Skip to main content

Apple TV’s universal search expands with results from Fox Now, FX Now, and Nat Geo TV

Apple TV
Jeffery Van Camp/Digital Trends
The fourth-generation Apple TV brought a lot of cool new features with it when it launched last year, and one of the most useful was universal search. Now that feature is getting even more handy with the addition of three new channels.

Universal search will now return results from Fox Now, FX Now, and National Geographic, MacRumors reports. This is the second addition in as many months, as results from PBS and PBS Kids came to the universal search feature last month.

Recommended Videos

At launch, universal search only returns results from iTunes, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, and Showtime. Apple announced at the time that more services would be added over time, and while the list is far from huge, this new channels are certainly welcome.

The full list of channels, as listed on Apple’s about page for search, now includes iTunes, HBO Go, HBO Now, Hulu, Netflix, PBS, PBS Kids, Showtime, Showtime Anytime, Fox Now, FX Now, and Nat Geo TV.

Only those in the U.S. currently get results from the above services. For Apple TV users in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and U.K. only get results for movies and TV shows from iTunes and Netflix, while those in other countries and regions are limited to results from iTunes only.

As developers continue to create app for the latest Apple TV’s new App Store, the streaming box is only getting more useful. Last month the popular media player VLC came to the platform, bringing a feature not available in any other app available for it: custom playback speed. This might not sound like a great feature for watching movies or TV, but the developer pointed out that the app is often used for watching “talks and documentation in education,” where variable speed is very useful.

While no other channels are currently listed as adding support for universal search in the future, Apple has said it is opening up the search API in the future, so more are undoubtedly on the way. It’s just a matter of when.

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Nit Nerds News: Exciting new Apple TV 4K features, new Xbox consoles
Nit Nerds News

Exciting New Apple TV 4K Features, New Xbox Consoles | Nit Nerds News

Today on Nit Nerds News: New Apple tvOS features that will freshen up existing Apple TV 4K boxes. Updated Xbox consoles are a bit of a letdown for home entertainment. Asus has unveiled some eye-popping new PC monitors.

Read more
Why is Apple Intelligence not on Apple TV?
The Siri icon on Apple TV 4K.

Siri is still on tvOS 18 on Apple TV, but it won't get Apple Intelligence. At least not at first. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Nobody likes sitting through two hours of tech keynote only to find that their favorite device isn't getting that year's hot new feature. It'll likely happen to you at some point. No device lasts forever, even one from Apple.

Read more
Apple apes a major Amazon Prime Video feature in tvOS 18
An Apple TV 4K sitting on a wood entertainment center with a HomePod Mini behind it.

WWDC 2024 was all about improving platforms and software within the Apple ecosystem, and that continued into Apple TV, with the best streaming hardware you can buy getting a few minutes of face time. And the improvements are not only just targeted to Apple TV hardware (which includes Apple TV 4K) but also integrating with other Apple hardware and features.

"We design our Home products to elevate users’ everyday lives, and our latest updates reinforce that goal by delivering even more convenience and connection,” Stan Ng, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch, Audio, Health, and Home Product Marketing, said in a press release announcing the new features. “This fall, tvOS 18 and our services take entertainment in the home to the next level by bringing timely information to fans about their favorite characters and scenes.”

Read more