Facebook’s app for smart TVs, which lets users tune into various videos, shows, and live streams on the platform, may no longer be available on Apple TV. Some users say they can no longer access the app after its most recent update.
In a thread on MacRumors, one user shares an image of the notice they received after attempting to open Facebook Watch on their Apple TV 4K: “The Facebook Watch TV app. Unfortunately, it is no longer available, but you can still find many videos on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/watch.” Several other users report having the same experience.
Facebook launched its Watch app on Apple TV in 2017 after launching it on Samsung smart TVs. The app is also available on diverse other smart TVs and consoles, as well as on Facebook’s mobile app and desktop site.
Users who still desire to use the Watch app on Apple TV should be able to cast Watch from their phone to their TV, but this isn’t as convenient as merely opening up an app.
It’s unclear if the Facebook Watch app is no longer available due to a glitch triggered by the recent update or if Facebook pulled the app from Apple TV entirely. Apple TV is still listed as one of Facebook Watch’s supported platforms. Reporters reached out to Apple and Facebook with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
The Apple TV app, also understood as Apple TV, TV, and the TV app, is a line of media player software programs devised by Apple Inc. for viewing television shows and movies delivered by Apple to consumer electronic devices. It can stream range from the iTunes Store, the Apple TV Channels a la carte video-on-demand assistance, and the Apple TV+ original content subscription service. In addition, iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches, and Apple TVs can also index and access content from other video-on-demand services linked to apps.
The app was terminated in the United States in December 2016 for iOS and tvOS Apple devices and was moved to other nations in late 2017. During 2019 and 2020, it was brought to Mac and the third generation Apple TV and gradually, with certain feature omissions, to non-Apple devices: post-2015 Roku and Amazon Fire TV models and some newer television models on the Fire TV Edition, Samsung Tizen, Roku TV, LG WebOS, and Vizio SmartCast intelligent TV platforms, with select new Sony Android TV models achieving access in October 2020.
Content from the TV app can also be streamed through Apple’s AirPlay 2 protocol from a device supporting the TV app to smart television sets from Sony, Vizio, LG, and Samsung.
TV was revealed at an Apple media event on October 27, 2016, and was unleashed in the US on December 12, 2016, with iOS 10.2 and tvOS 10.1, substituting the “Videos” application in previous versions of iOS. It aggregates television shows and flicks from the iTunes Store with content from installed partner apps and can stalk progress over the devices using the same Apple ID. Only range from Apple’s services extends inside the TV app; other content is in the linked app.
The app initially contained five sections: “Watch Now,” “Sports,” “Library,” “Store,” and “Search.” In addition, push notifications for sports scores can be enabled. TV received a significant redesign following Apple’s March 2019 media event, which refocused it as an epicenter for Apple-distributed video streaming. The new rendition added support for Apple TV Channels and debuted a new icon similar to the Apple TV hardware icon, replacing the earlier icon resembling a television.
TV was counted to the pre-tvOS 3rd generation Apple TV in March 2019, though this version cannot link with other video demand apps. Picture-in-picture and switching between multiple Apple IDs were added in tvOS 13 to fourth generation and newer Apple TVs. The TV supports 4K, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and HDR10 on the Apple TV 4K. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are supported on iPad Pro and iPhone models released in 2017 or later, and iPhones and Dolby Atmos on 2018 iPad Pro models.
Apple TV Channels is an aggregating service content from popular video on demand a la carte subscription services accessed from the TV app. Revealed in March 2019, it is designed to facilitate subscriptions by making them purchasable and accessible in one video content hub. The consumer need not use each service’s sign-up mechanism or view the content through each service’s app or website. It is designed to compete with similar services such as Amazon Channels and Hulu Add-Ons, which similarly make multiple subscription premium networks available in one location.
The payment method can also be centralized through Apple’s billing service. Because the content is from paid subscription services, it will be ad-free. Content can also be downloaded to the device for offline viewing, and there is an option to share accounts within families. Partners include Cinemax, Boomerang, Discovery Channel, Tastemade, Starz, Pattaya, Epix, Showtime, BET+, Paramount+, Noggin, Curiosity Stream, Mubi, Okko, BBC Select, BritBox, AMC+, Allblk, Shudder, and Acorn TV. HBO was a launch partner but deprecated their channel following the launch of HBO Max, discontinuing new subscriptions and retaining existing ones for Apple users.
It is registered for the pipeline before the May 2020 launch of HBO Max (while granting access to HBO Max at no extra charge) until July 22, 2021, when it was discontinued for existing subscriptions. The broad reach of the 1.4 billion Apple devices in use globally induced primary services, some of which already have their content distribution systems, to make deals with Apple.