Apple announced a new universal Apple TV app called 'TV' at its "Hello again" event today.

The TV app is a "unified TV experience" works in sync across Apple TV and iOS devices, and provides an easy-to-use hub for accessing and discovering TV shows and movies in a way that "will change how we watch television", says Apple.

f1477588682
"Using apps on Apple TV, iPhone and iPad has become the primary way for so many of us to watch television," said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. "The TV app shows you what to watch next and easily discover TV shows and movies from many apps in a single place."

The app features category tabs across its main screen. "Watch Now" lists TV episodes and movies you are currently watching. It includes series you might be binging on, as well as new episodes of series you also follow.

With the "Up Next" sub-category, users can enjoy the shows and movies they are currently watching, including recent iTunes rentals and purchases — all presented in the order they're most likely to watch first.

For example, when viewers finish an episode, the next one automatically appears at the start of the Up Next queue, as well any new episodes as they become available.

There's also a "Recommended" sub-category with curated content lists across TV series and movies available in iTunes, broken down by genre. Subscribing to pay-TV third-party apps like DISH also feeds in channel-specific entertainment information.

With the Store category, users can look for something new across video services that they have not yet downloaded or are not yet subscribed to, along with the latest releases on iTunes.

Apple also introduced a new Siri feature for Apple TV that lets viewers tune in directly to live news and sporting events across their apps. Siri is now aware of live sporting events across apps so users can simply say things like, "Watch the Liverpool game" or "Which games are on right now?" Siri also knows additional details of the games, can provide live scores and can take viewers directly to the live stream within the app that’s carrying it, according to Apple.

The TV app will be a free software update in December for Apple TV (4th generation), iPhone and iPad customers in the US. Live tune-in with Siri is available today.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

ipedro Avatar
93 months ago
What we've witnessed today was the birth of the video counterpart to Apple Music. This is far bigger than what people are giving it credit for. It's the beginning of the end of TV shows and movies in iTunes, paving the way to the end of iTunes itself. This may have been the most underestimated announcement of the event. It's going to have far reaching implications in the future as Apple begins to flesh it out.

- The TV app is not just on AppleTV. It's on iOS and will likely make its way to the Mac in the next update. That alone demonstrates its importance in Apple's roadmap. It fills the roles now occupied by iTunes and the Video app on iOS.



- There's already a Store. While right now it's a place to find other video content apps and to direct you to buy or rent on iTunes, it appears to set the ground for a place where you'll buy your TV shows and movies from Apple and other providers.



- The TV app also sets the groundwork for a TV subscription service. Pay one price like you do for Apple Music and watch anything by participating content providers. From a business standpoint, it can follow the Apple Music model where Apple pays the content owner a share of the profits on a per play basis. That's likely the reason why Netflix is not a part nor will Amazon. This is their future competition. An Apple TV subscription service will eat their lunch.


- iTunes will now have had all of its components delegated to appropriate apps. Apple Music to listen to and subscribe to music, The App Store for buying and managing apps, TV for watching and buying (or subscribing to) tv shows and movies, and iCloud for backing up devices. I will not be surprised to see iTunes gone in the next couple of cycles. First on iOS and tvOS, then inevitably on macOS as Apple Music comes to that platform in an independent app.

I believe that what we're seeing here will come to be recognized as a major announcement that at the time seemed to be just an app announcement.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
uva25a Avatar
93 months ago
I just don't get it. As someone who has owned a Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV, I don't understand why I would want to get this if I can't search for Netflix and Amazon Prime. Ok, if you are one of the few people who aren't prime members, fine. But considering Prime and Netflix are putting out so much good original programming, what does this Apple Tv feature do for me. Amazon is updating their interface to allow equal search and promotion capabilities for Netflix and Hulu so this seems to me like a much better option. Renting or buying movies on iTunes is useless to most as you can do this on other devices as well. I want to love this feature but without Prime and Netflix, its fairly lame compared to what Amazon Fire is offering, in my opinion.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
redscull Avatar
93 months ago
I want this app for macOS. It annoys me that my iMac, which has a big screen for a bedroom, is such a terrible media viewer unless I connect an Apple TV to it (is that even possible?). All because macOS thinks you should use iTunes to play your content, and iTunes is a complete piece of garbage.

I also tried using a Mac mini connected to a TV. But it's the same problem. macOS is a terrible htpc operating system. Playing content in it is cumbersome. Every proper mac computer should be able to do, in full, everything an Apple TV is capable of.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacManTexas56 Avatar
93 months ago
yawn...why do they even bother? lol
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
2010mini Avatar
93 months ago
4k streaming...
4k HDR content library... wtf apple.
4K streaming on a Device that doesn't support 4K? I know people here are gung-ho about 4K, but the majority of the market doesn't care about 4K. Or can even tell the difference 1080p and 4K.

4K will not take off until networks start broadcasting in 4K.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
profets Avatar
93 months ago
US only... Thanks.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iOS 16 4 Web Push

Apple Confirms Governments Using Push Notifications to Surveil Users

Wednesday December 6, 2023 5:06 am PST by
Unidentified governments are surveilling smartphone users by tracking push notifications that move through Google's and Apple's servers, a US senator warned on Wednesday (via Reuters). In a letter to the Department of Justice, Senator Ron Wyden said foreign officials were demanding the data from the tech giants to track smartphones. The traffic flowing from apps that send push notifications...
best buy snowflakes

Best Buy's New Weekend Sale Has Record Low Prices on MacBook Pro and MacBook Air

Friday December 8, 2023 7:37 am PST by
Best Buy's month-long holiday sale continues this weekend with multiple all-time low prices on Apple's line of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air computers. In addition to Apple notebooks, Best Buy's event has discounts sitewide on home appliances, TVs, video games, and more. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive...
iOS 17

iOS 17.2 Will Add These 12 New Features to Your iPhone

Friday December 1, 2023 12:19 pm PST by
iOS 17.2 has been in beta testing for over a month, and it should be released to all users in a few more weeks. The software update includes many new features and changes for iPhones, including the dozen that we have highlighted below. iOS 17.2 is expected to be released to the public in mid-December. To learn about even more features coming in the update, check out our full list. Journal ...
beeper mini

Apple Puts a Stop to Beeper Mini's iMessage for Android Feature

Friday December 8, 2023 2:24 pm PST by
Apple appears to have closed the loophole that Beeper Mini used to bring iMessage to Android, putting a stop to blue bubbles from Android devices. Beeper Mini quit working earlier today, with users receiving "failed to lookup on server: lookup request timed out" error messages. Beeper said on Twitter that it is investigating the issue, but Beeper CEO Eric Migicovsky told TechCrunch that "all ...
apple watch black friday

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Hits New Record Low Price of $699, Alongside Series 9 and SE Sales

Friday December 8, 2023 8:55 am PST by
Amazon has a few big discounts on Apple Watch today, headlined by a new all-time low price on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Many of these watches can be delivered by Christmas, with delivery dates around the middle of next week for most models. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site ...
maxresdefault

Review: Two Months With the iPhone 15 Pro Max

Thursday December 7, 2023 12:04 pm PST by
Apple's iPhone 15 lineup came out in September, and while most reviews are done shortly after a new device launches, we like to follow up with a longer term review that gives us an opportunity to provide a deeper dive into what it's like using these phones on a day to day basis for months. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. MacRumors videographer Dan Barbera has been...
iphone se 4 modified flag edges

iPhone SE 4 May Reuse Existing iPhone 14 Battery

Wednesday December 6, 2023 1:17 pm PST by
Recently, MacRumors has received details on the battery currently being tested on the upcoming fourth-generation iPhone SE, and the information corroborates previous findings in relation to the device. The iPhone SE 4, known by its device identifier D59, is expected to use the exact same battery found in the base model iPhone 14. Partially assembled prototypes of the next iPhone SE have been ...
iOS 17

35 Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 17.2 Coming Next Week

Wednesday December 6, 2023 5:57 am PST by
Apple made the first beta of iOS 17.2 available to developers in October. Since then we've seen three more betas, and with each iteration Apple continues to add more new features and changes, many of which users have been anticipating for quite a while. Below, we've listed 35 new things that are coming to your iPhone when the finalized version is publicly released in mid-December. 1....