Getting CBS All Access Working on All Devices
When I signed up for CBS All Access last month, I did so through my Apple TV 4K, as it was super simple, and it registered it as just another of my subscriptions that I could manage through my iCloud account on any device. Very handy. Yes, it seems that CBS requires that some of the account management functions be done on the original device, my Apple TV 4K, still, it is possible to manage it to some degree on my iPhone and iPad. Great.
But getting the CBS All Access to actually stream shows on my other devices was a bit elusive. I had tried to open the app, Sign In, and restore my purchase from iTunes, as there is a button just for that. But each time I tried, on any device, it said that I had once had an account, and that I should go back and sign up. I thought that was all because I was in the free month that was given out because of the coronavirus lockdown.
Turns out, I was wrong.
That's not how you do it.
Once you have the CBS All Access subscription in your iCloud account - from any device, simply go to the CBS All Access page: https://www.cbs.com/apple/ and there, you will see that you can Login with Apple TV, and you will enter your Apple ID information, with any 2FA that you might have on your account.
Once logged in, CBS All Access will then ask you to create an account that will be tied to your Apple ID. Name, email, password - just like a new account. But this one isn't charged - the Apple Subscription is.
At this point, go to your other devices, and Sign In with the newly created email and password, and they will instantly be tied to the newly created account. It's just that simple. But getting here wasn't. 🙂
In the end, it was worth a little searching to try and find out how to get this working, which is why I wanted to write this up for all those folks that might find themselves in a similar predicament.