Google Chromecast Will Add Apple TV App to Google TV Following Apple Music Integration
Google is going to add the Apple TV app to Google TV early next year, giving Chromecast owners access to Apple TV+ content. The new arrangement expands Google’s integration of Apple’s media streaming on Google’s platforms after Apple Music became playable through Google Assistant earlier this month.
Chromecast Apple+
Apple TV will appear as another app on Google TV like other streaming services. Subscribers to Apple TV+ will be able to watch the shows and movies from the streaming service and any video content they have bought from Apple before. It’s basically the same way Apple TV offers an app on the Amazon Fire TV platform. For Apple, it’s obviously beneficial to make it easier to access its media services, even if it’s not with Apple hardware. Limiting access to Apple TV+ likely only depresses subscriber numbers rather than making legions come out to buy Apple TVs. And Google’s revamp of its own media platforms, such as transitioning from Google Play to YouTube Music’s streaming service, means the tech giant is likely keen to open its doors to more content partners, even if they are also rivals in other verticals. Including TV after the music deal could enhance the appeal of both Google’s media empire and its tech hardware ecosystem.
“This makes the Chromecast with Google TV one of the only streaming devices with all the major video subscriptions,” Android and Google Play head of media and entertainment Jonathan Zepp explained in a blog post. “With Google TV, you’ll be able to see Apple Originals in your personalized recommendations and search results, making it even easier to find your favorite shows and movies. And, you’ll be able to save them to your Watchlist to catch up on later.”
Smart TV Time
Smart TVs are a major arena in both media and tech competitions. Hardware and software are both improving rapidly and platforms are rolling out better equipment augmented with AI voice assistants and other smart tools. Google and Amazon have both recently released new set-top devices for Chromecast and Fire TV, respectively, along with new features for both. American tech giants, meanwhile face a multiplying set of rivals globally for smart TV dominance. Russian search engine giant Yandex added its Alice voice assistant to its smart TV platform last month, just as Australia’s largest television subscription service, Foxtel, upgraded its smart TV service by adding TiVo’s voice search platform. In Europe, France’s SFR and Vodafone in Spain debuted smart speakers with unique voice assistants that can act independently yet are deeply integrated with their smart TV platforms and bring unique content to people’s homes.
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