Apple on Friday added four more universal search options for American owners of the fourth-generation Apple TV, namely Bravo, E!, Syfy, and USA.
The feature means that people with appropriate tvOS apps installed will see quick-launch options for those networks if they host a show discovered through search. Accompanying each icon is info on which seasons the service has available.
Despite a mounting number of apps in the tvOS App Store, Apple's universal search support has grown more slowly, and concentrated primarily on mainstream services. In the U.S. these include iTunes, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Disney, FX, HBO, Hulu, Nat Geo TV, Netflix, PBS, Showtime, and Starz.
Support is extremely thin outside the U.S. In Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and the U.K. -- some of Apple's most important markets -- results will only show iTunes and Netflix. Outside of those regions, only iTunes movies are displayed.
Apple could conceivably address the situation next week if it announces a new version of tvOS. Virtually nothing has been rumored about the prospect, though the platform might benefit from anticipated Siri upgrades.