Android TV, the new Google OS for smart TVs and streaming players, has forged a slew of new partnerships with programmers, set-top and TV makers and even a couple of MVPDs.
Following recent launches on Android mobile devices, HBO Now, the network’s standalone OTT service, is now supported on select Android TV devices, including Sony and Sharp connected TVs that use the new Google OS. That follows Android TV's recently added support for Showtime’s OTT direct-to-consumer service, CBS All Access, and apps from WWE and UFC.
Other streaming apps on Android TV include Fox News, The Weather Network, FXNOW, Fox Sports Go, Epix, Sling TV, Crackle, and apps from HGTV, Travel Channel, Food Network, Hulu, Netflix, AOL On, MLB.tv, PBS Kids, and Pluto TV, among others.
The Nvidia Shield, Nexus Player, Philips TVs and the Razer Forge TV are among others in the early batch of Android TV-powered devices.
As noted in this blog post by George Audi, business development manager, Google Play, Google also has also signed on Hisense and TCL to make integrated Android TV-powered sets. Notably, Hisense and TCL are also Roku TV partners.
On the pay TV front, Audi also noted that set-top makers Pace (which is in the process of being acquired by Arris), Sagemcom and Technicolor will be working to bring Android TV-based boxes to pay TV operator partners, adding that KDDI and Telecom Italia among the early takers from the MVPD sector.
The expanded Android TV partnerships comes on the heels of Google's introduction of a second-gen TV-connected Chromecast streaming adapter and the Chromecast Audio dongle.
