demand video service that allows viewers to catch up on TV show episodes and other content airing on the popular British channel. The app was not available on previous Apple TV boxes, except over AirPlay using an iPhone or iPad, despite versions existing for Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and other streaming devices.
BBC has reversed course since the new Apple TV was announced in September, at which time it announced on Twitter it had "no plans currently" to develop an iPlayer app for the latest set-top box. iPlayer had more than 220 million TV requests in August from users on other devices, the BBC says, so a native tvOS app will be a welcomed arrival for many viewers in the United Kingdom and abroad.
Apple also confirmed to BuzzFeed News that Siri is coming to Apple Music on the new Apple TV at the beginning of next year. This functionality will allow Apple TV users to say commands such as "play the top songs from Taylor Swift's 1989 album" or "play more like this" to control Apple Music on the big screen.
The new Apple TV launches October 30, coinciding with the first deliveries to customers.
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Caution)
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42 months ago
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.
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.)
42 months ago
Does anyone know how fees usually work for iPlayer? Is it monthly, yearly? Is there a usual even?
I love Doctor Who and would pay for it for the 4 months a year its on... :)
There are no fees for BBC iPlayer, its free to use but only available when in the UK.
This is briliant news as I use the iPlayer quite a lot.
42 months ago
In the coming months hey? I already have iPlayer built into my 4k TV and numerous other devices. Thanks though Apple.
Why is it Apple's fault the BBC isn't making an app available the instant the new AppleTV is available?
42 months ago
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.
Bloody Hell. Once again we in the US have been left out. Bollocks! :)
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.
42 months ago
Still makes no sense to me that it wasn't made for the old Apple TV.
Nevertheless this is good news, the lack of it up until now probably made the Apple TV a bit of a non-starter as an option for a lot of people (here in the UK) when it was available on so many competing devices.
Nevertheless this is good news, the lack of it up until now probably made the Apple TV a bit of a non-starter as an option for a lot of people (here in the UK) when it was available on so many competing devices.
42 months ago
In the coming months hey? I already have iPlayer built into my 4k TV and numerous other devices. Thanks though Apple.
42 months ago
Does anyone know how fees usually work for iPlayer? Is it monthly, yearly? Is there a usual even?
I love Doctor Who and would pay for it for the 4 months a year its on... :)
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.
42 months ago
This is excellent news, now watch all the other networks rush to bring their on demand apps to it.
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