Apple TV has seen an update to its home screen, which now offers three new channels. The channels in question are A&E, History Channel and Lifetime, although there is a catch, but an obvious one. You need to subscribe to all three in order to enjoy their content. However, most people in the US have a cable subscription, and so will be able to unlock the content.
It’s all very well having these minor tweaks, but this isn’t the update that we are hoping for in 2014. We know that tweaks to the software and Apple TV features happen on a regular basis, but what we really want to see is an all-new Apple TV, one that will take the fight to set-top boxes offering gaming features as well, which we recently disused in more detail.
Going back to the new channels, you can view previous shows without the need for a cable subscription, but this does limit you. If you want to watch the latest episodes of American Pickers, Bates Motel, Duck Dynasty and Pawn Stars on Apple TV, then you will have to bite the bullet and get a subscription, unless you have already got one that is.
This minor tweak to Apple TV apps is only for the US at the moment, although we are not certain if they will ever be made available outside the US.
Seeing as though this is the first time that we learned of these three new apps, this is one of the reasons why we discussed a “Coming Soon” category would be a great idea. However, we believe this will be a more important feature if and when Apple TV support gaming apps.
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