While most observers at the Apple announcement at the WorldWide Developers Conference were waiting for the latest and greatest in the upcoming iOS 10 release, there was some sports-related items of note.
First, Sling TV has joined Apple TV. The online skinny bundle which allows subscribers to watch certain cable TV channels including ESPN without a set-top box and costs $20 per month will now be on Apple TV from now on. And new customers who were holding out to subscribe to Sling can now buy a 32GB Apple TV box for $89 when they prepay for three months of the service.
In addition, Viacom’s channels like CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Spike, TV Land and VH1 have joined the service.
Apple also announced that Fox Sports Go will launch on Apple TV later this summer. There’s been no official date, but as Apple TV already has WatchESPN, NBC Sports Live Extra and CBS, Fox Sports Go has been noticeably absent. That will be taken care in the next few months.
And Apple also announced the end of constant authentication on TV apps. For those who have a cable or satellite subscription and want to go to the TV network apps, there’s the regular popping up of the dreaded authentication screen. Apple says it will take care of that with a single sign-in app that will allow subscribers to sign in once taking care of authentication once and for all. It will be made available on both Apple TV and iOS.
As for now, only Dish Network appears to be on board. Other cable and satellite providers have yet to announce they have joined, but as we get closer to this app’s launch, we’ll hear of more companies signing on.
But the main takeaway is that Sling is on Apple TV and Fox Sports Go will be on board soon.
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