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Apple reportedly in talks with content producers to create web-based TV service

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It’s been years since we first heard that Steve Jobs had “cracked” TV, but we haven’t seen much progress on that front outside of a few updates to the Apple TV set-top box. Recode reports today, however, that Apple is now in talks to launch its own web-based TV service.

The service is not expected to be a full offering of current television programming, but rather a package of select shows offered as part of a subscription. The content would be distributed over the web. A prototype of the service is apparently already running inside Cupertino and has been shown off to a few industry insiders.

It’s not the first time we’ve heard that Apple is working on something TV-related, but it is the first time we’ve heard anything quite like this. Rather than working with cable providers, as has previously been rumored, Apple is said to be working directly with content producers.

Apple hasn’t been quiet about the fact that it wants to enter the TV market. Last year iTunes boss Eddy Cue said that the current TV-watching experience “sucks” and needs to be reformed.

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Comments

  1. RP - 9 years ago

    About time. And let’s be honest here, the name of the game is new content. Everyone wants to see the latest episode of Game of Thrones, Scandal, whatever. Or new releases on Netflix. Hit up the top content producers and open TV wide open. The internet can help democratize the playing field where it used to be only a handful of players with a limited FCC monopoly than would dictate what people saw. Let her rip and let new players put content on the net.

    Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, Crackle and others are already on this wavelength. It’s the inevitable future and they can not sit back and beg or wait on an industry that wants to milk an old school monopoly.

    • Leif Paul Ashley - 9 years ago

      Actually the FCC has been helping Google disrupt these monopolies. Google fiber is making its rounds. In the case of IPTV, I’d actually say the name of the game is bandwidth. If you have bandwidth caps removed, the sky is the limit.

      Until then, we are all locked into the Comcast, UVerse, FiOS, and all the “traditional” cable providers. That tree from the 80s needs to be uprooted. lol

      • nsxrebel - 9 years ago

        The problem is not really bandwidth per se, but more the fact that in most cases, the internet providers are also the cable providers. They are greedy old bastards that are trying to milk us as much as they can before eventually people stop buying cable.

  2. mobileseeks - 9 years ago

    I’d rather give my money to Apple than Directv any day. If Apple gets ESPN, it is a no brainer for me.

  3. taoprophet420 - 9 years ago

    With the proposal to treat Internet companies like utility companies it is easy for Apple to have its own Sling TV.

    With that proposal you will see Google, Apple and Mocrosoft all with their Internet TV service.

    With no paid fast lanes it will also balance it out for everyone. The Internet providers will,probably have a shit fit letting all these other companies use their pipes,at the same speed.

  4. swisslu - 9 years ago

    Maybe Apple wants to create a service that is similar to the swiss tv-provider: You can rewind every chanel for 7 days, make recordings on every channel or watch sports matches for only a few bucks.

  5. Steve Grenier - 9 years ago

    I have always preferred Apple’s existing model for television, content based, not network based. I care about shows not which network they are on. If Apple can create something better than they currently have, i.e. subscription based, faster releases and streaming ability, I would gladly pay for it. Although I do hope they would retain the ability to purchase shows to keep. I’m probably the minority but I like saving a collection of shows for to watch later.

  6. Scott Gerber - 9 years ago

    Hopefully, Apple’s offering will deliver something on par or better than TiVo. For the time being that is the gold standard that I’m willing to pay for on top of Comcast. I don’t care if it’s streaming or recorded as long as I can watch whatever I want, when I want and have the ability to skip commercials. It must have one cohesive interface, not the current mess that is Apple tv with different apps for different channels. My Apple tv rarely gets used, and usually only then to stream my iTunes library or display photo slideshows. Movie rentals are way overpriced compared to Redbox and I don’t want to buy TV Shows. Only time will tell.

  7. How about we get twitch first? That would be very helpful.

  8. nsxrebel - 9 years ago

    Get Formula1 and MotoGP on AppleTV and I’m on board! TWC already provides me internet, I will not buy content from them. I rarely watch TV, and of the stuff out there, only very few channels. I’m not gonna buy some expensive channel package, just so I can watch one channel, and more precisely, two racings series.

    Then you have all the NASCAR crap the shove down your throat. That was part of the downfall of Speed TV, which basically turned into NASCAR TV. To top it off, horrible American commentators. I prefer BBC and SkySports broadcasts, and I’ll wait for the races to get uploaded, even though I don’t get to see it live.

    Get that on AppleTV and you’ll get my money Apple.

  9. Marklewood at Serenity Lodge - 9 years ago

    I hate being confined to the choices made for me by large conglomerates. I want to choose what I want to watch, when I want to watch it. I don’t want to pay for 100’s of channels I never watch. That’s a pure ripoff. All the big cable and satellite providers are overpriced and have too much control. Not only do they sell the bandwidth, but they tell you what channels you get. Whether or not you want them. It’s highway robbery. Especially if you live out in a rural area where TV reception, over the air, is sketchy at best. And you’re poor, retired, living on a fixed income. It’s a big racket.