Google on Thursday announced HBO Now, Showtime and CBS All Access are now on Android TV.
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A few apps such as Vudu and HBO Go, however, are still notably missing. The availability of the new apps is also highly dependent on the device you are using. That’s a pretty hefty list of new content-in all, over 50 premium Android TV apps are available to download. So have HBONOW, Showtime, Epix, and CBS All Access. HBO Now, for instance, currently works only with Sony and Sharp televisions running Android TV, not with the Nexus Player, Nvidia Shield or others. “And today, we’re adding to your list of options by welcoming Hisense, TCL, and several other smart TV manufacturers to the Android TV family”.
As the definition of “watching TV” moves further away from meaning “paying for cable”, a number of major tech companies, including Apple, Amazon, Google, Roku and others, are angling to make their streaming media player the connected TV box of choice for those cutting the cord.
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Other than new apps, new partners are joining the Android TV ecosystem with hardware for people to buy. Google says it’scommitted to both platforms. At present, it’s available on Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, in terms of living room devices. Hisense and TCL Hardware are now participating as smart TV makers, and Pace, Sagemcom, and Technicolor are on board as set-top box makers.
