Apple today added CBS to its universal search lineup for the fourth-generation Apple TV, allowing fans of hit CBS shows like NCIS, Big Bang Theory and Supergirl to easily find their content via the Siri button on the Siri Remote. The move brings the total number of sources in universal search to 16.

cbs_apple_tv_search
Since launch, Apple has worked to expand the feature and add to the five original sources. In January, Apple added FOX NOW, FX NOW, National Geographic TV, PBS and PBS Kids. In February, the company added Watch ABC, Disney XD, Disney Channel and Disney Jr. Last week, Apple added Starz alongside the launch of the new Starz app.

While Apple has steadily added to the feature in the United States, Netflix and iTunes remain the only search options in Australia, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Other regions' universal search options are limited to movies in iTunes.

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Top Rated Comments

goobot Avatar
93 months ago
Any reason why apple doesn't just create an api so any can do this on its own? They can make it so the user can turn off the ones they don't want. Just like notification center on iOS can turn off notifications from certain apps.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ozaz Avatar
93 months ago
Once again, Australia misses out.The new Star Trek TV series will be on CBS, and I'm sure there are a lot of Aussie fans who would love to see it. But they'll not have the chance because CBS is not available down here. Sure, we could get a VPN to get past the Geolock, but that's not the point - its the principle that is important here. More and more, there is content for some countries and not for others, which in my view is against the whole concept of the internet.
But surely an Australian broadcaster will run it.

International distribution via non-US broadcasters is how TV has worked for decades, and I don't think that's going to change any time soon even if the internet has made it technically possible to do things differently. Must be more lucrative and/or easier to do it the usual way.

What I think has improved compared to say 10-15 years ago is the delay between US broadcasts and non-US broadcasts of big shows. e.g. last season of Game of Thrones was available to non-US networks to show at same time as US airing I believe.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1applerules1 Avatar
93 months ago
One of us
One of us
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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