Apple crippled its own Apple TV app on Android platforms to avoid Google Tax

It’s reported that you’re no longer able to purchase or rent movies or TV shows through the Apple TV app on Android TV. It’s speculated that it’s due to Apple avoiding Google’s 30% commission fees.

You were previously able to do so after the Apple TV app made itself available on the Android TV’s Play Store worldwide in 2021. With its availability, more people can subscribe to Apple’s streaming service without the need of purchasing an Apple device.

Besides being able to watch Apple TV’s original shows and movies—like the Oscar-nominated Coda and Emmy-winning Ted Lasso—you’re also able to purchase or rent almost every movie or tv show that isn’t readily available through a streaming service. When you rent a feature, you have 30 days to start watching it. As soon as you play your rental, your rental is available for 48 hours. Purchasing a feature, instead, will give you unlimited access to it.

With your own Apple TV box, the movies and TV shows you rent or purchase will be charged to your Apple account. However, if you’re using the Apple TV app through an Android-based platform, Apple would not be getting some of that profit. In fact, Google takes 30% commission on in-app purchases.

“We’ve updated the Apple TV app to comply with Google Play’s guidelines around purchases and rentals,” said Apple regarding the change.

This isn’t the first time that Apple and Google were involved in app-related beef. Previously, Fortnite creator Epic Games implemented its own in-app payment system that bypassed Apple and Google’s standard 30% fee. Eventually, it was made available on the Google Play Store for a short period before it got kicked out for giving users an option to pay directly within the app without going through Google.

And in 2018, Netflix stopped offering payments via iTunes for new customers. It was seen as a way to avoid the Apple tax by getting users to subscribe via a web browser.

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Related reading

• Netflix stops offering iTunes billing for new subscribers
• Why was Fortnite kicked out from Apple App Store and Google Play Store?
• Now you can watch Apple TV on Android TV, here’s how to set it up