Mike Wuerthele
A listing for the 64-gigabyte version of the Apple TV 4K on Amazon is briefly buoyed hopes for an imminent release of an Amazon Prime Video app for Apple's set-top box— but the listing has since been removed by the e-commerce giant.
For a time, both the 32- and 64-gigabyte Apple TV 4K models have a listing on Amazon. The 64GB model was first spotted by 9to5Mac, with the 32GB version overpriced by a likely grey-market seller that is providing it. The 64GB model from Amazon itself is listed as out of stock.
The listing page was removed by Amazon at approximately 3:00 p.m. eastern time.
In itself, the listing doesn't really foretell when the device will be available for sale through Amazon. Announced media pops up in Amazon when it is announced, and may or may not go up for sale or pre-order immediately.
Amazon withdrew the Apple TV and Chromecast on Oct. 29, 2015, after it claimed that Amazon Prime Video compatibility was necessary for the company to sell set-top boxes to avoid "customer confusion." Amazon could have made that happen with a channel in the third-generation device, or an app for the fourth-generation, but at the time it chose to not do so.
In 2016, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos suggested Prime Video would remain off devices made by Apple or any other company marketing comparable set-top streaming products until amicable reimbursement models are agreed upon. Presumably, Bezos didn't want to shell out 30 percent to Apple for content it delivers and sometimes generates itself.
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced at the WWDC that Amazon's video streaming service would be available on the Apple TV in 2017. The app has not as of yet materialized, but an unconfirmed rumor suggests that it may happen on Sept. 28 in conjunction with a Football game between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers that Amazon is streaming.
There are no details of any business arrangement between Amazon and Apple for Amazon Prime Video to migrate to tvOS.
Malcolm Owen
Christine McKee
Amber Neely
20 Comments
Ugh! I ordered mine from the Apple site the day it was released, and it won’t cone until October 6-13. I’ll be away the 5th through the 9th. Then, I went to look at my order yesterday, and it wasn’t there. I went through my emails and found Apple’s confirmation. Tapped the order link, and in the Apple store, it said that this order wasn’t available for this (my) account. I had to call Apple and have someone step me through fixing that. She said they were having that problem occasionally.
Cuz Amazon Prime. Now, I can officially dump the FireTV!
Neither Apple TV model shows up in the Amazon app for me. First hit is a FireTV of some variety, then the next three items are docks or mounts for the Apple TV. They may be “available”, but Amazon doesn’t seem to make them easy to find.
It showed up because nobody will buy it ... to expensive!