A few months ago, Apple was reportedly planning to discontinue iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps on Apple TV, according to a report from Bloomberg without stating a particular date. Now, the decision has materialized as the latest release update of the Apple TV confirms the discontinuation.
According to 9to5Mac, users started receiving a warning message in the release candidate version of tvOS 17.2 beta, signaling the imminent discontinuation of the iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps. The warning directs users to utilize the TV app to manage their purchases and access the store.
To prepare for the move away from the independent iTunes movies app, Apple has completely redesigned the TV app. New features that weren’t in the TV app before are included in the tvOS 17.2 upgrade. From within the store listings, users may now explore box sets and filter their purchased material by genre. For easier navigation, the sidebar has been revamped and now includes a separate option for purchases and stores.
The tvOS 17.2 release candidate still has the iTunes Movies and TV Shows home screen tiles in place despite the discontinuation. When these tiles are opened, though, a landing page that directs users to the TV app’s purchasing and store tabs is displayed. The Apple TV home screen is anticipated to ultimately lose these unnecessary items, as Apple is renowned for making backend modifications.
The iTunes Store app is still available for iPhone and iPad, even though the iTunes Movies and TV Shows apps on Apple TV are being discontinued. This conventional site still allows users to purchase films and TV series. Industry watchers hypothesize, nevertheless, that Apple may eventually move users off this app and towards the TV app.
With any luck, the release candidate seed will go well, and next week, tvOS 17.2 – a big update for Apple TV owners – will be made accessible to the wider public. The gradual removal of iTunes apps is a reflection of Apple’s continuous efforts to improve user experiences throughout its ecosystem, even as the company works to optimize its content delivery platforms.
