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Apple TV Adds Channels for A&E, History and Lifetime, But It’s Just a Taste for Most

A+E Networks has launched dedicated channels on Apple TV for its top three networks: A&E, History and Lifetime.

The free, ad-supported content offers all Apple TV customers in the U.S. — even those without a cable TV subscription — access to select full episodes of programming including “Project Runway” (pictured, above), “Storage Wars,” “Devious Maids” and “Pawn Stars,” as well as other content. That includes a few episodes of scripted dramas in-season such as History’s “Vikings” and A&E’s “Bates Motel” as well as past seasons of some shows.

But sorry, cord-cutters: For access to the bulk of the A+E content available through Apple TV, users must subscribe to participating pay-TV providers. And today, that’s limited to just three providers that have agreements to allow access to the full load of A&E, History and Lifetime shows on the Apple TV boxes: DirecTV, Verizon FiOS TV and Cablevision Systems. More providers will be added soon, according to an A+E rep.

For now, other pay-TV providers that have agreements with A+E to allow TV Everywhere access to the programmers’ content on mobile apps and on the web — but not Apple TV — include Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Shaw Communications. Meanwhile, Dish Network and AT&T U-verse are the biggest providers that don’t have TV Everywhere deals with A+E for any devices currently.

Last week, A+E launched authenticated access to live feeds of A&E and History, available on the Web and via the networks’ apps for Apple iOS devices.

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