CNN came to the Apple TV today in the form of “CNNgo,” an app that lets you view live broadcasts, shows, and popular news clips.
Unfortunately, the bulk of CNNgo is still shackled to cable, meaning you won’t be able to view anything except some short video highlights without first entering TV subscription information.
“CNNgo on Apple TV brings together our live CNN TV simulcast and deep library of original films, franchises and short-form video in a powerful, on-demand way unlike any product we’ve launched to date,” CNN chief product officer Alex Wellen told Variety.
While that may be the case for CNN, the experience of getting set up to actually watch content is still terrible. CNNgo tricks you into thinking you can watch anything you see, but a little lock next to each video reminds you that your cable-cutter dreams aren’t reality yet.
When you click on locked content, CNN asks you to go its website on another device and enter an activation code. From there, you have to get through all this:
That Apple live TV service can’t come soon enough.
Alex Heath is a journalist who works for Tech Insider. He’s the former co-host of The CultCast. He has been quoted by the likes of the BBC, KRON 4 News, and books like “ICONIC: A Photographic Tribute to Apple Innovation.” He lives in Lexington, Kentucky. If you want to pitch a story, share a tip, or just get in touch, additional contact information is available on his personal site. Follow him on Twitter.
5 responses to “CNN lands on Apple TV, but you still need cable”
Here’s hoping Apple’s streaming TV service will offer CNN sans cable/satellite subscription.
Looking at the Playstation Vue listings they don’t have CNN either. Actually, they don’t have an MSNBC or Fox News channel but interestingly offer CNBC. Weird.
Apple will figure this out and convince content providers to switch away from cable and satellite prividers and go direct to consumers. Its already started. Looking forward to June announcement.
mmmphhh…unless it cable free…don’t care
NOT ON COMCAST
I wish their live streaming at least were free.
Now, with a subscription mandatory it’s another channel straight to “Hide” from the Main Menu.