Manzana he decided block the option to buy or rent content by the application of AppleTV on devices using Android-TV Where google tv. And although no official explanation has been given as to the reason for this measure, it would be linked to the old dispute over the payment of commissions for transactions carried out within the application.
According to the information available, the determination concerns a significant number of devices. From smart TVs and media players – such as NVIDIA Shield – to Chromecasts launching in 2020 with Google TV, among others. Now users they will no longer be able to access new content from the Apple TV appalthough they can view the ones they have already acquired that are in their libraries.
As explained from Android Authority and AppleInsiderwhen accessing the Cupertino service application with an Android TV device, the button is no longer displayed “To buy” when selecting a movie or series. From now on you only see the option “how to watch”which tells the audience that they should use an iPhone or iPad, or another streaming device.
It’s worth mentioning that blocking purchases or rentals in the Apple TV app does not affect Apple TV+ content. However, The edge Note that it is no longer possible to create a new streaming service subscription from a device running Android TV or Google TV. To do this, the application asks to do it via the web.
The blocking of Apple TV to Android TV would be for the payment of commissions
As of now, neither Apple nor Google have made any public statements about this. However, blocking Apple TV to Android TV could be another chapter in the old dispute over commissions on purchases. in the app.
Apparently those in Cupertino would have made this decision so as not to have to pay Google a percentage for each transaction made from a device with your software. Remember that those of Mountain View keep a slice of 30% of each purchase, rental or new subscription generated through their platforms. However, it is not yet clear if Apple had to pay this amount or if it was a minor commission.
It’s also worth noting that the Apple TV app continues to work without restrictions on other non-Android devices. Such are the cases of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, Samsung and LG smart TVs, and Roku devices, to name a few.
It’s important to note that this isn’t the first time Apple has made such a determination. Devices in Amazon’s Fire TV ecosystem were already experiencing a similar situation to Android TV and Google TV; that is, the Apple TV application also did not allow the purchase or rental of content, which would surely also be linked to the payment of commissions.
a fleeting experience
What is really striking about this problem is the short time that Apple TV has worked on Google platforms. It is that not even a year has passed since its massive arrival on devices with Android TV and Google TV. Although some teams started having support for the Apple service at the end of 2020, it was not until the beginning of last June that there was a formal launch.
We will have to see how Google responds to the decision of the firm headed by Tim Cook. And from the users’ point of view, beyond the bad news of losing some of the functions of the service, they at least have the peace of mind of be able to continue accessing the Apple TV + catalog without limitations.
