Problems invoking Channels via Apple Watch shortcut

Channels Apple TV
#1

For quite some time I’ve been happily using Shortcuts on my Apple Watch to switch on my TV, open Channels on it, and then start watching a particular live channel.

However, having updated to the current levels - WatchOS 27.0.1 and tvOS 27.0 - this no longer working. Is anyone else having problems with shortcuts that invoke Channels functions on the latest software levels? The shortcut works quite happily when initiated used on the iPhone.

What seems to happen in my case is that, after the TV powers on, the request to open Channels times out. If Channels was not the last app used before the previous power off, the TV just shows the app switcher with the last used app highlighted, suggesting that the Open Channels request isn’t working.

#2

Having experimented with trying to open apps other than Channels (iPlayer, for example), I get exactly the same problem. So NOT a Channels problem.

Either a generic problem in WatchOS 27.0.1 or tvOS 27.0, or specific to my watch - an Ultra 4.

#3

What TV and OS does it have? Are you using ip commands on the TV to do these functions- like opening the app? We need a little more info.

I do have a closed caption toggle set up on my apple watch as a complication, and it works fine on the latest watch and phone os27. However, my toggle requres channels dvr to already be opened and it uses the channels API.

#4

I'm just using a simple Shortcut created using the Shortcuts app that just uses 3 simple steps
Wake Lounge TV
Open Channels on Lounge TV
Watch BBC1 (101) on Lounge TV
Lounge TV is the name of my Apple TV, the last step is a Channels supplied action that I assume uses the Channels API.

This shortcut works just fine on my iPhone and iPad, but on the Apple Watch it doesn''t even get as far as opening Channels - it just powers on the TV and then leaves the Apple TV displaying the app switcher with whatever happened to be the last used app highlighted. On previous software levels this worked OK from the watch.

I've proved that exactly the same happens if the Open points at a different app, so this issue would seem to be nothing to do with Channels - hence my previous post.

#5

I just created a shortcut that opens channels and launches BBC and
I have duplicated your issue exactly. The watch gives a timeout error and/or a send message failed error.

Ive actually never used shortcuts to open an app on ATV before. I have a docker PYATV setup with my apple tvs so i have been using that mechanism to do these kinds of things.

But most importantly your not crazy, Im seeing the same thing. Hopefully ios watch tvos 27.2 , etc will fix this.

The only thing you could try if you are adventurous is to re-pair your watch with the phone. Im not that adventurous for now, because i have other workarounds with my ah4c setup.

Keep us posted!

#6

Thanks for testing - at least I know I’m not alone.

Just to reiterate, this is not specific to Channels, so not a Channels problem.

#7

Yes this is an ios watchos issue.