Amazon Pushes Live TV Forward With Latest Fire TV Update

Amazon is rolling out some important changes to its Fire TV product for Prime members. The company is substantially improving Live TV on the Fire TV to position it as a viable alternative to other cord-cutting services.

The improved Live TV functionality on the Fire TV now features a new On Now section which displays all the shows that are currently playing on channels that you are subscribed to through Amazon Channels. For example, when Silicon Valley is on, it will show up under HBO Comedy in your On Now section, along with all the other live shows.

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Amazon is also adding a much-needed Channel Guide feature for Live TV to the Fire TV, which lets you keep track of all the show times and schedule for the next two weeks. The new Channel Guide should be a welcome addition for many Fire TV owners who have had to use their phone or other devices to find all the show times on channels they are subscribed to on Amazon Channels.

Like everything else, these two new features work with Alexa, allowing you to control them with your voice. So you can easily say things like “Alexa, tune to HBO Comedy” to watch the currently playing show on HBO Comedy or “Alexa, go to the Channel Guide.” to open the guide. Both of these features aren’t available for all Amazon Channels yet, though. Amazon is starting off by supporting HBO channels, Showtime, Starz and Cinemax, although the company is working on bringing support for more Amazon Channels in the near-future.

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Conversation 7 comments

  • mrdrwest

    16 January, 2018 - 4:09 pm

    <p>Cut the cord and Xfinity charges me $74.95/month for 25Mbps internet in Baltimore, MD.</p><p><br></p><p>RIP OFF!</p><p><br></p><p>They're going to get theirs one way or another, but I kicked the cable package crap 3-years ago and I'm never going back…unless they beat what Sling TV offers, not likely.</p>

    • SvenJ

      17 January, 2018 - 8:02 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#238233"><em>In reply to mrdrwest:</em></a> Bet there is a cap on the 25Mbps internet too. They'll make sure you still pay and can't really use it to replace their content without going over your monthly allotment. </blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Tony Barrett

    17 January, 2018 - 6:04 am

    <p>There's no doubt this will be US only for the foreseeable future. I don't expect to see this in the UK anytime soon.</p>

  • aparlette

    17 January, 2018 - 11:47 am

    <p>I don't get why I want to see this type of live TV grid for content that isn't a true live broadcast. The concept of "tuning in" seems like something that should be left behind in the switch to a streaming content library. To me, podcast apps seem like the closest thing to get it right. I can see content from several networks, I can see a per-show listing, or I can see a time-sorted view to see the most recently released content. Clicking on it starts it from the beginning. There is even discovery and search to find other content.</p><p><br></p><p>It is important to have a mechanism to live-tune into some things, but that is the exception for most content. Sports, live news, maybe a speech. It does happen but for almost all TV and Movie content, it doesn't make sense to show a grid with a timeline across the top.</p><p><br></p><p>Actually, maybe something like periscope is close. You can see what is a live broadcast right now, and then also previously recorded content from subscribed channels. Unfortunately there just isn't an open mechanism to aggregate content from across networks/providers. Bring back XML/RSS!</p>

    • Skolvikings

      17 January, 2018 - 11:48 am

      <blockquote><a href="#238406"><em>In reply to aparlette:</em></a></blockquote><p>Because if you subscribe to HBO on Amazon Channels, you get the live feed also. So they're giving a guide for those live channels, which is a nice addition.</p>

  • pwrof3

    17 January, 2018 - 11:17 pm

    <p>Now if only Amazon would release a proper replacement for the new Fire TV. </p>

  • bella

    12 April, 2018 - 4:11 am

    <p>This is an amazing move. Currently, I am using Ustvnow app on my Android phone to watch live Tv. It is limited to American channels. You can watch all latest 4K movies and TV shows for free on your Android and iOS devices using Ustvnow. You just need to <a href="https://ustvnowapp.org/&quot; target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">download Ustvnow</a> on your device. </p>

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