Apple hopes to grab a bigger slice of the streaming pie through a redesign of its TV app late this year that will help consolidate the company’s video offerings, a new report said Tuesday.
Apple plans redesign of its TV app with December release of new tvOS
The Apple TV app came out in 2016, drawing content from iTunes, the Apple TV+ streaming service, sports networks and other outside offerings like Amazon Prime.
A redesign of the app could come along with a tvOS software update in late December to simplify offerings and give users one place for video Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources.
The revamp would spell the end of dedicated apps on Apple TV for renting or buying shows or movies. In addition, it would take away redundant TV show and movie sections of the iTunes Store app on mobile devices.
According the Bloomberg, the point of it would be to direct more customers to the main TV app. There users can subscribe to Apple TV+ and third-party video services it connects to.
Sources said Apple TV box’s overhauled app would add a left-hand side navigation panel for video categories, similar to other streamers’ organization. And the same app would appear on smart TVs.
All of this happens as Apple works to provide more original content and become consumers’ choice of streaming content hubs. It already spends big on Original Films like Martin Scorsese’s newly released Killers of the Flower Moon and other titles.
How to get Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is available by subscription for $6.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
After first airing in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 299 wins and 1,451 award nominations and counting,” the service said.
Those include multi-Emmy Award-winning comedy Ted Lasso and historic Oscar Best Picture winner CODA.
