Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Audio / Video

Something afoot? Apple acquires video discovery service Matcha.tv

Trevor Mogg
By
apple acquires video discovery service matcha tv itv
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple appears to have just acquired another startup, this time Matcha.tv, a second-screen mobile app and web-based service offering users a range of TV-related features – including comprehensive listings, personalized recommendations, queue creation, and show subscriptions – for content from cable and streaming providers.

The news was first reported by VentureBeat, citing an anonymous source, though a short while later AllThingsD said an Apple spokesperson had confirmed the news.

Recommended Videos

Precisely how much Apple paid for Matcha.tv isn’t known, though a figure of between $1 million and $1.5 million has been suggested – small change for the Cupertino company.

Related

News of the acquisition at least goes some way to explaining why the service closed suddenly back in May with little to no explanation, though CEO Guy Piekarz did tell TechCrunch at the time that the startup was working on “a new direction”.

“The hardest thing, by far, in the new direction we’re going was taking down the service, which we’ve been building for the last couple of years,” Piekarz told TechCrunch, adding, “We apologize for disappointing our users and plan to provide something better in the future.”

According to VentureBeat, prior to its closure the service was growing steadily and found itself regularly ranked among the top 15 entertainment apps in Apple’s App Store.

We’ll have to wait and see what plans Apple has for its most recent acquisition – it could involve incorporating it into Apple TV or launching it as part of a new product.

The tech giant’s TV-based intentions still aren’t clear, though as you might expect with anything connected with this particular company, there are several rumors knocking about. Talk of a so-called iTV – an Apple-branded flat-panel television – continues to rumble on, while it’s also believed to be developing ad-skipping technology for Apple TV and any other TV-related products it might launch. 

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Trevor Mogg
Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Best Apple TV deals: Save on the Apple TV 4K and more
An Apple TV 4K sits on a media stand.

One of the best ways to go about watching the best new movies to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video, Max (HBO) and more is with an Apple TV. It’s an external device that can connect to any modern TV with an HDMI connection, and with it comes access to all sorts of streaming services and apps. Apple has several models on the market, with the 4K version being the newest and some older HD versions of the Apple TV still available to purchase. We found some Apple TV deals out there, and have rounded them all up here for some easy savings. Read onward for a little information on which Apple TV model may be best for your home theater, and for a rundown of the best Apple TV deals taking place right now.
Best Apple TV deals

The latest Apple TV 4K (2022) is potentially overpowered for what it is. Most people will simply want an easy way to stream content but this system also has a reasonable processor that means you can play games on it too. It won’t be an essential feature for everyone but being able to add on a controller and enjoy some gaming without the need for a dedicated console is a neat touch. For AV enthusiasts, there’s HDR10+ support which is useful for Samsung TV owners. The older Apple TV from 2021 lacks HDR10+ support but is still pretty speedy for everything else you might wish to do. If that all sounds good to you, take a look at the best Apple TV deals below.

Read more
Apple’s MLS Season Pass is streaming all games free this weekend
MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

If you're a fan of Major League Soccer and haven't yet experienced MLS Season Pass on Apple TV (the app, not the hardware), this is a good weekend to do so. All 14 matches on this weekend's schedule are available to stream — even if you're not a subscriber.

MLS Season Pass has the exclusive rights to MLS matches in the U.S. In its second season, it's quickly proven to be a strong service. Games are streamed in 1080p at 60 frames per second (which should be the standard for all sports), and with a good bitrate, too, so the picture quality is excellent.

Read more
Best streaming devices for 2024: Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, and more
An Apple TV 4K sits on a media stand.

There are two kinds of people in this world: Those who use whatever is built into their TV to access all their streaming services, and those who know there's almost certainly something better out there.

There's nothing inherently wrong with the former group of people. Smart TVs come with built-in operating systems like Roku, Amazon Fire TV, or Google TV running the show, in which case you're well-covered. And bespoke TV operating systems — like LG's webOS, Samsung's Tizen, or even Vizio's Home Screen/Smartcast — have gotten better in recent years.

Read more