All Devices New "TV Provider" setting showed up with "VMedia" in it

[1204932]

I noticed yesterday that under Settings, there's now a new "TV Provider" section. When I click on it I see one provider called "VMedia".

I never installed anything by VMedia or anything related to them. This just showed up out of the blue. Apparently the "TV Provider" setting is a legitimate setting even though I never had it before but what would prompt this to show up on my phone now all of a sudden? I suspect it was pushed to my phone by Apple themselves TBH.

Anyone else have this VMedia TV Provider?

 

[1214005]

Same issue here. and the reviews in this crappy internet provider are just awful so why do I have it in my phone

 

[anzio]

It looks like it's just a single sign-on feature. It's just an option, and you can ignore it.

I'd wager that VMedia is the only provider in Canada offering this service right now. Typically, we'd see other providers in that list too; however, we're seeing the only option available right now.

Nothing is installed, it's just offering it as an option for single sign-on.

A quick search reveals the option you're seeing.
Use single sign-on with your iOS device or Apple TV - Apple Support

 

[1204932]

Same issue here. and the reviews in this crappy internet provider are just awful so why do I have it in my phone

Thanks for confirming, I wonder if all Canadian customers got this then. I hate "surprises" like this because it looked scammy enough to make me worry I clicked a bad link somewhere. It's also pretty obnoxious of Apple to not only assume that I'd want this, but add it to my settings without telling me, and then give me no way of removing it (at least, none that I can see).

Do you have an Apple TV by any chance? I do so maybe that has something to do with this showing up on our phones?
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I'd wager that VMedia is the only provider in Canada offering this service right now. Typically, we'd see other providers in that list too; however, we're seeing the only option available right now.

So just to confirm, you received this setting too in the last day or two right? If so, do you have an Apple TV by any chance? I'm trying to see if that is the common denominator here.

 

[Yun0]

Im in Canada with TekSavvy internet only, also have this option.

 

[1204932]

Im in Canada with TekSavvy internet only, also have this option.

Thanks for confirming. I guess all (or most) Canadians got this then.

 

[anzio]

Thanks for confirming. I guess all (or most) Canadians got this then.

Seems like it! We are with Start.ca and we are all showing it on our iOS devices. We do have an Apple TV paired to all of our accounts too. It looks like the option would appear without an Apple TV though, for the TV apps on your device.

 

[DeanL]

Yup! Can confirmed it appeared in my iOS devices as well.

 

[eRondeau]

Yes, here too... never heard of it before. I have Shaw Direct satellite TV and it would be very cool if it went there instead.

 

[Böhme417]

Thanks for confirming, I wonder if all Canadian customers got this then. I hate "surprises" like this because it looked scammy enough to make me worry I clicked a bad link somewhere. It's also pretty obnoxious of Apple to not only assume that I'd want this, but add it to my settings without telling me, and then give me no way of removing it (at least, none that I can see).

I'm confused. It's obnoxious for them to add features (or the option of)? That's like saying they should remove (or hide) everything in settings that you don't want to use. Silly.

 

[1204932]

I'm confused. It's obnoxious for them to add features (or the option of)? That's like saying they should remove (or hide) everything in settings that you don't want to use. Silly.

Not sure why this needs to be explained but VMedia is an optional 3rd party service (and a poorly reviewed one at that) you can sign up for if you want. It's not a "setting". It's basically adware and I don't want it. Problem is, it can't be deleted. Apple should at the very least give us the option to delete TV providers we don't want, and install those we do want.

 

[Böhme417]

Not sure why this needs to be explained but VMedia is an optional 3rd party service (and a poorly reviewed one at that) you can sign up for if you want. It's not a "setting". It's basically adware and I don't want it. Problem is, it can't be deleted. Apple should at the very least give us the option to delete TV providers we don't want, and install those we do want.

What is there to delete? Nothing is there other than saying you can sign in with that provider, because that's currently the only provider in Canada to support single sign-on. Saying it's adware is absurd. That's like saying it's adware to list AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Charter, et al in the US. You're not "installing" anything.

 

[1204932]

Saying it's adware is absurd.

Nope, Apple is promoting a dodgy 3rd party service right there in the settings app. Sure, it's just a link to VMedia's sign-up page but that's how online advertising works. And granted, it did work. Nobody knew who these guys were before. Unfortunately the reviews aren't good.