ABC iView finally comes to Android
- 18 December, 2013 10:20
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) has finally made its catch up TV service, iView, available on Android smartphones and tablets, but the service is currently only compatible with selected devices.
The network announced the iView for Android app yesterday, claiming the highly anticipated app has a "bold new design".
The iView Android app will initially be compatible with a selected range of smartphones and tablets running Android OS 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich and above.
ABC says the app will be rolled out to wider range of Android devices "following initial user feedback and quality assurance testing".
Current supported smartphones include the Samsung Galaxy S II, S III & S4, the Samsung Galaxy Note and Note II, the Nexus 4 and 5, the HTC One and the Sony Xperia Z.
Compatible Android tablets include the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7, Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and 10.1, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 and 10.1, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 7.0, 8.0 and 10.1, the Nexus 7 2012 and Nexus 7 2013, the Nexus 10, and the Sony Xperia Tablet Z.
ABC's Controller TV Multiplatform, Arul Baskaran, said iView for Android has been the company's most requested service.
"ABC iview on Android has been the most requested service since the launch of ABC iview on iPad and iPhone.""The demand is reflective of the explosive growth of the mobile internet. More than half of iView's record 19 million monthly plays are now occurring on tablets and phones."
ABC says the new iView design featured in the Android app will be rolled out to the company's website and iOS app in "early 2014."
The company says the new interface enables faster browsing through featured TV programs, and includes a new search function.