Apple TV Universal Search Gains Support for Bravo, E!, Syfy, and USA

Friday June 10, 2016 9:29 AM PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Apple today added four new channels to its universal search functionality on the fourth-generation Apple TV, including support for Bravo, E!, Syfy, and USA. The feature lets users find specific media content across multiple apps using the Apple TV's text or Siri voice search.

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Users can keep up-to-date with which apps are carrying support for universal search in the company's dedicated support document. The four new apps today follow a steady stream of additions to universal search over the past few months, including NBC in May and CBS in April.

Apple's rate of adding new apps to universal search also seems to be increasing, considering that the Apple TV apps for Bravo, E!, and Syfy launched on the fourth-generation device just a few weeks ago. The current U.S. lineup for universal search encompasses the four major networks, services like iTunes, HBO, Hulu, and Netflix, and other channels including Disney, National Geographic, and FX.

Netflix and iTunes remain the sole apps supported by universal search in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, while in most other territories only iTunes content is supported.

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22 comments


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William Gates
32 months ago
Can Plex be next? Or even local iTunes libraries?
Rating: 4 Votes
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gusapple
32 months ago
Why can't universal search be implemented as an API? Wasn't that the original idea?
Rating: 3 Votes
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Ballis
32 months ago
Very cool feature. Will probably have decent support in Europe in about ten years. Yay!
Rating: 1 Votes
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rdlink
32 months ago

Can Plex be next? Or even local iTunes libraries?


Agreed. Most of the ones they're deploying these days are virtually useless, since the content in question requires a cable or satellite subscription to their network. The point is to get the cable monkey off our backs, Apple.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Glassed Silver
32 months ago

Can Plex be next? Or even local iTunes libraries?

Plex maybe, but I doubt they even care about proper integration of their own **** anymore.

Glassed Silver:mac
Rating: 1 Votes
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macintologist
32 months ago
Useless feature for cord cutters and cord nevers.
Rating: 1 Votes
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Peel
32 months ago

But the naming convention for content on Plex is very similar right? (Based on the agents it uses for this metadata)

Yes and no. Plex has the option for several agents for each media type. But you can override anything that it autofills. I often have to make up my own supplementary data for the extras that come on DVD series of television shows, as thetvdb.com (the agent for TV shows) doesn't list anything unless it was actually broadcast. So, it's a bit of a mixed bag.
Rating: 1 Votes
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