Like Free and Bouygues, Orange is starting to test the possibility of accessing its television offering from a third-party decoder. The historic operator has currently reserved this possibility for Samsung televisions.
Small revolution coming at Orange, with the possibility of accessing the channels included in its offer, without a TV decoder.
Since March 25, 2024, the operator has offered on its Le Lab site (formerly Lab Orange) the opportunity to register for an experiment called “Orange Smart TV”. The description leaves no doubt: “You are an Orange TV customer and you are equipped with a smart TV running Android, an Android or Apple TV key or box… Discover the first features of the future application Orange Smart TV to access your content on the different screens in your home (or outside) without using the decoder. »
A service awaited for several years
Today, Orange is one of the most conservative operators in television. It offers several versions of its decoder, but makes it essential for accessing its channels and replay. Only Samsung, with which Orange has a partnership, pre-installs the Orange TV app on its televisions.
In the near future (the experiment will end in June 2024), Orange could leave the choice to its users. The app Orange Smart TV could appear on Android TV and Apple TV, so that subscribers can unplug their decoder. Logic would dictate that the same services are available, with different support.
Before Orange, other operators also agreed to “relocate” television. Free (OQEE) and Bouygues (B.TV) offer their own applications on Apple and Google devices, while SFR, like Orange, has an exclusive partnership with Samsung. Ultimately, all operators seem to be moving towards an optional decoder, for people who do not already have connected equipment.
When the application Orange Smart TV will be available on Apple TV and Android TV, many connected televisions other than those from Samsung will be able to access Orange television. Only LG, with its webOS operating system, risks being incompatible.
Very efficient and versatile, boxes like the Apple TV are increasingly popular in France. The native arrival of Orange on these devices risks facilitating their adoption, while eliminating decoders and their remote controls from our lives. Obviously, Orange should still continue to create its own decoders, since this is the preferred way for many French people to watch TV.
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