Apple is making it easier for Android users to watch Apple TV content on a television screen. The company announced that the Apple TV app for Android now supports Google Cast functionality. This allows users to stream video and audio directly from their Android devices to a compatible TV.
This move by Apple signals its interest in making Apple TV a more competitive streaming service. The market is currently seeing increased consolidation, with Netflix and Paramount seeking to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Meanwhile, Disney is preparing to merge Hulu fully into its Disney Plus app.
The new feature arrives shortly after Netflix quietly abandoned support for Google Cast in its own app, a decision that upset many subscribers. Apple’s support for casting could potentially attract those Android users who are disappointed by Netflix’s change and are considering alternative streaming services.
While Apple TV’s library of original content is smaller than some competitors, it features a number of popular shows and films. These include “Severance,” “Pluribus,” “The Studio,” “The Morning Show,” “Slow Horses,” and the recent summer blockbuster “F1.” For sports fans, Apple TV offers live-streamed “Friday Night Baseball” doubleheaders, Major League Soccer matches, and Formula 1 races in the United States.
To use the casting feature, users need to install the Apple TV app from Google Play on their Android smartphone, tablet, or foldable device. Once the app is open, they can simply tap the Cast icon in the top right corner to begin streaming to their TV.