Google announced some new Android TV features and as part of the announcement, the company took a moment to remind everyone that Peacock and HBO Max are available on Android TV. A timely reminder, considering the two newer streaming service additions are currently not available on rival TV platforms, like Amazon’s Fire TV or Roku OS.
NBCUniversal’s Peacock and WarnerMedia’s HBO Max are literally two of the newest streaming services around. HBO Max was first to launch in May and this was followed by Peacock in July. While both services have attracted a lot of media attention, even before launching, they are very different to each other, and especially in terms of the price. For example, Peacock has tiers ranging in cost from free to $10 per month, while HBO Max only has one plan, priced at $15 per month.
Although both services have proven to be in demand, they both have been plagued by the same device support issue. That is, neither Peacock nor HBO Max can currently be accessed on Fire TV devices or Roku players unless going through a third-party service, such as Hulu. Even when using those third-party options, the experience is likely to be limited, considering services like Hulu only tend to provide access to HBO content and not the Max-related movies and shows.
In contrast, both services launched with full Android TV support. As a result, owners of a device powered by Android TV can simply download the Peacock or HBO Max app directly from the Android TV version of the Google Play Store, and enjoy the full experience offered by either service. This appears to have been a point not lost on Google as while announcing a couple of new discovery and subscription updates, the company closed out the post by pointing out both services are easily accessible on Android TV.
And if you’re wondering what to watch next, don’t forget to check out NBCUniversal’s Peacock and HBO Max, now available on Android TV devices.
Source: Google
Peacock & HBO Max remain missing on Fire TV & Roku
In spite of what is clear demand from device users and owners, Fire TV and Roku support for Peacock and HBO Max remains missing.
Read more: Peacock Devices: Smart TVs & Streaming Players You Can Watch On
Worst still, there doesn’t appear to have been much change on either situation since the services launched. Believed to be an issue relating to disputes over access and advertising, the understanding is the two services and streaming platforms remain in a standoff.
While it would seem logical that eventually a deal will be done, considering it affects both sides of the streaming equation equally, as well as consumers in general, unless one side decides to back down, it remains to be seen if the situation will be resolved anytime soon.
In the meantime, consumers wanting to access either Peacock or HBO Max have not been left with much choice, except opting for a device running on a platform other than Fire TV and Roku. For example, and as Google points out, Android TV.
Source: Google
