AT&T’s DirecTV has been added to the list of single sign-on compatible services for tvOS and iOS. As noted by MacRumors, the addition of its 20 million U.S. subscribers makes it the biggest provider to support the feature so far, displacing Dish Network and Sling TV.
With the early beta of single sign-on, there were only a few supported TV providers: Dish Network and its Sling TV subsidiary, as well as small regional services GVTC Communications and Hotwire rounded out the list.
Single sign-on is activated in tvOS 10.1 beta and iOS 10.2 beta testers. It gives customers in the US a simplified way of enjoying pay-TV video channels.
Users only have to sign in once on Apple TV to enjoy immediate access to their favorite video channels that are included as part of their pay-TV subscription. Once a user is signed into one network app, any other app on Apple TV from participating pay-TV providers will automatically log the user into all other supported apps requiring authentication.
During the single sign-on process, customers can view a page of all the authenticated apps that a pay-TV provider offers to more easily discover, download and enjoy all of their favorite video channels. Any network-TV app can take advantage of this technology to enable single sign-on and simplify the process for their viewers.
I’d expect to see the finished versions of tvOS 10.1 and iOS 10.2 rolled out next month.
