Australian broadcaster SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) has finally released a native Android app for its SBS On Demand catch-up TV service to Google Play and the Amazon Appstore. The new version (v1.2 for those of you counting) has also been submitted to Samsung Apps.
The app features the usual catch-up TV elements (series notifications, recommendations, sharing and playlist controls) and includes phone and tablet UIs in the same install. Users who log in with an SBS On Demand account can also share their playlists across desktop and mobile devices.
The service offers SBS’ locally produced news and current affairs shows like Dateline, Insight, and SBS World News alongside imported entertainment shows like Vikings, South Park, The Walking Dead, Mythbusters and Mad Men. The network also has a large amount of food and film content available on the service, and as the exclusive Australian broadcaster of the FIFA World Cup we can expect to see each of the matches appear on the service come June.
The app’s design that mostly follows Android’s Holo design guidelines and feels at-home on the platform.
While the dual UI aspect means there’s no need for a tablet-specific version of the app, the slide-out player can sometimes leave a little to be desired in terms of usage of screen space, especially on small tablets.
SBS On Demand was first released for Samsung phones and tablets in October of last year. At the time the app was only made available on the Samsung App Store, though the APK could happily be sideloaded on other devices. Either way, it’s good to see it finally available for everyone.
While anyone can install the app, SBS has a list of officially supported devices:
- Nexus 4, Nexus 5, Nexus 7 (2012), Nexus 7 (2013) and Nexus 10
- HTC One Mini
- Sony Xperia Z, Z Ultra, Z1 and Tablet Z
- Asus Eee Pad Transformer (precise model hasn’t been specified)
With the initial launch of SBS On Demand to the Samsung App Store last year, the app is understandably already compatible with a broad range of Samsung devices.
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Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900X
Galaxy Note 10.1 LTE SM-P605
Galaxy Note 10.1 Wi-Fi SM-P600
Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275
Galaxy S4 Active GT-I9295
Galaxy Tab 3 LTE 8.0 SM-T315
Galaxy Tab 3 Wi-Fi 8.0 SM-T310
Galaxy Tab 3 SM-T211
Galaxy Tab 3 LTE 10.1 GT-P5220
Galaxy Tab 3 Wi-Fi 10.1 GT-P5210
Galaxy Note 8.0 LTE GT-N5120
Galaxy Note Wi-Fi 8.0 GT-N5110
Galaxy S4 GT-I9505
Galaxy Xcover 2 GT-S7710
Galaxy Express GT-I8730
Galaxy Note II GT-N7105T
Galaxy Camera EK-GC100
Galaxy Note II GT-N7105
Galaxy S III GT-I9305
Galaxy Note II GT-N7100
Galaxy S DUOS GT-S7562
Galaxy S4 GT-I9500
Galaxy Beam 8530 GT-I8530
Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 GT-P5100
Galaxy Tab 2 Wi-Fi 10.1 GT-P5110
Galaxy S III GT-I9300
Galaxy Ace 2 GT-I8160
Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 GT-P3100
Galaxy Tab 2 Wi-Fi 7.0 GT-P3110
Galaxy Note 10.1 GT-N8010
Galaxy Note 10.1 GT-N8000
Galaxy Tab 10.1 GT-P7503
Galaxy Tab 7.7 GT-P6801
Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE GT-P7320T
Galaxy Tab 8.9 LTE GT-P7320
Galaxy Tab 10.1 N GT-P7501
Galaxy S II LTE GT-I9210
Galaxy Note GT-N7000
Galaxy S Advance GT-I9070
Galaxy Tab 7.7 Wi-Fi GT-P6810
Galaxy Note GT-I9220
Galaxy Tab 10.1 GT-P7500
Galaxy Tab 10.1 GT-P7510
Galaxy S II GT-I9100T
Galaxy S II GT-I9100
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[showhide moretext=”Full Press Release”]
SBS ON DEMAND LAUNCHES ACROSS ANDROID
Forget chocolate and hot cross buns!* Kick back and binge on your favourite SBS shows over the break, with SBS ON DEMAND now available across more devices than ever before.
SBS’s dedicated catch up and online video service, SBS ON DEMAND, will launch as an App in the Google Play™ store this week, making the service available to all Android users.
SBS Chief Digital Officer, Marshall Heald, said: “We are very excited to announce the roll out of the much-anticipated SBS ON DEMAND Android App, which will give more Australians access to their favourite SBS content, when and where they want it”.
“Audience viewing habits continue to evolve and SBS is focused on delivering content to suit those changing needs. Our digital platforms are growing as a result, with the SBS ON DEMAND offering seeing a shift in viewer usage patterns towards mobile, tablets, game consoles and smart TVs, with 53% of SBS ON DEMAND video views now coming from these emerging platforms. More than five million unique visitors watch SBS video across our digital network every month, and this will only increase with SBS ON DEMAND available on Android. And timing couldn’t be better, as we have some exciting content on the cards”.
SBS is fast tracking Series 2 of critically acclaimed conspiracy thriller Orphan Black, which will be available on SBS ON DEMAND immediately after broadcast in the US, starting from 12pm this Sunday 20 April. Every episode will be available to stream online via the SBS ON DEMAND service from midday on Sundays. The new series will also screen at its usual time on Tuesday nights, 8.30pm on SBS 2.
From next Thursday 24 April, SBS will also be running a 15 minute sneak peek of the first episode of Fargo, only on SBS ON DEMAND, one week prior to the double episode television premiere on SBS ONE. Fargo is the next big US television drama series to hit Australian screens – a new 10-part series inspired by the classic 90s film of the same name. With the original film’s masterminds Joel and Ethan Coen as Executive Producers, the series boasts a formidable cast led by the inimitable Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade), as well as Hollywood heavyweights Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, The Office), Colin Hanks (Mad Men, King Kong), Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad) and more.
For more SBS catch-up programming info, visit sbs.com.au/ondemand/
(*The SBS Online team advises you do not forget chocolate and hot cross buns.)
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The SBS On Demand App is now available to download in Google Play, head over and download it to check it out.
I had the previous version of the SBS app side loaded on my Nexus 5 and Nexus 7. It ran fine until I recently moved from Dalvik to ART. Suddenly the app would crash during load up every time (and due to the notable performance increase of ART I was resigned to not being able to use the SBS app anymore). However, this latest update has actually fixed the crash issue on ART. Happy times!
I wish it would have chromecast support
In time I’m sure it will.