Apple TV viewers now can access live TV from the Disney Channel and Disney XD, plus Vevo's library of 75,000 HD music videos. (Credit: John Falcone/CNET) The Apple TV hardware may be old, but a steady stream of updates are keeping the box fresh. Tuesday morning a software update added five new apps to Apple's streaming box: Vevo, the Disney Channel, Disney XD, the Smithsonian Channel, and the Weather Channel. It's a major update for the Apple TV, which has lagged the competing Roku 3 in app selection; in fact, Vevo and Smithsonian (the latter of which is co-owned by CBS, the publisher of CNET) are already available on Roku's boxes. Vevo is a major addition, granting Apple TV viewers access to Vevo's library of 75,000 HD music videos, its exclusive original programming, and live concert performances, as well as to Vevo TV, a broadcast-style 24-7 channel. Vevo is the third most-watched video site in the U.S., according to ComScore figures from March, with 52 million viewers -- one third as many as Google/YouTube, and somewhat behind Facebook. Vevo on Apple TV is available in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland. (Credit: John Falcone/CNET) Both Disney channels also compelling, although cord-cutters should be aware that both the Disney Channel and Disney XD require authentication from a participating cable/satellite provider, so you need a pay-TV subscription to access them. The apps let you watch the live TV channels, as well as on-demand content.
Apple TV viewers now can access live TV from the Disney Channel and Disney XD, plus Vevo's library of 75,000 HD music videos.
(Credit: John Falcone/CNET)
The Apple TV hardware may be old, but a steady stream of updates are keeping the box fresh.
Tuesday morning a software update added five new apps to Apple's streaming box: Vevo, the Disney Channel, Disney XD, the Smithsonian Channel, and the Weather Channel. It's a major update for the Apple TV, which has lagged the competing Roku 3 in app selection; in fact, Vevo and Smithsonian (the latter of which is co-owned by CBS, the publisher of CNET) are already available on Roku's boxes.
Vevo is a major addition, granting Apple TV viewers access to Vevo's library of 75,000 HD music videos, its exclusive original programming, and live concert performances, as well as to Vevo TV, a broadcast-style 24-7 channel. Vevo is the third most-watched video site in the U.S., according to ComScore figures from March, with 52 million viewers -- one third as many as Google/YouTube, and somewhat behind Facebook. Vevo on Apple TV is available in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Poland.
(Credit: John Falcone/CNET)
Both Disney channels also compelling, although cord-cutters should be aware that both the Disney Channel and Disney XD require authentication from a participating cable/satellite provider, so you need a pay-TV subscription to access them. The apps let you watch the live TV channels, as well as on-demand content.
