Siri on Apple TV is nowhere near capable enough to replace your remote, but Siri helps you pick up the remote less. Siri can search for movies and TV shows, adjust volume, and switch subtitles.
A lesser-known hands-free feature on Apple TV is Siri’s ability to launch live channels. Getting this to work requires a fair amount of setup, but the convenience of voice control is worth it.
For the best hands-free experience, use a HomePod with your Apple TV. Siri on the Apple TV remote also works.
Using Siri to launch live channels restores the convenience of just turning on the TV and checking out what’s on your favorite channel. However, there are a few things you should know before you get started.
The first is which phrases work with Siri.
A voice command like “Watch ESPN live” can bring you right to SportsCenter as it airs. Siri can also switch to live content on various channels, including CNN, Disney, Food Network, and HGTV. Just say “Look [channel name]” to view the live content.
The following is what apps or channels allow Siri to display live TV. You’ll need to install and set up each app on your Apple TV that you want to use with Siri and live content. Some are free, but most require a TV provider.
Apple currently lists nearly 30 channels or apps that are compatible in the US:
- ABC news
- Alice one
- AT&T TV
- Bloomberg
- CBS
- CBS news
- Cheddar
- CNBC
- CNN Go
- cooking channel
- Disney NOW
- do it yourself
- ESPN
- Food network
- Fox news
- FOX NOW
- fuboTV
- FXNU
- HGTV
- MSNBC
- MUTV
- NBA
- NBC sports
- Spectrum TV
- TBS
- TNT
- Travel channel
Outside the US, live channel support is also available in these countries:
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- France
- Germany
- Mexico
- Norway
- The Netherlands
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
For me, Hulu is the big omission in the list of compatible apps. While Hulu with Live TV can go to specific channels using voice control on Amazon Alexa devices, the Apple TV version doesn’t support this feature with Siri.
However, FuboTV is an example of a live TV service that is compatible. For example, you can say “watch ESPN live” with Siri on Apple TV to launch live content on that channel in the FuboTV app.
Have you tried watching live content with Siri? How do you use Siri on Apple TV? Let us know in the comments.
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