HBO on Wednesday confirmed its HBO Go and HBO Now services will drop support for second- and third-generation Apple TV units this month. Users will no longer be able to stream starting April 30.
The change is being made “in order to provide the best streaming experience,” the company said. There are other ways to enjoy these services on older Apple TV boxes, however.
The third-generation Apple TV is more than seven years old at this point, while the second-generation model is nine years old. Neither have been compatible with new software updates for years.
It’s great that HBO Go and HBO Now have supported these devices until now, then, but the time has come for that to stop.
HBO ditches Apple TV 2 and 3
“In order to provide the best streaming experience, we need to make some changes to our supported devices list,” reads a support document on the HBO website, published Wednesday.
“Starting on April 30, 2020, HBO GO [and HBO Now] will no longer be available on the Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation).”
The news comes just as hundreds of second-generation Apple TV owners are reporting issues playing certain YouTube videos. It seems like it won’t be long before Google drops support, too.
There is a way to continue enjoying all three services on older Apple TV units, however.
Stream HBO Go and HBO Now to Apple TV
As HBO notes in its support document, it’s possible to stream content from both its services (and from YouTube) from your iPhone or iPad via AirPlay. Alternatively, you can use another device like a Chromecast.
HBO also suggests connecting your computer to your TV if wireless streaming options aren’t possible.
