HBO Added to 'Apple TV Channels' in Latest iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 Betas

Apple recently unveiled its revamped TV app with a new "Channels" feature that enables users to subscribe to TV networks on an à-la-carte basis and watch them all in the TV app without having to open another app.

hbo tv app tvos

Image: The Streamable

When the new TV app became available to test in the iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 betas in late March, subscription options were limited to Showtime, Starz, Smithsonian, and Tastemade. As noted by The Streamable, however, additional channels have been added as of the fourth betas of iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 this week.

The most notable addition is HBO for $14.99 per month, in time for the final three episodes of Game of Thrones, while other recently added channels include Cinemax, EPIX, Sundance Now, Lifetime Movie Club, and UMC.

hbo tv app


When the new TV app is publicly released on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV later this month, other networks that will be supported in ‌Apple TV‌ Channels include CBS All Access, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault, Comedy Central Now, Acorn TV, Britbox, Noggin, MTV Hits, and Shudder.

We recently went hands-on with the revamped TV app:


The TV app will also be available on the Mac starting this fall alongside Apple's TV+ original content streaming service.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Tag: HBO
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

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Top Rated Comments

KazKam Avatar
78 months ago
I guess I still don't really understand the need for the "TV" app on the Apple TV. It seems redundant. Why wouldn't I just got to the HBO Now app?

I understand it aggregates content across apps/channels, but that seems like a mess to me. I guess it just isn't the way I watch TV/video content... maybe it's just me; I guess I am getting a little old.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
rkelez01 Avatar
78 months ago
quick, someone test to see how good Game of Thrones looks vs. HBO Go/Now vs. Amazon Prime streaming! I've had terrible luck streaming HBO (Game of Thrones) via DirecTV Now so I'd be curious to see how this looks and if episodes will be available 9pm EST.
Was testing this a bit last night. Tv app had much better looking picture. Bitrate peaks about 2mb higher and is much more stable throughout.

Initial impression is quite good.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hank moody Avatar
78 months ago
I guess I still don't really understand the need for the "TV" app on the Apple TV. It seems redundant. Why wouldn't I just got to the HBO Now app?

I understand it aggregates content across apps/channels, but that seems like a mess to me. I guess it just isn't the way I watch TV/video content... maybe it's just me; I guess I am getting a little old.
let me explain:

imagine you watch 100 different channels. in a future world, where every channel will be an app, you would have 100 different apps only for TV.
now imagine this apps: some good but some poorly developed and maintained. this and the mess of 100 different apps in every device you have, only for watching tv...

now imagine this scenario:

you have ONE app, one native appp well developed by Apple. and inside all your subscriptions, like normal channels in a tv.
it is a much cleaner and simpler idea and concept.

i hope this becomes a huge success. i love apple's simpler way of doing things.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
agffth Avatar
78 months ago
HBO are a joke. I have DirectTV Now and they jacked the price from $4.99/month up to $14.99/month right before GOT started on all platforms. They are going to lose so many subscribers once the season is over.
It's AT&T that's a joke. They own both.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
mattynat Avatar
78 months ago
quick, someone test to see how good Game of Thrones looks vs. HBO Go/Now vs. Amazon Prime streaming! I've had terrible luck streaming HBO (Game of Thrones) via DirecTV Now so I'd be curious to see how this looks and if episodes will be available 9pm EST.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dugbug Avatar
78 months ago
quick, someone test to see how good Game of Thrones looks vs. HBO Go/Now vs. Amazon Prime streaming! I've had terrible luck streaming HBO (Game of Thrones) via DirecTV Now so I'd be curious to see how this looks and if episodes will be available 9pm EST.
if you have directv now you can sign into hbo go and use that
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)