If you want to continue buying or renting movies or series on Apple TV and you have an Android TV device, do not update the app. Indeed, the new version no longer includes the purchase and rental buttons. This issue also affects Google TV devices. It has been seen on Sony and TCL TVs, as well as Chromecast and Nvidia Shield TV boxes.
Instead of buttons, the app offers to click on How to Watch (How to watch) and then displays a message. This says to subscribe to Apple TV on iPhone, iPad, or another streaming device. The message also specifies that the user can subscribe to Apple TV+ on the Apple site.
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On the other hand, subscribers to Apple TV+ retain their prerogatives and can continue to benefit from their subscription.
Apple has not given an official explanation for this downgrade of its application. But this change could come from the 30% commission that Apple must pay to Google when purchasing within the app in its Android TV or Google TV version.
The situation is rather ironic, because Apple finds itself in the same situation as app developers for the App Store who must agree to pay a commission to the manufacturer.
This situation led to the lawsuit between Tim Cook’s firm and the game publisher Epic. At the end of 2020, Apple made a gesture for small developers, in some cases lowering its commission to 15%, and more recently offering more flexibility in the communication of developers with their users.
In February, in the United States, a bill was validated to enter the legislative process by a Senate committee to no longer oblige developers to use the payment system of application stores, including that of Apple.
Sources : flatpanelshd via 9to5mac