Simultaneous with the release of iOS 4.3 last week, Apple issued an update for Apple TV, bringing some great new content to the little black box. The new features are as follow:
NBA.com League Pass
NBA.com League Pass brings live and archived NBA games to Apple TV. Current League Pass subscribers can access games for no additional fees, and new subscribers can select from one of two subscription plans. Potential subscribers can choose to watch seven teams for $64.95, or all 30 teams for $99.95. Without a subscription, Apple TV owners can still view game highlights and real-time scores.
MLB.tv
MLB.tv brings every baseball game broadcast (local blackouts apply) to Apple TV in HD. Subscribers can select from home and away broadcasts, and stream any missed games from the archives. Though these premium features require an annual subscription—starting at $99.99—non-subscribing baseball fans are given a series of free options. Team schedules and real-time scores, stats, and standings are all available for free.
The inclusion of these new features may indicate a trend we’ll see more of in the future. For instance, it would be great if the NFL were to jump onto the subscription model and stream regular season games to Apple TV. Additionally, NBC/Universal streaming and rental support would further diversify Apple TV’s offerings. Though Apple has yet to announce these speculated features, those included in the most recent update make Apple TV especially enticing for sports fans.