Viacom Apps -Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, BET - Removed from Android TV

by rhdelgado

2nd UPDATE: Fixed. These 4 apps have returned with new update

The latest update of the Comedy Central Android App removed support for Android TV. WTH? No notice, and no comment in the release notes. I just noticed that the app was missing from my launcher, and when I went to the Play Store on my TV, it wouldn't come up under search. I went to the web Play Store, and it showed as not compatible with my Shield TV.

Then I checked the other Viacom apps. MTV, VH1 & BET were all removed too. Only the Nick app remains.

This is troubling, and I hope it doesn't become a pattern for this or other companies. It had felt like more apps were showing up recently, so this is discouraging.

Update July 8th I received an update from the DEV last night, and it's surprisingly positive. It's still corporate speak, and won't directly say when Android TV support will return, it sounds as if it will. Text below.

Developer response: This is Comedy Central App Support - Really appreciate the feedback Roy. We believe we've found an underlying issue with our latest Android release that appears to be causing issues for some Android TV users. Note that we're working on an Open Beta and this beta should be available shortly from our Comedy Central App page on Google Play.

Update 2 July 8, 2018 Comedy Central app updated today on my Shield TV. App returned. Also MTV, BET & VH1 are showing up again on search in Play Store on TV, and show compatible with Shield on web Play Store. Apps have an updated interface too.

Ekos640

You can still sideload the new versions and they have android tv support built in to the app still. So they just delisted them.

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/comedy-central/comedy-central/comedy-central-4-5-release/comedy-central-4-5-android-apk-download/

rhdelgado

Somewhere along the line, CBS Sports also had Android TV comparability removed. UGH

kawshik201

Maybe I found a reason of this removal. Previously Viacom used to use the Android TV's Leanback apps also on Fire TV platform also but they completely remade the apps for Fire TV in July 2nd. Maybe that's why they no longer needs the Leanback apps.

rhdelgado

Could someone who still has Nougat search on their Android TV to see if these apps show up? I want to see if the issue is related to the Oreo update, which I just got recently.

Ausernameneeded

Viacom is a mess. They pulled their channels from Vue and gives other cable services (traditional and streaming) as much trouble as they can.

I guess Viacom wants to fail and be on zero services and devices.

kawshik201

They also didn't release many apps to Android TV like Nick Jr. was launched on Fire TV but never on Android TV.

Cash091

When Viacom wasn't getting enough money from DirecTV they pulled their channels. There were notifications running all over the place ALL THE TIME! Some from Viacom claiming they want a fair price for their content and some (most) from DirecTV saying Viacom was ripping them off.

This was the main reason I left DirecTV. I don't give a fuck about your bidding war DTV. You don't get the channels... okay... you do? Great! You do your business and keep me as a consumer the fuck out of it.

I really hope this isn't going to be another one of those situations... If Android TV is having issues with Viacom, fuck Viacom !

davidherron

For as long as I have had a mi box, Viacom channels other than Nick have not been available. I get them from aptoid tv.

henrygeorge1776

Can you use Fire TV one?

rhdelgado

Android Police ran a story about this. Viacom has yet to comment, but CBS Sports wrote back to another reader that the removal of CBS Sports from Android TV was a mistake, and it would be put back later this month.

https://www.androidpolice.com/2018/07/06/viacom-apps-mysteriously-breaking-compatibility-android-tv-play-disappearing-act-launcher/