Buying & streaming TV shows comes to Apple TV in Canada, UK & Australia
Apple TV users in Australia, Canada and the U.K. can now purchase and stream episodes of television shows directly to Apple's set-top box without the need for a computer.
The functionality was added overnight to the Apple TV set-top box, and does not require a software update. Previously, users could not purchase content directly from the Apple TV, and it needed to be downloaded to a computer on the user's local network first.
Now, Apple's new iCloud functionality which allows the re-downloading and streaming of TV episodes has been brought to more users outside of the U.S. Customers in the U.K., Australia and Canada can now access their iCloud library of TV shows, and stream that content directly to the Apple TV without downloading it to a Mac or PC.
The functionality originally came to Apple TV users in the U.S. in early August in the form of a software update. The purchasing and streaming options were expanded shortly before Apple opted to abandon its plan for 99 cent rentals of TV shows, citing lack of consumer interest.
The Apple TV was redesigned in a major overhaul in 2010, giving the $99 hardware a smaller footprint and basing its operating system on the same iOS platform that powers the iPhone and iPad. But in recent months, speculation has grown that Apple's next move will be to build a full-fledged television set for release in late 2012.
The functionality was added overnight to the Apple TV set-top box, and does not require a software update. Previously, users could not purchase content directly from the Apple TV, and it needed to be downloaded to a computer on the user's local network first.
Now, Apple's new iCloud functionality which allows the re-downloading and streaming of TV episodes has been brought to more users outside of the U.S. Customers in the U.K., Australia and Canada can now access their iCloud library of TV shows, and stream that content directly to the Apple TV without downloading it to a Mac or PC.
The functionality originally came to Apple TV users in the U.S. in early August in the form of a software update. The purchasing and streaming options were expanded shortly before Apple opted to abandon its plan for 99 cent rentals of TV shows, citing lack of consumer interest.
The Apple TV was redesigned in a major overhaul in 2010, giving the $99 hardware a smaller footprint and basing its operating system on the same iOS platform that powers the iPhone and iPad. But in recent months, speculation has grown that Apple's next move will be to build a full-fledged television set for release in late 2012.
Comments
I still don't understand why anyone would pay to watch a TV show.
So you just have your local channels you get for free, then? Around here they're called the "Farmer Five".
Having said that, there's really not much good on TV anymore; you're right.
So you just have your local channels you get for free, then? Around here they're called the "Farmer Five".
Having said that, there's really not much good on TV anymore; you're right.
Yes, HD over the air. Mostly though I think I would only watch a lot of the shows if they paid me to do so.
So you just have your local channels you get for free, then? Around here they're called the "Farmer Five".
Here in Toronto, I get about 15 HD channels for free with my HD antenna (luckily I still had an old antenna tower on my yard).
But yeah, the original poster obviously isn't considering the fact that, if you pay for cable, you're paying for TV shows. I personally watch so few TV shows, that the cost per show with a cable subscription would be much higher than just paying for the individual shows. Plus you don't waste time with commercials.
Having said that, there's really not much good on TV anymore; you're right.
Agreed.
So you just have your local channels you get for free, then? Around here they're called the "Farmer Five".
Having said that, there's really not much good on TV anymore; you're right.
Here its called "peasant vision" and its only 4 - and one of those is french.
I pay like 60 dollars for basic cable to watch maybe 2 or 3 channels. I would save a ton of cash in the pay-per-episode model, because I only watch about 2 shows.
The only thing keeping me going is sports, which I watch less and less of, and my wife, who watches whatever crap about non-celebrities singing and dancing is around.
I love that you dont need to manage the media anymore and some old TV shows are dirt cheap on itunes. (cheaper than 1$ per episode when buying a season)
There is also the possiblity to buy a series you really love. Like I may consider buying Game of thrones if they sell it cheaper than the DVD.
I could also add that using iCloud also reduces my need for back up.
As morgajx said the sooner the uk gets some of the catchup services like iplayer and 4od the better as none of the iPad apps currently support AirPlay (although iplayer did get hdmi cable support in the last update) and my apple tv would chew down a lot less power than having to watch them on my ps3 like I do at the moment...
I still don't understand why anyone would pay to watch a TV show.
Because maybe your frakin' DVR didn't record the show you wanted
because cable sucks and you can't get anything else
because your apartment building doesn't allow mounting a dish
and the TV network doesn't stream the show you just missed and doesn't re-air that show
and/or you're too lazy to go into your home office to stream a show and sit there watching it on a 20" monitor instead of the comfort of your coach
and your iPad can't stream the show because that TV network is run on Flash.
or, maybe you're in another country working for weeks at a time, and wanted to watch the last few episodes of some TV show for the rest of the season
and can't wait until you get home because it's going to be weeks before then
and then all the podcasts will be out to spoil you
and now you're really pissed that you have to buy 3 episodes of a show that you moderately like
and wouldn't even consider purchasing on DVD or watching a second time
because Apple claims 'lack of user interest' in the TV rental feature.
What the heck am you going to do with 3 episodes of a show you like but not enough to actually purchase?
Please bring back the rental feature Apple...it was useful.
because your apartment building doesn't allow mounting a dish
As long as you have a balcony or a main floor deck and you live in the U.S. you cannot be denied a dish as long as it doesn't extend beyond your rented property. This is why many people simply have a dish on a tripod.
As long as you have a balcony or a main floor deck and you live in the U.S. you cannot be denied a dish as long as it doesn't extend beyond your rented property. This is why many people simply have a dish on a tripod.
rental agreement prohibits it. And I know people with Dish and/or DirectTV that have the same problems as Cable, so it's kind of mute point anyway.
2) I still don't see nor have heard a reasonable argument for Apple selling 3 different sized HDTVs with no ports in Apple Stores but there is certainly something happening on that front that will affect the future of the AppleTV. Maybe Ireland is right after all.
Broadband rates are getting better all the time here now so I think it's about time we got the full iTunes services.
So you just have your local channels you get for free, then? Around here they're called the "Farmer Five".
The local channels in Australia deliver most TV shows free over-the-air.
Shows like Dexter, Sons of Anarchy, True Blood, Terra Nova, Glee, The Walking Dead, Fringe, Community, CSI, NCIS, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Supernatural, Castle, Bones, How I Met Your Mother, House, The Vampire Diaries, Criminal Minds, The Big Bang Theory, The Mentalist etc are all available for free over-the-air.
Unfortunately episodes are delivered sometimes weeks or months after they are aired in the US, and frequently in the wrong season order and at variable time slots. There is also no to very little IPTV (e.g. no Hulu or Netflix) and very little to no "catch up" TV supported by the networks.
All of this answers Tjwal's original question of why someone would pay to watch a TV episode.
Where's the serendipity in that? How do you know what you're missing if you cut the cord and limit yourself to a hand-picked set of shows you've pre-approved for consumption?
There's something to be said about channel surfing and discovering something you would never have thought about checking out unless you came across it by accident. That's why I'm a bit taken aback by people who pre-program their viewing schedule and only watch what they've determined to see in advance.
Where's the serendipity in that? How do you know what you're missing if you cut the cord and limit yourself to a hand-picked set of shows you've pre-approved for consumption?
you can preview any show you want on TV to see if it interests you. that is what I call show surfing. Besides, being commercial free is so nice. When we go to someones house and the tv is on to watch i get antsy seeing commercials. I could have spent that time previewing a show I may decide to watch.