[opendtv] Apple in talks to launch online TV service - MarketWatch
- From: Craig Birkmaier <craig@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: OpenDTV Mail List <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 07:55:50 -0400
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/apple-in-talks-to-launch-online-tv-service-2015-03-16-221031419
Apple in talks to launch online TV service
The technology giant is in talks with programmers to offer a slimmed-down
bundle of TV networks this fall, according to people familiar with the matter.
The service would have about 25 channels, anchored by broadcasters such as ABC,
CBS and Fox, and would be available on Apple devices such as the Apple TV, they
said.
For now, the talks don’t involve NBCUniversal, owner of the NBC broadcast
network and cable channels like USA and Bravo, because of a falling-out between
Apple and NBCUniversal parent company Comcast Corp. CMCSA, +1.19% , the people
familiar with the matter said.
Apple and Comcast were in talks as recently as last year about working together
on a streaming television platform that would combine Apple’s expertise in user
interfaces with Comcast’s strength in broadband delivery. Apple came to believe
that Comcast was stringing it along while the cable giant focused on its own X1
Web-enabled set-top box, the people said. One media executive said it may be
difficult for Apple to launch a service without NBCUniversal channels.
Meanwhile, Apple has been talking to Walt Disney Co. DIS, -0.22% CBS Corp. CBS,
+0.02% and 21st Century Fox Inc. FOX, +1.03% among other media companies. The
idea is to offer consumers a “skinny” bundle with well-known channels like CBS,
ESPN and FX, while leaving out the many smaller networks in the standard cable
TV package.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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