Apple has introduced a new feature with the beta version of tvOS 16.5 that allows users to watch up to four simultaneous live sports streams at once. However, for now, the feature is only limited to MLB Friday Night Baseball and MLS Season Pass streams on the Apple TV app on the Apple TV 4K.
The multi-view option was initially spotted last month in tvOS software, but it was hidden and not enabled. MacRumors reported that the feature would be enabled over the weekend, and beta testers have been able to use it since.
Apple has not officially announced the feature yet, but it is expected to be included in the final version of tvOS 16.5, which should be released in the next month or so. Meanwhile, WWDC 2023 is around the corner, and we can expect to hear more about the next major updates for Apple’s various operating systems, including tvOS 17.
9to5Mac has already tested the multi-view feature and shared a hands-on demonstration of how it works. Users can access it when multiple live games are available through a sports service inside the TV app. The grid icon appears above the playback scrubber when you bring up the controls toolbar, and you can select a second, third, and fourth game to watch.
While users can only hear audio from one stream at a time, the Siri remote can be used to switch between the audio tracks. The layout options are customizable, with the ability to keep one stream in a larger window than the others or have all windows the same size.
The multi-view feature is expected to be useful for keeping an eye on multiple live sports games at the same time. While Apple has only enabled the feature for two sports streams in the US for now, it is possible that Apple is planning to invest more heavily in sports programming in the future. There have been rumors that Apple is looking to secure rights to show Premier League soccer from the UK, although the rights may not include the option to broadcast multiple games simultaneously.
