TikTok heads for the TV screen with Amazon Fire app

Social media service TikTok has launched an app on the Amazon Fire TV platform, enabling TV viewers to watch TikTok videos on the big screen.

The More on TikTok app launched yesterday in the face of a looming ban on the social media site in the US from the Trump administration.

More on TikTok is available on the Fire TV platform and provides curated playlists of videos, interviews with TikTok stars and profiles of content creators.

The move is the first time TikTok has developed an app specifically for a TV streaming device.

TikTok head of global marketing Nick Tran said that the move into TV was “to some extent a natural next step” for the social media app.

TikTok owner ByteDance has until mid-September to conclude a deal to sell the app in the US and some other territories to Microsoft or face a complete ban, justified by the administration on grounds of national security.

Microsoft said that it would “move quickly to pursue discussions with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, in a matter of weeks, and in any event complete these discussions no later than September 15, 2020.”

The company said it would “move quickly to pursue discussions with TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, in a matter of weeks, and in any event complete these discussions no later than September 15, 2020.”