Apple TV+

Apple TV is less a single product and more an entire viewing platform. At its core is Apple’s small set-top box, which connects to your television and runs tvOS, giving you access to streaming services like Apple TV+, Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video, and others in one interface.

But the name now stretches beyond the hardware. Apple also offers the Apple TV app, available on iPhone, iPad, Android devices, game consoles, and many smart TVs, and Apple TV+, its subscription service focused on original shows and films. The box is simply the most direct way into the ecosystem, while the app and service let you watch almost anywhere.

When Did Apple TV Launch?

Apple first introduced Apple TV on January 9, 2007. At the time, it wasn’t positioned as a streaming powerhouse. Instead, the small silver box was designed mainly to bring your iTunes library to the living room, letting users play movies, music, and photos from a Mac or PC on a television.

Streaming apps didn’t really exist yet, and Netflix streaming itself was still in its infancy. The device originally functioned more like a media extender than a modern smart TV platform.

Over time, Apple steadily reworked the concept. The company added app support, launched the tvOS operating system, introduced the App Store, and eventually rolled out its own subscription service, Apple TV+. Today, Apple TV refers not just to the hardware box but an entire ecosystem of software and services, from the Apple TV app available on smart TVs and phones to Apple’s growing library of original shows and films.

If you click on any links on Wi-FiPlanet.com that are within an article about a tech consumer product, you will be redirected to Amazon, where you can explore further details, verify availability, or proceed to purchase this product. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through these links. This helps us to pay for the running of this site and produce more awesome content for our readers. This does not effect in anyway the price you pay on Amazon. Read more about our privacy policy and affiliate disclaimer here

© 2026 Wifi Planet

Privacy Policy Terms of Service