how to add apps to vizio tv

Apple TV app comes to Vizio SmartCast TVs

Vizio's SmartCast TVs have long supported Apple's AirPlay 2, but the actual Apple TV app has been a no-show on the SmartCast app store, until today.

Ben Patterson By

Senior Writer, TechHive |

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At long last, the Apple TV app has arrived on Vizio's SmartCast TV platform, meaning you'll no longer need an Apple TV box or AirPlay 2 to watch such Apple TV+ programming as The Morning Show or Ted Lasso on your Vizio TV.

The Apple TV app, which is already available on select LG and Samsung TVs as well as various Amazon Fire TV and Roku devices, made its debut on the Vizio SmartCast app store today. Vizio had announced earlier this year that the Apple TV app for SmartCast was incoming.

Vizio SmartCast TVs manufactured from 2016 on will support the Apple TV app, which lets users stream Apple TV+ Original shows and movies, including The Morning Show, Defending Jacob, Central Park, Ted Lasso, Greyhound, and The Banker. You can read our complete guide to Apple TV+ shows here.

Apple TV+ costs $4.99 a month, but SmartCast users in the U.S. who are new to Apple TV+ can sign up for three months of free access.

Besides Apple TV+ content, viewers can subscribe to Apple TV channels though the app, including Showtime, CBS All Access, and Starz. Apple TV app users can also rent or buy more than 100,000 movies and TV shows.

The Apple TV app for SmartCast supports 4K HDR video and immersive Dolby Atmos object-based audio, according to Vizio. It's not clear whether SmartCast's version of the Apple TV app also supports Dolby Vision; we've reached out to Vizio for confirmation.

While the Apple TV app is only now arriving on Vizio's SmartCast platform, Vizio TV owners have long been able to stream Apple TV+ shows to their sets using AirPlay 2. Vizio TVs also support Apple's HomeKit smart home platform.

Besides the Apple TV app, Vizio's SmartCast platform recently saw the arrival of a few other high-profile streaming apps, including Disney+ (which bowed on SmartCast back in February) and NBC's Peacock (which arrived earlier this summer). A notable holdout is the HBO Max app, although Vizio users can stream videos from the app to their TVs via AirPlay 2 or Chromecast.

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Ben has been writing about technology and consumer electronics for more than 20 years. A PCWorld contributor since 2014, Ben joined TechHive in 2019, where he covers smart home and home entertainment products.