Back in March, Apple announced that its new TV app would be available on a lot more devices (and in a lot more countries) than ever before. It’s available on a lot of popular smart TVs, it’s coming to Macs in macOS Catalina, and it’ll be on both Fire TV and Roku.
Well, we’re still waiting for the Fire TV app, but the Apple TV app for Roku just launched. Roku users can find and add it in the Roku Channel Store, just as they would any other channel. From there, you’ll log in with your Apple ID to access your content.
This is perfect timing for the November 1 release of Apple TV+, a $4.99 per month service featuring only original content from Apple. The initial lineup is rather limited, but will be full of big-name stars, and there are lots of shows, series, and movies in the works. Apple TV+ will be free for one year for customers who purchase a new Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, or Mac.
The Apple TV app is good for more than just accessing Apple’s new streaming service. It’s also where you’ll stream movies and TV shows purchased through iTunes, and of course receive personalized recommendations for new shows and movies to buy or rent.
Apple also offers subscriptions to third-party streaming services from within the TV app, called Apple TV Channels. You can subscribe to services such as HBO, Starz, or Showtime from within the app, be billed by Apple, and access the content right in the TV app. It’s just like Roku premium subscriptions or Amazon Prime TV Channels.
Roku users will be able to access all this stuff in the Apple TV app, but the app is not quite as full-featured as it is on Apple TV hardware, iPhones, or iPads. On those platforms, it incorporates recommendations from many of the third-party apps and services installed on your device, like Hulu or Amazon Prime Video. Select a show from a third-party service and you’ll jump over to the appropriate app to start watching it. The Apple TV app on Mac, Roku, Fire TV, and smart TVs do not have that capability—it only plays content purchased through Apple (iTunes shows and movies, Apple TV Channels, and Apple TV+).
Author: Jason Cross, Senior Editor
I have written about technology for my entire professional life - over 25 years. I enjoy learning about how complicated technology works and explaining it in a way anyone can understand.