Update: The Apple TV app for Roku is now available. Download it here from the Roku Channel Store.
The Apple TV app is launching on Roku devices today, just in time for Apple’s TV+ streaming debut on November 1st. The TV app can be downloaded thorugh the Roku channel store, allowing Roku users to access their 4K HD iTunes purchases, Apple TV Channels, and Apple TV+ originals.
The company says the app will be compatible with most Roku devices, including the Roku streaming stick and Roku Ultra set-top box. However, “select older Roku models” are not supported.
The Roku TV app will be available in the United States, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and the United Kingdom.
Naturally, the TV app is free to download and you sign in with your Apple ID. Users can existing their existing purchases of movies and TV shows from iTunes, as well as watch streaming content from Apple TV Channels like HBO, Starz, and Showtime. It will also serve as the home for Apple TV+ — Apple’s streaming service of original films and shows — when it launches on November 1st.
Apple is pushing the TV app beyond its own devices as it looks to capture subscription service revenue from everyone in the world, not just Apple customers. The TV app is already available on Samsung Smart TVs, and it will be coming to smart TVs from Vizio, LG, and Sony in the future.
Unlike the iOS TV app, the TV app on other platforms does not surface video content from other apps installed on the device. It is limited to content that you can watch directly through the TV app; iTunes media, and Apple TV Channels (TV+ ultimately counts as a Channel).
When it launches, Apple TV+ will cost $4.99 per month. A single subscription can be shared with up to six people through Family Sharing. Purchases of a new iPhone, Apple TV, Mac, iPad, or iPod touch come with one free year of Apple TV+. You will be able to watch TV+ through the TV app on iOS devices and Macs, select smart TVs and streaming boxes including today’s debut on Roku.
