Apple TV update adds new channels from PBS & Yahoo Screen
Content options on the Apple TV set-top box grew once again on Tuesday, as Apple added new channels for Yahoo Screen, as well as America's Public Broadcasting Service.

The new PBS channel on Apple TV gives users access to some of the network's shows, available to stream for free to their television set.
PBS is joined by Yahoo Screen, which includes content such as Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as well as live news, events, music and original Yahoo programs.

The latest channels follow just weeks after Apple introduced the new iMovie Theater option on Apple TV, giving users the ability to view their iMovie-created content on their HDTV. Content served up by the device can be created in either iMovie for iOS or on a Mac.
Apple TV also added support for Major League Soccer and Disney Junior in an over-the-air update in September, while August saw the addition of Disney Channel and Disney XD. Other dedicated apps added throughout 2013 include Vevo, Weather Channel, Smithsonian Channel, HBO Go, WatchESPN, Sky News, CruncyRoll and Qello.

The Apple TV operating system was also given a minor update in October, though the hardware itself hasn't seen a significant refresh since March of 2012. That's helped to lead to speculation that Apple is working on a hardware refresh that could hit the market in the coming months.

The new PBS channel on Apple TV gives users access to some of the network's shows, available to stream for free to their television set.
PBS is joined by Yahoo Screen, which includes content such as Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as well as live news, events, music and original Yahoo programs.

The latest channels follow just weeks after Apple introduced the new iMovie Theater option on Apple TV, giving users the ability to view their iMovie-created content on their HDTV. Content served up by the device can be created in either iMovie for iOS or on a Mac.
Apple TV also added support for Major League Soccer and Disney Junior in an over-the-air update in September, while August saw the addition of Disney Channel and Disney XD. Other dedicated apps added throughout 2013 include Vevo, Weather Channel, Smithsonian Channel, HBO Go, WatchESPN, Sky News, CruncyRoll and Qello.

The Apple TV operating system was also given a minor update in October, though the hardware itself hasn't seen a significant refresh since March of 2012. That's helped to lead to speculation that Apple is working on a hardware refresh that could hit the market in the coming months.
Comments
More US only centric icons on my Apple TV, come on Apple. Either release local content or don't bother clogging up my screen with shit I can't even use!
They need to release an App Store so that the A TV can be truly useful to non Americans!
More US only centric icons on my Apple TV, come on Apple. Either release local content or don't bother clogging up my screen with shit I can't even use!
They need to release an App Store so that the A TV can be truly useful to non Americans!
Granted, I can't watch documentaries every night, but PBS programs like Nova, Nature and Frontline to name just a few are first class! And available online!
I hope this is the beginning of the end for cable companies!
Tbs, Fox News, fox business, all have apps that let you stream if you can authenticate. I don't understand how apple just can't put those channels on their appletv
More US only centric icons on my Apple TV, come on Apple. Either release local content or don't bother clogging up my screen with shit I can't even use!
They need to release an App Store so that the A TV can be truly useful to non Americans!
Change your DNS.
Yep.
It's not Apple's fault that people live in foreign countries. And it's not Apple's fault that international licensing and distribution deals are the way that they are.
If somebody desires US content, then they can easily acquire it. When I was over in Europe this summer on vacation, I paid 5 dollars a month for a smart DNS service, and was able to access stuff like US Netflix without any issues. I didn't have any luck with HBO though.
As for these new channels, bring it on! Apple seems to be adding channels at a decent rate now, making the Apple TV better all of the time.
It would be nice if there was an option to hide the channels that you don't want though. For example, I have no use for the Disney channels, and I also don't have any annoying kids running around the house, so it would be nice to get rid of those, or at least hide them.
@Apple ][ if you go into parental controls and 'block' the channels you don't want to see then they will disappear. I blocked all of the Disney Channels so they are not displayed on the home screen. :-)
Great! Cool!
That's good to know. I've only had my Apple TV for a short time, it's good to know that the blocking option exists!
Now my Apple TV will become even better!
Don't complain about clogging up your screen when you can easily remove any unused icons.
More US only centric icons on my Apple TV, come on Apple. Either release local content or don't bother clogging up my screen with shit I can't even use!
They need to release an App Store so that the A TV can be truly useful to non Americans!
Change your DNS.
+1 this ^
I changed my aTV DNS to pickup the US version of Netflix but it flooded my aTV with new icons for Disney etc. Changing back didn't work, had to do a factory restore.
That helps at your end? Mine doesn't show any of these new channels. Stock plus 4 others, Qello, Crunchsomething, NFL or something, plus...can't remember.
According to 9to5, the PBS app requires users to "sign in using Google+, Facebook, or the app’s registration in order to access PBS broadcasts for their location." AI won't let me link to the 9to5 story, but it's not hard to find.
Quote:
More US only centric icons on my Apple TV, come on Apple. Either release local content or don't bother clogging up my screen with shit I can't even use!
They need to release an App Store so that the A TV can be truly useful to non Americans!
LOL! You can hide the icons.
I tried to update my first generation Apple TV and it downloaded fine and was installing ok then it stopped and the white light has been blinking all night. I can't figure out how to fix this. I have tried unplugging it but as soon as I plug in back in the light starts blinking, I even tried the hold down the menu and left button but that didn't work. So my Apple tv is just sitting there blinking it's white light.
Any ideas how I can get it working again. It is wireless off a iMac running the newest OX
Yay, PBS!
I tried to update my first generation Apple TV and it downloaded fine and was installing ok then it stopped and the white light has been blinking all night. I can't figure out how to fix this. I have tried unplugging it but as soon as I plug in back in the light starts blinking, I even tried the hold down the menu and left button but that didn't work. So my Apple tv is just sitting there blinking it's white light.
Any ideas how I can get it working again. It is wireless off a iMac running the newest OX
I had something similar happen. the update got jacked during the download. I believe the "reset" on the ATV is menu and play at the same time on the remote for 30 seconds you'll see the light flash… for me it was reset the device then update to the current OS.
Yahoo Screen has several Onion clips.
LOL! You can hide the icons.
While this is true, it is decidedly un-Apple. For years they have resisted to clutter computers with trial- and junk ware, but everybody connecting a brand new Apple TV outside the US faces a screen flooded with inaccessible content. Clunky MS-like workarounds are not a good solution.
This is not a disaster, but inconvenient. For people having only the Apple Remote (no iOS device) managing anything on the Apple TV is troublesome enough.