TikTok quietly launched a smart TV app in the same week it was banned on government-owned devices in Australia.
The company said that the new app would allow “family and friends” to gather round and watch short-form video content.
The app is available on Samsung Smart TVs, Google TV, LG Smart TVs and Android TVs and was launched last week.
“The way people consume content has evolved over the past decade, from spending time watching TV programs together to having entertainment on the go on personal devices. Now we’re bringing shared entertainment back with the launch of TikTok TV,” said TikTok’s Australia general manager Lee Hunter.
“From day one, TikTok’s mission has been to inspire creativity and bring joy, cultivating an entertaining space for positive, creative expression, so we’re excited to bring TikTok to living rooms across Australia and New Zealand.”
TikTok launched a US version of the app way back in November 2021 but the Australian version’s launch had been held back several times, according to The Australian.
The launch was then delayed again following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s banning of the app on government-issued devices.