Apple is reportedly working on an internet TV service similar to Dish
Network’s recently announced ‘Sling TV’, a $20 per month TV platform
with 20 cable channels available, including ESPN.
Several executives have been showing demos of the service to network
programmers, looking to grab as many high-profile channels on the
service before launch late this year or early next year.
Even though Apple is showing off demos, the internet TV service is
apparently still in the early stages and executives are not speaking on
licensing, launch date or pricing per month with networks.
As expected, The Walt Disney Company is already bought by the new
service, and CEO Bob Iger will deliver ESPN, ABC and Disney channels for
the internet TV service.
Other companies might be a bit less compliant, although Apple has
been a company to turn heads. iTunes is the most obvious example,
winning over the music industry, but Apple more recently won over banks
with Apple Pay.
In Steve Jobs’ biography, he discussed how TV was the next front to
enter, but did not discuss exactly what he had in mind. Four years
later, Apple might finally make a move on television, although it will
most likely not include a HDTV.
The $178 billion in the bank could be used by Apple to acquire any
sort of TV talent or start-up they want, and could potentially offer the
service at an operating loss at the start to draw in early customers.
It does not seem like Apple will compete with Netflix, instead
offering live TV and on-demand cable services through the internet. This
service will most likely be available first on iOS, Apple TV and the
web.
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