HBO Now App Removed From 2nd and 3rd Generation Apple TV Models

As expected, HBO removed support for its HBO Now app on second and third-generation Apple TV models over the weekend.

Early last month, the company announced that it would be removing support for older ‌Apple TV‌ devices at the end of April, a decision it said was made "in order to provide the best streaming experience."

Following pushback from users, a couple of days later HBO said that it would be extending the deadline to May 15, with HBO GO to remain available for "a few additional months."

The company hoped that the extended deadline would provide people with enough time to upgrade their ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ models and otherwise prepare for the day they are removed.

Affected users are advised to try alternate ways to access content, including streaming HBO GO using another streaming device like Roku and Amazon Fire TV, using AirPlay to stream HBO GO to ‌Apple TV‌, using an HDMI cable to connect a phone, tablet, or computer to a TV, and using Chromecast to cast HBO GO from a phone, tablet, or computer to a TV.

HBO GO and HBO NOW remain functional on the newest ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ HD and ‌‌Apple TV‌‌ 4K platforms. Numerous shows and movies can also be streamed for free on HBO GO and HBO NOW, including Silicon Valley, Succession, The Wire, and more.

Related Roundups: Apple TV, tvOS 14

Tags: HBO, HBO NOW

Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Top Rated Comments

cualexander

12 months ago

There could be a valid reason HBO is removing old versions of the app, like maybe they want to start using a different codec now, one that older devices couldn’t handle well due to CPU constraints. Or that the older devices provided a poor experience.

I doubt there’s any conspiracy here. Most of the time when companies make old programs reach end of life, it’s because the cost of supporting the old program is too high. Trying to fix old bugs in old programs is not a very efficient use of company time.

Score: 14 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Techwatcher

12 months ago

It’s a video streaming app. There’s no way any version of an Apple TV can’t handle it. This was taken off for no reason.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

xyz01

12 months ago

One problem is that "everyone" expects Apple to release a new AppleTV shortly, so this is not at good time to buy a new one.

The current gen AppleTV is listed as "don't buy" on this site for exactly this reason.

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Porco

12 months ago

HBO Gone
HBO Not Now

All seems a bit weird to me. It would be nice if they provided a more technical explanation... if there is one, which there may be. Possibly.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TiggrToo

12 months ago

it was taken out because HBO and apple have a licensing agreement and the fact apple wants people to buy newer apple tvs. HBO is not just removing its app from older apple tvs they have also been removing the app from many older "smart" TVs too. They don't want to support older platforms.

The 2nd gen used an A4, 3rd A5. Both 32 bit only. I suspect the lack of 64 bit processors had a huge part to do with this.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

allenvanhellen

12 months ago

it was taken out because HBO and apple have a licensing agreement and the fact apple wants people to buy newer apple tvs. HBO is not just removing its app from older apple tvs they have also been removing the app from many older "smart" TVs too. They don't want to support older platforms.

Which is no GOOD reason as far as subscribers are concerned.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

Top Stories

Siri Reveals Apple Event Planned for Tuesday, April 20

Tuesday April 13, 2021 12:04 am PDT by Sami Fathi

Siri has apparently prematurely revealed that Apple plans to hold an event on Tuesday, April 20, where the company is expected to reveal brand new iPad Pro models and possibly its long-awaited AirTags trackers. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Upon being asked "When is the next Apple Event," Siri is currently responding with, "The special event is on Tuesday, April...

Read Full Article • 177 comments

Apple's 'Spring Loaded' Event Officially Announced for Tuesday, April 20

Tuesday April 13, 2021 9:04 am PDT by Juli Clover

Following an overnight leak by Siri, Apple today officially announced that it will be holding a special "Spring Loaded" event on Tuesday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time at the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. As with all of Apple's 2020 events, the April 2021 event will be a digital-only gathering with no members of the media invited to attend in...

Read Full Article • 283 comments

Twitter Hashflag for April 20 Apple Event Goes Live

Tuesday April 13, 2021 2:21 pm PDT by Sami Fathi

Following the overnight Siri leak and subsequent announcement that Apple will hold a media event on Tuesday, April 20, a new Twitter hashflag has appeared to help provide visibility for the event on the platform. For the last several recent events, Apple has utilized hashflags, which are little icons next to hashtags on Twitter, as a way to market its events. The company first started the...

Read Full Article • 84 comments

Kuo: 2022 iPhones to Feature 48-Megapixel Camera, 8K Video, and 6.1 and 6.7" Sizes With No 5.4" Mini Option

Tuesday April 13, 2021 10:45 pm PDT by Juli Clover

The upcoming 2022 iPhone lineup will feature two 6.1-inch devices and two 6.7-inch devices, with no mini-sized 5.4-inch iPhone, well-respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said in a note to investors that was seen by MacRumors. Two of the iPhones will be high-end models and two of the iPhones will be lower-end models, similar to the current iPhone 12 lineup. Apple introduced the 5.4-inch...

Read Full Article • 183 comments

Apple Preparing Rollout of New Randomized Product Serial Numbers Ahead of 'Spring Loaded' Event

Wednesday April 14, 2021 2:08 am PDT by Sami Fathi

Apple is advising its authorized premium resellers and dealers to prepare for new products with 10 and 12 digital serial numbers, days ahead of when it's expected to reveal a slew of new products. MacRumors previously reported that Apple plans to switch to randomized serial numbers for future products starting in early 2021. The company now seems to be preparing for that roll-out, telling...

Read Full Article • 42 comments

More Leaked iPhone 13 Samples Show Smaller Notch, Repositioned Earpiece and Front Camera

Wednesday April 14, 2021 1:06 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Leaker known as "DuanRui" has today shared an image of two iPhone 13 "film samples," which show the same rumored smaller notch design coming to the iPhone 13 series that we've seen from other sources. In past tweets, DuanRui has accurately leaked the correct names of the iPhone 12 models and an iPad Air 4 manual revealing its new design, so there's good reason to think this leak is credible, ...

Read Full Article • 29 comments

Google Maps App for iOS Finally Updated After Four Months

Monday April 12, 2021 10:03 am PDT by Juli Clover

Following the completed rollout of App Privacy labels for its App Store apps, Google today updated the Google Maps app for the first time in four months. Apple in December began requiring all new app submissions and app updates to include App Privacy labels, detailing the data that is collected by the app so consumers know what they're sharing. Google didn't begin implementing App Privacy ...

Read Full Article • 42 comments

Mini-LED iPad Pro Expected at Apple Event on April 20 as Production Ramps Up

Tuesday April 13, 2021 9:53 am PDT by Joe Rossignol

Apple today announced that it will be hosting a virtual event on Tuesday, April 20 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time, and one of the new products expected to be unveiled at the event is a new iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display. In a brief snippet shared with paid subscribers, Taiwanese supply chain news website DigiTimes today reported that Apple supplier Ennostar has substantially improved its yield...

Read Full Article • 52 comments

apple event particularly innovative article

Gurman: Apple's 'Spring Loaded' Event Won't Feature Anything 'Particularly Innovative'

Thursday April 15, 2021 1:30 am PDT by Sami Fathi

Bloomberg's highly-respected Mark Gurman says that he expects nothing "particularly innovative" or "extraordinary" to launch at Apple's "Spring Loaded" event next week, Tuesday, April 20. Gurman made the remarks during an interview for Bloomberg Technology, in which he reaffirmed that Apple will launch a new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with the higher-end model featuring a brand new...

Read Full Article • 188 comments

Spotify Announces the 'Car Thing' as its First Hardware Device

Tuesday April 13, 2021 7:03 am PDT by Hartley Charlton

Spotify has today announced its first hardware device, the "Car Thing," which is an in-car dash-mounted music and podcast player (via TechCrunch). Spotify is looking to provide a product for customers who want a "more seamless" and personalized in-car listening experience, especially in the large number of cars that do not support modern in-car infotainment systems. The Car Thing is aimed ...

Read Full Article • 140 comments