It’s been hardly a month after HBO and Amazon announced their partnership and it has already born its first fruit: HBO is bringing some of its popular TV shows to Amazon Prime Instant Video for unlimited streaming and at no extra cost. This way, Apple TV owners that don’t have HBO subscription will be able to watch selected HBO content on their big screens.

Though all HBO shows aren’t a part of the package yet (including the hot Game of Thrones), many other demanded titles like The Wire, The Sopranos, True Blood and Boardwalk Empire are currently available. HBO describes this as the “first wave” of shows, more titles (like Girls, The Newsroom and Veep) will be added  “over the life of the deal”.

According to the press release, Prime Instant Video subscribers in the US can now stream the following shows:

• All seasons of revered classics such as The Sopranos, The Wire, Deadwood, Rome and Six Feet Under, and of recent favorites such as Eastbound & Down, Enlightened and Flight of the Conchords
• Select seasons of current series such as True Blood, Boardwalk Empire and Treme
• Epic miniseries, including Band of Brothers, The Pacific, John Adams, Parade’s End and Angels in America
• Hit original movies like Mary and Martha, Temple Grandin and You Don’t Know Jack
• Hilarious original comedy specials from Louis CK, Ellen DeGeneres, Lewis Black and Bill Maher
• Pedigreed documentaries including When the Levees Broke, Ghosts of Abu Ghraib and the Autopsy and Iceman series

It seems that the move is directed towards the promotion of Amazon’s Fire TV but Apple TV users can also make use of this opportunity: if you’re a user who doesn’t have access to the HBO Go channel on Apple TV via a verified cable provider account but have an active Amazon Prime subscription, you will be able to AirPlay HBO shows from the Amazon Instant Video app from your iOS device onto your HDTV and enjoy the content on big screen.

Read on How to watch Amazon Prime Instant Video on Apple TV.

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The post HBO shows now available on Amazon Instant Video – watch it on your HDTV via Apple TV appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Well, let’s wait a bit till Apple announces their next-gen. Apple TV so that we can make a fair Apple TV 4 vs Amazon Fire TV comparison. In the meantime, if you’re craving to get your Amazon Prime Instant Video subscription or rented movies on your Apple TV, here is a way.

Amazon Prime on Apple TV

1. The wireless method – AirPlay

Prime Instant Video has a wonderful iOS app (free on the App Store), which is compatible with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Of course, it lets you watch the rented movies or countless other subscription-included ones via this app. The best part is that it supports AirPlay and hence, can broadcast your favorite videos from Amazon Prime to your Apple TV.

How to?

Step 1: Download the free Amazon Instant Video app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.

Step 2: Sign in with your Amazon Prime subscription ID.

Step 3: Search for your favorite content or browse the limitless catalog and find the perfect movie for your mood.

Step 4: Start the movie and click on the AirPlay icon (displayed in the lower right) -> choose Apple TV.

The video should be now playing on your Apple TV. Sit back and watch the movie in full-screen on your HDTV.

2. The alternative method – HDMI out cable (no Apple TV needed)

In case AirPlay is giving you trouble, you can use an HDMI-out cable (Apple Digital AV Adapter is recommended) for the same. It works exactly like AirPlay, but may even be better in case of heavy videos.

Step 0: Get a HDMI-out cable for your device if you don’t have one already (Apple Digital AV Adapter: Lightning or 30-pin).

Step 1 – Step 3 are the same as for the first method.

Step 4: Plug in your AV adapter and connect it to your TV via a HDMI cable. You can use the second slot on the adapter with your lightning or 30-pin connector to charge your device simultaneously.

Step 5: Start the movie, sit back and watch it on your HDTV

Note: both methods require iOS 6 or later. 

As already told, these methods do not provide a permanent solution nor an absolute replacement for watching Amazon Prime on Apple TV. But this can surely help you to evade the temptation put forth by the Amazon Fire TV, till the next-gen. Apple TV is announced.

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Best Accessories for Apple TV

Also read:

• How to watch Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Prime Instant Video and other US-only services on Apple TV outside the US.
• How to get Amazon Fire TV-style voice search on Apple TV

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Facebook, Twitter and Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post How to watch Amazon Prime Instant Video on Apple TV appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.