After expanding universal search on Apple TV 4 to include Fox Now, FXNow, and National Geographic TV earlier in the month, Apple now added four new channels – Watch ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Jr and Disney XD – to the list of services supported by one of the key features of the new Apple TV.

At launch, the feature was limited to iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, HBO Now, Showtime and Showtime Anytime, but later Apple expanded it to include PBS and PBS Kids.

Universal search allows users to quicky search for movies and shows in multiple apps simultaneously using text entry or the Siri remote (voice search). You can search by title, genre, actor, and more. Apple Music members can also search for songs and albums.

In the U.S., universal search for movies and TV shows works with iTunes and the following apps: HBO GO, HBO NOW, Hulu, Netflix, PBS, PBS Kids, SHOWTIME, SHOWTIME Anytime, FOXNOW, FXNOW, Nat Geo TV, Watch ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Jr and Disney XD. 

Users in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, and United Kingdom can search for movies and TV shows available on the iTunes Store and Netflix.

In other countries the universal search feature only works with iTunes.

Apple has promised to bring more services to the feature over time. In an interview with BuzzFeed‘s John Paczkowski, Tim Cook said that in the near future the universal search will be intelligent enough to know which services the user is subscribed to, highlighting which sources are available free or with existing subscriptions.

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The Watch ABC set of apps have done a great job in upgrading ABC Network’s on-demand and live contents from the ancient website windows to our smartphones and tablets. And today, the Watch ABC iOS app was updated to support AirPlay, whereby you can directly play full screen videos on your Apple TV, instead of using the universal screen mirroring.

What’s New in Version 3.4.0
-AirPlay streaming now available via Apple TV.

Just like before, you’ll need to sign up with a supported cable operator account to make full use of the app, though few open contents are available for non-subscribers also. You can find a list of the supported providers, their schedule and other frequently asked questions here.

The update might sound unnecessary to many because Apple TV has its own Watch ABC channel, since last December. However, the real use of this update comes in cases where you’re watching shows on someone else’s Apple TV or when you are using some third party software like AirServer or Reflector to turn your PC or Mac into AirPlay receivers.

The addition is perfectly timed to precede the upcoming fall season of TV shows and the updated app can be downloaded from here for free.

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I woke up this morning to the news of two major content additions to Apple TV. This has been a routine lately but the difference here is that neither of these adds a new channel icon to the home screen, but instead streams within existing apps. Thank God they do!

First and the more exiting one is that The Oscars will be available for live stream first time ever. Yep! ABC is bringing live telecast of the Academy Awards night and the ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars‘ show to the Watch ABC channel on Apple TV and the corresponding iOS app. But apparently not everyone is entitled to the privilege as they’ve laid down a pretty complex and long list of restrictions on who can access the stream.

The show’s livestream will be available to Watch ABC authenticated users through eight providers: Comcast, Cablevision, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, Midcontinent Communications, Verizon FiOS, Google Fiber and AT&T U-verse. The service is available only in ABC’s eight owned-station markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Raleigh-Durham, N.C., and Fresno, Calif.

To know whether you can watch the content or what you need to do the get access, visit this link. However if you can’t get it, a special highlights show ‘Oscars Backstage‘ will be released soon after the event for all users.

Coming to the other half, ESPN has added about 15 Collegiate Sports Conference channels to its WatchESPN channels on Apple TV. Thankfully, these are much less complicated than the former as anyone can follow their favourite College conferences with just a click.

The included channels are America East, Atlantic Sun, Big South, Big West, MEAC, SWAC, CIA, Horizon, MAC, MAAC, Missouri Valley, Northeast, Ohio Valley, Southern, Sun Belt and Southland.

However analysts are confused to see the ACC Network among these new channels ‘coz this sports streaming giant was rumoured to be in talks with ESPN for a full-fledged dedicated network. Anyway, these channels are planned to cover more than 2000 men’s and women’s events starting with the Basketball tournament.

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Apple has yet again added new content to already quite long list of channels available on the Apple TV. Among the newcomers is Bloomberg, Sony’s Crackle service, Watch ABC and Korean channel KORTV.

Bloomberg on Apple TV gives us an extensive library of on-demand programming (including digital originals), a live 24/7 stream of Bloomberg Television and a live stream of select live events. The on-demand programming includes popular shows like Bloomberg West, Charlie Rose, Brink, Bloomberg Surveillance, Game Changers and many more.

WATCH ABC lets you enjoy your favorite ABC shows on demand and live in select cities. It’s free with your subscription through participating cable and satellite providers.

Korean channel KORTV provides live Korean TV and offers a collection of free channels as well as premium channels available for a monthly subscription.

Sony’s Crackle service lets you watch hundreds of movies, thousands of TV episodes (including Seinfeld and The Shield), and an extensive collection of anime — all free.

With so many channels on your Apple TV’s main menu, you may want to learn how to hide icons you don’t use.

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