CBS plans to bring its $5.99/month All Access subscription service, which offers a mix of on-demand TV shows and live streaming from local stations, to Apple TV and other platforms in the near future, a source with knowledge of the matter informed us.
Word that Apple TV is still in the company’s sights for the All Access service comes as it officially announces support for Google’s Android TV platform today and ahead of an official launch of Apple’s revamped Apple TV platform arriving in October.
Bloomberg reported back in March that Apple was in talks to offer CBS alongside ABC and Fox stations for Apple TV streaming service by the end of the year, but it’s possible the company could bring an All Access app to the new AppleTV platform and App Store before then. We reported recently that Apple plans to release an Apple TV streaming service as soon as next year that bundles multiple television channels in a monthly subscription, but apps in the new Apple TV’s App Store will still require logins to cable networks to unlock content at first. Subscribers to CBS’ All Access service, on the other hand, get live streaming from local CBS TV stations, 6,500 TV episodes on-demand, new episodes the next day, and other exclusive content beyond what CBS offers for free in its various apps for $5.99/month.
Apple TV currently offers CBS Sports and CBS News channels, but it’s yet to launch an Apple TV app for the All Access service available on iOS, Android, and Roku. CBS did mention in its press release today, however, that “additional connected devices” would be supported in the coming months, but it didn’t mention any platforms by name.
It appears a deal wasn’t made in time for the introduction of the new Apple TV earlier this month, however, as CBS wasn’t included in the apps that Apple featured on stage including Hulu, Netflix, MLB, Gilt, Crossy Road, Disney Infinity, Guitar Hero, AirBNB, Zillow and others.
While the company hasn’t officially commented on plans to bring its full lineup of content to Apple TV, the latest on the matter came from CBS boss Les Moonves who said in May that negotiations with Apple were ongoing.
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Makes sense. I’m sure it is a relatively easy update to the iOS app
The lack of Apple TV support is the only reason why I cancelled my subscription after 3 months.
“live streaming from local stations”
The question is, will this include NFL games on Sunday? The Masters? Or will those be blacked out due to broadcast restrictions?
If only in USA it’s crap
How about CBS allows their current season shows to be available on Hulu like ABC, NBC and FOX? I’ll just stream from a pirate site before paying additional money for a network that should be included under my Hulu subscription. Just my opinion…
Agreed.
I think CBS overvalues their content in the age of streaming and I think that by separating themselves from the pack of other networks and squashing content deals (like with Hulu) they’ve lost out on gaining any significant non-appointmenet-watching audience. I don’t watch CBS shows because I can’t watch them on Hulu, its simple as that. And I just can’t imagine ever forking over $5.99/month to Over-The-Top subscription to network that’s available Over-The-Air. HBO, Showtime, Hulu all offer high quality, original content that is either exclusive to new media or only available on top-tier packages. CBS can’t and shouldn’t compete with that. For me shows like NCIS can’t compete with Game of Thrones.
I couldn’t agree more. The strong armed Dish network for a deal that required Dish to not have commercial skipping on CBS shows until a couple week’s delay. Then, unlike all the other major networks, you can’t simply activate the Apple TV app from your provider. So now, I pay Dish, to pay CBS, to rebroadcast Free OTA content, and CBS now insists that on top of that I have to pay them to watch it from my Apple TV? They are pretty darn arrogant if you ask me.