The new apps include Showtime and HBO Now, which offer standalone subscriptions for $11 per month and $15 per month respectively. Android TV still lacks apps for Showtime Anytime and HBO Go, which are free for subscribers to those channels through a traditional pay TV package. (One big caveat: Google says these new apps are only on “select” devices for now; HBO Now, for instance, isn’t on Nvidia Shield Android TV yet.)
CBS All Access, a $6 per month service with a live broadcast feed and on-demand programming, is also joining the roster. There’s also a new app for Disney Movies Anywhere, which provides streaming access to your Disney film purchases Google Play, iTunes, or Blu-Ray/DVD.
In addition to the new apps, Google announced some new TV partnerships, with HiSense, TCL, and “several other” manufacturers planning to launch Android-based smart TVs. Google is also working with pay TV operators to put Android TV in their set-top boxes, though this is unlikely to affect the U.S. cable market. Initial partners for that effort KDDI and Telecom Italia.
Unlike Chromecast, which uses a phone or tablet as the remote control, Android TV provides a more traditional interface, with a proper remote control and big-screen apps. It’s available on a handful of set-top boxes, and is currently built into to some smart TVs from Sharp and Sony.
Why this matters: Android TV is just about a year old now, and has come a long way in terms of app support. The platform is getting to the point where mainstream buyers might want to take it seriously, though Android TV boxes are still a tough sell next to the $35 Chromecast dongle, which to date has sold more 20 million units.