With the launch of its subscription streaming platform, Apple ended up extending the service beyond its devices, even to Android TV. Although after one year of unrestricted availability, Apple TV users on Android TVs and players are seeing a significant reduction: they can no longer buy or rent the content, only see what they already have in their library; apart from what is already included in TV+.
App stores offer large amounts of software, most of it free. Some of these applications include additional options in the form of micropayments; purchases from which a percentage is subtracted for the company owning the store. Apple suffers first-hand from the dilemma of commissions in the App Store, Unsurprisingly, the conflict with Epic has put its business model in check. But what about applying commissions to Apple?
Farewell to Transactions on Apple TV for Android TV
As we’ve seen personally on our Android TV and reviewed by outlets such as The Verge, Apple has removed rentals and purchases from its Apple TV app for Android devices (including Chromecast with Google TV). Now, app users can only access their iTunes library apart from the streaming content present in the Apple TV+ section. For all other management, you must use an Apple device.
When browsing Apple TV in the Content Library and accessing any non-TV+ tab, Apple clarifies that the only way to purchase the movie or series is buy it or rent it from an Apple device. This means that if you don’t have an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or macOS, you won’t be able to view content that you haven’t purchased before.
with this movement Apple avoids paying the commissions that prevail in the Google Play Store, both for purchase and rental (or subscription, it is no longer possible to subscribe to Apple TV+ from Android TV). Currently, Google collects 30% of most purchases made on the official Android store.
Apple hasn’t said what its official stance is on removing in-app purchases for Android TV. This decision represents a notorious change of course in the company’s strategy: Apple TV has offered all content accessible under micropayments since the beginning, more than a year ago.
Through | The edge
