Is Apple TV considered a provider?

If you mean to watch live TV, then you may need to subscribe with a streaming TV provider, that has an app for the Apple TV box.

The streaming channels matrix - How-to - Whattowatch.com

• Hulu Live vs. YouTube TV vs. Sling TV vs. AT&T TV Now vs. Fubo TV vs. Philo vs. frndly TV

not sure exactly what you mean by provider

appletv is a device which act as a ipod or ipad or the likes which use your tv as display and it has apps provided by third parties which provide content material

apple has a streaming service called apple tv+ which stream their produced material

you can read about it here https://www.apple.com/apple-tv-plus/