In addition to reviving the iTunes Festival channel ahead of the music event, Apple has pushed out an additional channel on Apple TV. Showtime Anytime, the premium cable and satellite television network, is now available for streaming content on Apple TV. The channel includes free full episodes of select episodes of certain shows. In addition to acting as an on-demand channel, Showtime Anytime on Apple TV also supports viewing live broadcasts with an authenticated subscription to supported TV providers. Expand Expanding Close
Showtime updated its “Showtime Anytime” app today with live TV feeds that allow users to watch what’s currently airing on both SHOWTIME East and SHOWTIME West. That’s in addition to the on-demand content it previously offered.
The app is available for free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad, and available to subscribers of AT&T U-verse, Comcast XFINITY, DIRECTV, Optimum and Verizon FiOS.
What’s New in Version 2.0
– Live TV: Tune in to watch what’s currently airing LIVE on SHOWTIME
– Improved stability and performance
– Minor bug fixes
The app that provides access to full-length TV shows for Showtime subscribers was initially only available to AT&T U-verse and Verizon FiOS customers. Showtime Networks later added support for DIRECTV and Optimum subscribers, but today updated its universal iPhone/iPad app to provide support for Comcast XFINITY.
Also included in version 1.4 of the app is support for iPhone 5, optimized video playback for iOS 6 and a few welcomed performance enhancements:
What’s New in Version 1.4
– Available to Showtime subscribers with AT&T U-verse, Comcast XFINITY, DIRECTV, Optimum and Verizon FiOS!
– Support for iPhone 5
– Optimized video playback for iOS 6
– Improved tap targets for controls in video player
– Improved performance and stability
– Minor bug fixes
In September, leaked documents emerged revealing Comcast was working on a live TV streaming service for iPad called “AnyPlay“ and now the company announced the service will roll out today. To start out, AnyPlay will only be available to Xfinity HD Triple Play subscribers located in Denver and Nashville, but the company plans to roll out to additional markets “in the coming months”.
The service will be accessible through the current Xfinity TV app. Comcast revealed exactly how it works:
the AnyPlay device works the same as any other set top box in the home, but instead of delivering the incoming channel lineup to a television, AnyPlay delivers the lineup to the Wi-Fi router on the home network. The router then distributes the secure video signal to the iPad or Xoom over your home’s wireless network. So as long as your tablet is within range of the home wireless router, you can turn it into another television screen.
In related iPad video streaming news, Showtime announced the Showtime Anytime iPad app today that brings Showtime Anytime subscribers over 400 hours of content. The app appears to only be available to AT&T U-Verse and Verizon FiOS customers, but the press release does mention Comcast support “will be launched soon” and others will be added in the future.
Some of the content accessible form the app includes TV shows “Dexter,” “The Big C,” “House of Lies,” and movies “The King’s Speech,” “The Hurt Locker,” and “Inglorious Basterds.” The company plans to launch an iPhone app for Showtime Anytime sometime early this year.
