Apple TV’s Newest Offerings: HBO GO and WatchESPN

The Cupertino tech giant announced on Wednesday that HBO GO and WatchESPN are now Apple TV’s newest offerings. Recent statistical data confirmed that the two programs are among the most popular apps in iOS history. Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Internet and Software was very pleased with the new development and made assurances that HBO GO and WatchESPN will become huge hits.

More content for only $99

These days, Apple TV has about 230,000 television shows and 60,000 movies available for its many subscribers. All the options may be accessed by subscribers and Apple loyalists for only $99. Currently, Apple TV offers content from online providers like YouTube, Netflix, Vimeo, Hulu Plus, and Flickr. It also features sports channels like NHL, MLB and NBA. The acquisition of HBO GO and WatchESPN are great additions to the current roster.

Since the release of Apple TV in 2007, more than 300 million films and a billion television shows had already been downloaded via Apple’s iTunes shop.

Changing television norms as we know it

The way we view television had evolved much since it became possible to put content and pleasure in a small black box. Since content is very important, a wide selection of choices is a must for networks so that they remain competitive.

In recent years, the use of the Internet has opened up new doors in the realm of television. Viewers now have more power and control over the content they want to watch. With the creation of Apple TV, viewers are now capable of watching their favorite films and television series with only a few bucks. Unlike a typical cable subscription, high quality content and numerous choices are available with Apple TV.

Other contents and freebies

Apple TV grew slowly yet steadily. The announcement released on Wednesday did not only reveal the addition of HBO GO and WatchESPN but other awesome content as well. Included in the list are Sky New, Crunchyroll and Quello. Apple has indeed widened its scope and coverage allowing subscribers to get instant access to news, current events and popular shows from other parts of the globe like Japan, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

For old Apple TV subscribers that already had the 2nd generation or 3rd generation, the new contents can be accessed free of charge. According to Apple executives, the new content will be part of a software update.

Lagging behind?

There are other online TV applications that provide the same services as Apple TV. Content may be scarce at the moment but with the recent release of new material, it would only be a matter of time before Apple TV dominates the air waves.

A tech blogger wrote that Apple is still lagging behind the competition, foremost of which is Roku. Roku is an online television application that boasts of awesome content variety. However, with Apple TV’s slow yet continuous expansion and growth, the competition might one day soon find itself lagging behind, especially when the Cupertino based company goes full throttle.

Photo Credit: Apple TV