Charter and Altice USA among the logical candidates for a new Apple TV remote from Universal Electronics optimized for pay-TV service providers.

Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor

November 20, 2020

3 Min Read
UEI has buyers for new Apple TV remote tailored for pay-TV

Several multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) have committed to buy a new Apple TV remote from Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) that's been optimized for pay-TV.

The company, which supplies remotes to various telco, cable and satellite TV providers, declined to identify the prospective buyers. However, our reporting indicates that Charter Communications and Altice USA are among the most likely candidates for UEI's new wares.

Figure 1: UEI said MVPDs can add their own branding to its new Apple TV remote control optimized for pay-TV operators. UEI said MVPDs can add their own branding to its new Apple TV remote control optimized for pay-TV operators.

In addition to developing a pay-TV app for the Apple TV platform, Charter also markets the Apple TV 4K box as a set-top alternative, enabling customers to buy the device under a payment plan ($7.50 per month over 24 months).

Altice USA, meanwhile, also promotes the Apple TV 4K along with integrations to its own Altice One app/service platform. Altice USA is also selling the Apple TV 4K box for $10 per month over 18 months and tossing in a year of the Apple TV+ subscription VoD service. Altice USA is offering the Apple TV 4K financing option in both its Optimum footprint in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut as well as its more rural Suddenlink service areas.

Becoming available in 2021, UEI's new remote for the Apple TV 4K will support instant access to the TV program guide, dedicated channel keys, automated backlit keys and the option for an MVPD to add its branding to the device. The remote also supports Siri-powered searches.

UEI, which has also developed remotes for Android TV streamers, said pricing and distribution of the new pay-TV-focused Apple TV remote would be determined by the MVPDs.

Figure 2: An Apple TV 4K box and the current-gen Siri remote. An Apple TV 4K box and the current-gen Siri remote.

The new remote surfaces as pay-TV operators continue to explore and deploy device options that don't center on traditional operator-supplied set-top boxes. It might also be a sign that Apple is about to get more aggressive with pay-TV partnerships aimed at beefing up the adoption of Apple TV and its software ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Google had enjoyed some sizable success with the Android TV Operator Tier. AT&T, T-Mobile and WideOpenWest are among those selling and deploying Android TV streaming devices that can be paired with operator-customized remotes along with the ability to boot-up the device to the operator's video app.

Roku also has a program for service providers and Amazon is likewise pursuing an operator-tailored version of Fire TV. Comcast has syndicated its X1 platform (along with the X1 voice remote) to a handful of North American cable operators and is exploring a plan to extend its reach to smart TVs.

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— Jeff Baumgartner, Senior Editor, Light Reading

About the Author(s)

Jeff Baumgartner

Senior Editor, Light Reading

Jeff Baumgartner is a Senior Editor for Light Reading and is responsible for the day-to-day news coverage and analysis of the cable and video sectors. Follow him on X and LinkedIn.

Baumgartner also served as Site Editor for Light Reading Cable from 2007-2013. In between his two stints at Light Reading, he led tech coverage for Multichannel News and was a regular contributor to Broadcasting + Cable. Baumgartner was named to the 2018 class of the Cable TV Pioneers.

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