I e-mailed a 15 TV network app developers to ask about androidtv development 3 days ago, here's what I've gotten back so far

by eedna

I e-mailed the contact e-mail listed on the play store page for the following apps:

  • TBS/TNT
  • TruTV
  • Cartoon Network
  • WATCH ABC
  • The CW
  • NBC
  • NBC Sports Live Extra
  • CBS
  • USA NOW
  • AMC
  • A&E
  • Hulu (regular hulu, not Hulu Plus)
  • Comedy Central
  • Yahoo Screen
  • Spike

I sent them all the same e-mail-

Hi, I was wondering if there are any plans to make the app name here app androidTV (specifically with the nvidia shield android tv device) compatible in the future? Thanks!

I haven't heard back from most of them. Here are the ones that I have:

CBS-

Thank you so much for your email. Unfortunately at the moment All Access isn't compatible for all android smart tv yet and as for the timeline, I honestly don't know. We are working on it and there will be an email sent out once the update is applied to have AA to be compatible with Android tv. Regards, CBS All Access Customer Service

WATCH ABC-

Hi ABC viewer, Thanks for contacting WATCH ABC Customer Care. I understand you are interested in accessing our WATCH app on your Android TV. I'm happy to help. We are always working to support more devices and platforms. Presently we are not working on an app for Android TV, however, I expect we will in the future. I wish I had better information for you.

They then listed all of the devices that their app does support

NBC Sports Live Extra-

There are no currently plans for Live Extra to work for smart TVs but may be an option in the future. Live Extra Support

That's all I got. A few more sent me automated responses indicating that a ticket was created so I may still hear from them but based on the 3 responses I got I'm not optimistic about their answers. I'll update this post if/when I do.

This is discouraging :/ I really believe AndroidTV has the potential to be great but it needs more content. I guess I should say that I do appreciate the honesty about the uncertainty from the responses I got so far.

JimboLodisC

I think they need to hear from their competition just how many views they're getting from Android TV devices. Chicken/egg problem, but luckily you can grab a NP for cheap or buy a TV with it built-in. As more and more traffic starts coming from these devices, it'll be too hard to ignore.

GazaIan

CBS All Access already has an Android TV app, it launched earlier this year.

goodhur

The Fire TV supports Watch ABC, A&E, Yahoo Screen, NBC (news, sports extra and the regular tv app), CBS All Access. Since the apps are actually running on s version of Android and remote optimized it seems ridiculous that they haven't been ported to AndroidTV. The only app that I would understand having a any type of problem with supporting Google might be Yahoo.

All I can think is the cable companies are causing issues.

atheoncrutch

There is a 99% chance that the people responding to your emails wouldn't even know if they were developing something until it was announced for release.

stak640

CBS All Access has been on Android TV for a while

TheSubversive

I have both AndroidTV and the new AppleTV and it's amazing what Apple has that Android doesn't. The amount of network apps that have the live streaming on them is awesome. I cut the cord a few weeks ago and haven't missed a thing. The NBC Sports app streams the Sunday night game live and the ESPN app streams the monday night game live. The FXNow app streams 4 different versions of the network!

Regarding that CBS ALL Access app, it's awesome and well worth the small subscription price. Live TV, their entire catalog of CBS shows on demand (Going back to stuff like The Twilight Zone and The Brady Bunch) and all their events like awards shows. People wanted a la carte television and now that it's offered to them they're turning their nose up at it.

I just don't think Android has the power to get these networks to jump through hoops for them. That and ABC, ESPN, and all the Disney networks are already in partnership with Apple via Steve Jobs being the largest Disney share holder. Maybe Google should buy a network?

GazaIan

Also, you're very unlikely to get regular Hulu on Android TV. Almost anything that isn't a browser uses Hulu Plus, to my knowledge.

Sheikboy_

The WatchABC thing really annoys me. THEY HAVE A FIRE TV APP, it's the exact same thing! HBO just ported their Fire TV app and it works just fine, so it's not that they can't do it, they just don't want to.

VoodooAndPowells

Can you list the email addresses for these providers? If we all email them they will start to take notice.