Israel's Cellcom brings internet TV service to Apple TV
Major Israeli carrier Cellcom is bringing its internet TV service, Cellcom TV, to the fourth-generation Apple TV, in what could potentially be an important sales driver for the set-top.
The carrier made the announcement on Tuesday alongside launching a new app, Reuters said on Tuesday. Cellcom TV includes a mix of live channels and on-demand content, making it somewhat similar to Sling TV or PlayStation Vue in the U.S.
It's not clear what unique features the Apple TV app might get, or if it will support tvOS 10.1's single sign-on functions when that update launches next month. Compatibility would allow people with a Cellcom subscription to authenticate once and watch content in multiple apps.
While Cellcom TV is a fledgling service with just over 100,000 subscribers, it may be poised to catch up with local cable company Hot and satellite TV provider Yes. Whereas those two firms lost customers in the last quarter, Cellcom actually gained about 12,000, perhaps reflecting global cord-cutting trends.
Apple could benefit if it can position the Apple TV as an ideal way of watching Cellcom programming on a big screen. The company already markets the set-top as "the future of television," and in fact tvOS 10.1 will also include a native "TV" app making it easier to use an Apple TV as a cable/satellite replacement.
The carrier made the announcement on Tuesday alongside launching a new app, Reuters said on Tuesday. Cellcom TV includes a mix of live channels and on-demand content, making it somewhat similar to Sling TV or PlayStation Vue in the U.S.
It's not clear what unique features the Apple TV app might get, or if it will support tvOS 10.1's single sign-on functions when that update launches next month. Compatibility would allow people with a Cellcom subscription to authenticate once and watch content in multiple apps.
While Cellcom TV is a fledgling service with just over 100,000 subscribers, it may be poised to catch up with local cable company Hot and satellite TV provider Yes. Whereas those two firms lost customers in the last quarter, Cellcom actually gained about 12,000, perhaps reflecting global cord-cutting trends.
Apple could benefit if it can position the Apple TV as an ideal way of watching Cellcom programming on a big screen. The company already markets the set-top as "the future of television," and in fact tvOS 10.1 will also include a native "TV" app making it easier to use an Apple TV as a cable/satellite replacement.
Comments
With convenient buttons for Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, etc on my new TV remotes, and the availability of pretty much all the movies and TV shows via On Demand (as well as the ability to just use voice with the remote to bring up Netflix on Comcast) I find that I use my AppleTV less and less. Except for my photos and music.
Only thing that's missing that I use is Amazon Prime Video/Music (Native tvOS app), but I personally then just use Prime Video/Music less and use others instead.
My Smart TV's do not get frequent (just about any) feature updates/additions from the manufacturer (and I really like the manufacturer).
More generally, why can't this feature be integrated into the AppleTV -- it should be possible to do via software, no?
Blu-Ray/3D player; Cable box; my son's gaming device.
Do you seriously believe your use case is universal?
Reposed with your brand and model and we get it worked out.
That's not an issue with CEC, that's an issue with your HW's implementation of CEC, or possibly your HDMI cable(s) or other components between your TV and Apple TV. The CEC protocol is solid.
Incidentally, does it automatically switch back when AppleTV is shut down?
Add: Just saw @sog35's response to you on this issue. That does not sound good. If something like what he brings up is then case, it does not seem to me to be all that complicated for Apple to work with the main TV-manufacturers to somehow try and integrate and simplify this functionality (which was my original post).
I have no problem with integration because everything I do works seamlessly and effortlessly. Stream music, I just say Hey Google play whatever I want to listen to and it automatically starts playing through my sound system. All my pictures and videos show easily through the Chromecast which is great to show new pics of my girlfriend and I when the family comes over.
I buy all movies digitally through ultraviolet, Vudu or Disney Movie Anywhere so that's not an issue at all. So everything you mentioned I can do within one or two taps of a button or just speak it and the Google Home will play it.
How do you say "Google stop spying on us!"?
Do you need iKnockoff devicess for Goog home compatibility?
imagine replacing these pieces of sh** every 6 months...
shitty setup.