Apple is seeking a senior engineer to develop a television and sports app for Android, indicating that the company is finally bringing its TV+ service to the rival smartphone platform. In a recently published job listing, Apple stated it is looking for someone to lead the development of “fun new features” and to “help build an application used by millions to watch and discover TV and sports.” An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the matter.
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This move suggests that Apple is looking to expand its market share in video streaming, setting aside its rivalry with Android to attract additional users. It’s rare for Apple to develop software for Google’s Android, which competes directly with its iOS platform.
Launched in 2019, TV+ is Apple’s answer to streaming giants like Netflix and Disney+. The company has invested heavily in original content for the service. Despite this, it remains unclear how many consumers have subscribed to TV+, as Apple has never disclosed subscriber numbers or revenue figures.
Android represents a significant source of potential viewers. While Apple dominates the market for high-end smartphones, Android has a larger global user base, powering over 3 billion devices worldwide compared to Apple’s 2.2 billion active devices, the majority of which are iPhones.
Apple has aimed to make TV+ available on as many platforms as possible, offering apps for smart TVs, Roku, Amazon streaming devices, and game consoles. However, an Android app was conspicuously absent at the TV+ launch. While Apple Music is available on Android, other popular apps like FaceTime and iMessage are not, due to concerns that offering these features on Android could threaten iPhone sales. Although Apple launched a web version of FaceTime, it stopped short of creating a dedicated Android app.
TV+ isn’t entirely new to Android, as it has been available on Google Chromecast streaming devices and many smart televisions running the Android operating system. However, the new job listing suggests that Apple is planning something more comprehensive, aiming to “design and architect a sophisticated application.”
This move indicates a possible shift in Apple’s strategy. Earlier this year, the company launched standalone versions of its Music, TV, and device-management apps for Windows. More broadly, Apple is increasingly relying on services for revenue growth rather than just devices.
