Google has made it official via blog post: Apple TV is coming to Google TV in early 2021. Yes, you read that right and yes, it feels a bit strange to see these two companies playing so well together in this. That aside, the move makes perfect sense in quite a few ways. After all, while Google, Amazon, and Apple don’t always allow all of their services on each other’s hardware, when it comes to media, everyone plays pretty well.
With Google’s strong position in the living room via years of Android TV and Chromecast under their belt, it makes sense that Apple wants to make their streaming content available to every possible customer, including those in Google’s gravity. Media is one of the few places where a walled garden, an internal ecosystem approach hurts you instead of helping you, and it seems Apple is all too aware of this as their streaming service gets geared up for Google TV.
This all makes sense, too, because, as noted in an October article, Apple TV is already available through Google TV on a handful of Sony televisions out of the box. By merging 2 and 2, it seemed only a matter of time before Apple TV became available for every device with Google TV, like the new Chromecast, and that’s where we are now.
According to Google, this addition makes the new Chromecast with Google TV one of the few streaming devices that can access all the major streaming providers right now. It also looks like Apple TV will be fully integrated into Google TV, meaning users will be able to see suggested content and recently watched shows on the new Chromecast right from the home screen. Given that Netflix users have been losing this ability lately, it’s worth noting that Apple TV isn’t just an app on the Chromecast – it’s completely immersed in the overall user experience. Watchlist, stay tuned and personalized suggestions are always there for the ride.
Plus, Apple’s Family Sharing works here too, allowing up to 6 people to access your Apple TV content, including yourself. Until the service hits Google TV on the new Chromecast, we’ll remember our verdict on how well all of that will work. For now, though, it’s exciting enough to know that Google is continuing to deliver streaming media for the home with the new Chromecast and, if you’re anything like me, it makes giving you this streaming dongle an even nicer great offer this holiday season than it already was.
