CNBC’s official Android app, CNBC: Breaking Business News & Live Market Data, can now be downloaded on the Android TV platform, allowing users to stream their favorite content from the broadcaster directly to the biggest screen in their home rather than being stuck on a phone, tablet, or a computer. Beyond premium content accessible via a login through a paid TV provider, there is quite a bit of content for non-paying users as well. Beyond paid content, free short-form clips are available from a variety of shows via curated playlists without ever needing to sign in, and all of the app’s features appear to have made their way to Android TV.
Besides Android TV support, the new update also makes the app compatible with the Google Assistant, meaning that in addition to remote searches on Android TV, voice searches for CNBC shows, anchors or reporters, show topics, or people involved in making the shows can be conducted. Moreover, the addition means you only need to use your voice if they want to play content through the CNBC app. The same voice controls can be used with Android TV as well, giving users more options when it comes to discovering content. For example, telling the Google Assistant to “Play Shark Tank” should result in the appropriate series starting up on your television or mobile device, directly through the CNBC application itself.
It goes without saying that the inclusion of the app to the platform is probably not the biggest change to Android TV over the past few months. Having said that, new content is always welcome and the added ability to utilize Google’s A.I.-driven digital assistant is an interesting direction for the app to take and may signal that CNBC will be exploring voice-enabled user interfaces in a more in-depth manner going forward.