Sam Oliver
Apple on Tuesday updated its Apple TV set-top box with channels for two new content partners, adding one each for financial news powerhouse CNBC and entertainment network Fox — though both require a cable subscription to access most content.
The CNBC channel will give bankers, investors, and those simply interested in capital markets one less reason to switch back to their cable box during the day, as the live stream is available for cable subscribers through the Apple TV. Specific segments from shows like Squawk Box are available outside of the paywall.
Fox Now, meanwhile, brings popular shows including Neil deGrasse Tyson's Cosmos reboot, Glee, and and 24: Live Another Day.
The update comes days after a report that Fox subsidiary FX would bring its own FXNOW content to Apple's living room puck. That change, which is said to include "Simpsons World," is tipped to debut within the next 12 months.
Apple has added a number of new content providers to the Apple TV recently despite the lack of a widely-anticipated hardware refresh. Among those to come on board in 2014 are ABC News, PBS Kids, Willow, History, Lifetime, A&E, and the ACC, while the iPhone maker brought its own iTunes Extras content to the device earlier this month.
AppleInsider Staff
Malcolm Owen
Oliver Haslam
Andrew O'Hara
Wesley Hilliard
William Gallagher
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75 Comments
While I'm happy to have more content on ATV, channel navigation is getting out of hand ... The ATV couldn't be farther from Steve Jobs claims of having "cracked" the TV problem. Unless this is what Jobs had in mind, in which case he clearly "cracked" his head. Apple needs to get serious about this before they add many more channels ...
Luddites leaving potential additional money on the table (from people who might be willing to pay some nominal sum per view).
Also, the sign up process with Comcast from within AppleTV is so cumbersome and time-consuming that, even though I have a cable subscription, I do not even bother with these "you-need-to-sign-in-to-view-us" channels.
While I'm happy to have more content on ATV, channel navigation is getting out of hand ... The ATV couldn't be farther from Steve Jobs claims of having "cracked" the TV problem. Unless this is what Jobs had in mind, in which case he clearly "cracked" his head.
Apple needs to get serious about this before they add many more channels ...
I completely agree. The VAST majority of these "channels" either 1) charge a monthly subscription fee, 2) are nothing but "junk" content like video clips instead of full episodes or live streaming, or 3) aren't available due to local market or service provider restrictions. It is becoming an annoying game of "Whack-A-Mole" to keep deleting these new channels are they pop up.
[quote name="AppleInsider" url="/t/181609/apple-adds-fox-now-cnbc-channels-to-apple-tv#post_2570690"] The CNBC channel will give bankers, investors, and those simply interested in capital markets one less reason to switch back to their cable box during the day, as the live stream is available for cable subscribers through the Apple TV. [/quote] Or, you could turn it around and say that since I already get that stuff on the cable I have, there's no reason to switch back to my AppleTV during the day. Honestly, TiVo is my workhorse appliance. I can watch both live and self-recorded content without switching anything. The only time the ATV comes on is to watch streamed Netflix movies. But even that is rare because the streamed offerings on Netflix suck compared to the DVD-by-mail offerings. If ATV had DVR functionality and an interface and remote superior to TiVo's, it could become my go to device. Until then, it's just a"hobby."
[quote name="zroger73" url="/t/181609/apple-adds-fox-now-cnbc-channels-to-apple-tv#post_2570705"]I completely agree. The VAST majority of these "channels" either 1) charge a monthly subscription fee, 2) are nothing but "junk" content like video clips instead of full episodes or live streaming, or 3) aren't available due to local market or service provider restrictions. It is becoming an annoying game of "Whack-A-Mole" to keep deleting these new channels are they pop up. [/quote] The interface is in dire need of rethinking for sure. That said I am simply inside the Netfix environment 95% of the time so rarely even see the Apple TV desk top as it were.