Apple today seededfirst developer betas of iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 featuring a revamped experience within the TV app and all-new Apple TV channels discussed at Monday’s presser.
The software brings together the different ways to discover and watch shows, movies, sports, news and more in a single app. Apple’s moved a few things around to make navigation easier. Alongside the bottom, you’ll see three main tabs:Watch Now,LibraryandSearch.
In the Watch Now tab, you’ll find a brand-new Kids experience with items categorized by character, topic and even age. Across the app, you’ll enjoy curated movie and show suggestions picked just from all your installed video apps.
Other dedicated selections are based on everything you’re watching from all the different apps you use. Personalized suggestions are available for content from over 150 streaming apps (like Amazon Prime and Hulu) and pay-TV services (like Canal+ and Charter Spectrum).
But most importantly, a new Channels Highlights section in the Watch Now tab lets you purchase à la carte subscriptions to some of the channels Apple mentioned during the event.
The following channels are currently available:
Each channel includes a seven-day free trial before your credit card is charged, but you may always turn off auto-renewing subscriptions manually. Apple’s promised additional channels like MTV Hits, CBS All Access, HBO NOW, EPIX, Noggin and more. Additional channels will be added over time around the world. I know what you’re thinking, these “channels” are already available in the form of Apple TV apps so what’s the difference then?
One word: experience.
And some apps, like Netflix, don’t integrate with the TV app at all.
This seamless subscription and playback experience is only available with select video services that have partnered with Apple on this initiative, with the deals most likely involving a smaller cut than Apple’s standard 15-30 percent fee on in-app subscriptions.
To reiterate: the new TV app in iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 is more streamlined, lets you purchase and watch subscription content without downloading a video-streaming app while bringing together entertainment from multiple sources:
To see the list of the video apps that support integration with the TV app, and enable or disable them individually, tap your profile image in the upper-right corner and choose Connected Apps from the list (the profile menu contains other shortcuts and features like subscription management, Apple ID account information and more.
A support documenton Apple’s website maintains a list of video apps that support the Apple TV app based on specific countries or regions.
The revamped experience is also available for the third-generation Apple TV using a new Apple TV software. Aside from bringing channel subscriptions to the third-generation streamer, the Apple TV software 7.3 beta also provides support for testing AirPlay from apps to the box.
As part of its Hollywood pitch, Apple has said that its upcoming original video programming will be available to a massive audience. In addition to the installed base of more than one billion active iOS devices, both the TV app and AirPlay 2 technology are coming to major Smart TVs released in 2019 so people without any Apple hardware will still be able to tune in.
The new TV app is coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple TV in 100+ countries with a free software update in May, and to Macs this fall. It’ll be available on Samsung’s Smart TVs beginning this spring and on Amazon’s Fire TV, LG, Roku, Sony and Vizio platforms in the future.
To learn more,visit apple.com/apple-tv-app.
And when the Apple TV+ service launches later this year, the TV app will be updated again with support for Apple’s original video programming.
Thoughts on the new TV experience and Apple TV channels?
