--- title: "What Is Apple TV (tvOS)? A Guide for Streaming Services" description: "Apple TV is Apple's streaming box, running tvOS. See what building and publishing a tvOS streaming app involves, from FairPlay to in-app purchase." url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/apple-tv" markdown_url: "https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/apple-tv.md" category: "Devices" updated: "2026-10-05" --- # What is Apple TV (tvOS)? Apple TV is Apple's streaming set-top box, which runs the tvOS operating system. Streaming services reach it by publishing a tvOS app on the App Store. The name is also used for Apple's own TV app and subscription service, which are separate things. ## Three things called Apple TV A streaming service that says it supports Apple TV means it has a tvOS app for the hardware. - Apple TV, the hardware: the box that connects to a television and runs tvOS - The Apple TV app: Apple's application for browsing and watching, on Apple devices and many smart TVs - Apple's streaming subscription service ## What a tvOS app needs - An interface built for the Siri Remote and Apple's focus-based navigation - Playback through Apple's native player, using HLS - FairPlay Streaming for protected content - App Store listing with layered artwork and a top-shelf image - Apple's in-app purchase if subscriptions or purchases are sold inside the app - Review under the App Store guidelines ## Sharing code with the iOS app tvOS is closely related to iOS, so account, catalog and playback code can be shared between an iPhone app and a tvOS app. The interface cannot: there is no touch screen, and everything is driven by focus moving between items. ## Why publish on Apple TV The installed base is smaller than that of the cheaper sticks, but its owners tend to watch a lot and to pay for subscriptions. For services with an audience in North America, Western Europe or Australia it is usually worth the additional app. ## Apple TV on RentAnOTT A RentAnOTT Apple TV app is $149/month, with store submission included and a 6-month minimum commitment. The iOS app is $169/month. [See app pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing). ## Related terms - [CTV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/ctv) — CTV (connected TV) is a television that can stream video over the internet, either because it is a smart TV or because a streaming stick, set-top box or games console is attached to it. - [Smart TV app](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/smart-tv-app) — A smart TV app is an application built to run on a television's operating system or on a streaming device attached to it, and installed from that platform's app store. For a streaming service it is the way viewers watch on the big screen. - [FairPlay](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/fairplay) — FairPlay Streaming is Apple's DRM system. It protects video delivered over HLS to iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and Safari on Mac, and is the only DRM those devices support for native playback. - [HLS](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/hls) — HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) is a streaming protocol created by Apple that delivers video as a series of short segments over ordinary web servers, listed in playlist files with the .m3u8 extension. It is the most widely supported way to stream both live and on-demand video. - [Android TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/android-tv) — Android TV is Google's version of Android for televisions, streaming sticks and set-top boxes. It runs on sets from many manufacturers and on operator boxes, and apps for it are distributed through Google Play. - [Fire TV](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/fire-tv) — Fire TV is Amazon's streaming platform. It runs on Fire TV Stick devices, set-top boxes and Fire TV televisions, and its apps are distributed through the Amazon Appstore. - [In-app purchase](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/in-app-purchase) — An in-app purchase (IAP) is a payment made inside a mobile or TV app using the app store's own billing system, such as Apple's App Store or Google Play. The store collects the money, keeps a commission and pays the rest to the app's publisher. - [App store submission](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary/app-store-submission) — App store submission is the process of preparing a streaming app, sending it to a store such as Apple's App Store, Google Play, the Amazon Appstore or a smart TV store for review, and publishing it once approved. ## Further reading - [OTT app builder](https://www.rentanott.com/tools/ott-app-builder) - [White-label streaming platform buyer's guide](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/white-label-streaming-platform) - [How to start a streaming service](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs/how-to-start-a-streaming-service) ## Frequently asked questions ### What is tvOS? tvOS is the operating system of the Apple TV box. Apps for it are built with Apple's tools and published on the App Store. ### Can my iOS app run on Apple TV? Not directly. Much of the underlying code can be reused, but a tvOS app needs its own interface and its own App Store submission. ### Is AirPlay a substitute for a tvOS app? AirPlay lets a viewer send video from an iPhone to the television, which helps. A dedicated app gives a better experience and lets the viewer browse and watch with just the remote. All 163 terms: [Streaming and OTT glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary). ## Book a demo Tell RentAnOTT what you are launching. The team walks through the platform and maps the path to go-live around your catalog, markets and revenue model. Book a demo: https://www.rentanott.com/contact ## More from RentAnOTT - [Home](https://www.rentanott.com/index.md) — What RentAnOTT is, what every plan includes, and how launch works - [Features](https://www.rentanott.com/features.md) — Every core feature and optional add-on - [Pricing](https://www.rentanott.com/pricing.md) — Platform tiers, apps, add-ons, usage rates and example bills in INR and USD - [Free tools](https://www.rentanott.com/tools.md) — OTT app builder and calculators for streaming revenue, bandwidth, bitrate and pricing - [Insights](https://www.rentanott.com/blogs.md) — All streaming business articles - [Glossary](https://www.rentanott.com/glossary.md) — Definitions of streaming and OTT terms - [Book a demo](https://www.rentanott.com/contact.md) — Talk to RentAnOTT about your launch Full site in one file: https://www.rentanott.com/llms-full.txt