Apple Planning to Launch Streaming TV Service Featuring ABC, CBS, Fox and More

Apple is in talks with programmers including CBS, 21st Century Fox and Walt Disney to launch a subscription-based streaming TV service this fall, according to The Wall Street Journal. The report, citing sources familiar with the matter, claims that the service would have about 25 channels, cost between $30 to $40 per month and be available on iPad, iPhone and Apple TV. The service is said to debut at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June ahead of a September launch in the United States.

appletv.jpg
Apple's web-based TV service will reportedly deliver a lightweight package anchored by popular networks such as ABC, CBS, ESPN and FX, but will not include smaller channels typically included in a standard cable TV package. The report adds that NBCUniversal content could be notably absent due to a falling-out between Apple and NBC parent company Comcast. The two sides were allegedly in negotiations as recently as last year, although Apple believed that Comcast was too focused on its own X1 set-top box for web-based streaming.

Apple has been rumored to be working on a subscription-based TV service since at least 2009, when it was reported that CBS and Walt Disney were considering participating in the web-based service. A similar report surfaced in early 2012, claiming that Apple was pushing ahead with its TV service in time for a potential launch by Christmas. The Wall Street Journal provided further details about the service later in 2012, but the plans have yet to materialize nearly three years since.

Rumors surrounding Apple's much-rumored TV service gained momentum again last month when Re/code reported that Apple was in talks with television programmers over deals that would see the company offer a web-based TV service. Such a service would potentially allow Apple to deliver customized television packages that would be streamed over the Internet across iOS devices, providing access to a bundle of channels from participating content providers. The recent announcement of HBO Now also supports rumors that Apple is interested in streaming TV content.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

iPhone SE 4 With Apple's Own 5G Modem 'Confirmed' to Launch in March

Tuesday November 19, 2024 12:12 pm PST by
Barclays analyst Tom O'Malley and his colleagues recently traveled to Asia to meet with various electronics manufacturers and suppliers. In a research note this week, outlining key takeaways from the trip, the analysts said they have "confirmed" that a fourth-generation iPhone SE with an Apple-designed 5G modem is slated to launch towards the end of the first quarter next year. In line with previo...
airtag purple

AirTag 2 Rumored to Launch Next Year With These New Features

Sunday November 17, 2024 5:18 am PST by
Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, so it is now three over and a half years old. While the AirTag has not received any hardware updates since then, a new version of the item tracking accessory is rumored to be in development. Below, we recap rumors about a second-generation AirTag. Timing Apple is aiming to release a new AirTag in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman....
at t turbo indicator iphone 16 pro max v0 8hrh7w5f3w1e1

AT&T Turbo Indicator Showing Up in iPhone Status Bar for Subscribers

Wednesday November 20, 2024 3:42 am PST by
AT&T has begun displaying "Turbo" in the iPhone carrier label for customers subscribed to its premium network prioritization service, according to reports on Reddit. The new indicator seems to have started appearing after users updated to iOS 18.1.1, but that could be just coincidence. Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476 The Turbo feature provides enhanced network performance through ...
Generic iOS 18 Feature Real Mock

Apple Releases iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 With Security Fixes

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1, minor updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating systems that debuted earlier in September. iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1 come three weeks after the launch of iOS 18.1. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Apple has also released iOS 17.7.2 for...
Magic Mouse Next to Keyboard

No, Apple CEO Tim Cook Didn't Say He Prefers Logitech's MX Master 3 Over the Magic Mouse

Sunday November 17, 2024 3:03 pm PST by
While the Logitech MX Master 3 is a terrific mouse for the Mac, reports claiming that Apple CEO Tim Cook prefers that mouse over the Magic Mouse are false. The Wall Street Journal last month published an interview with Cook, in which he said he uses every Apple product every day. Soon after, The Verge's Wes Davis attempted to replicate using every Apple product in a single day. During that...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Rumored to Surpass iPhone 6 as Thinnest iPhone Ever

Monday November 18, 2024 1:07 pm PST by
In a research note with Hong Kong-based investment bank Haitong today, obtained by MacRumors, Apple analyst Jeff Pu said he agrees with a recent rumor claiming that the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" will be around 6mm thick. "We agreed with the recent chatter of an 6mm thickness ultra-slim design of the iPhone 17 Slim model," he wrote. If that measurement proves to be accurate, there would be ...
bug security vulnerability issue fix larry

Make Sure to Update: iOS 18.1.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 Fix Actively Exploited Vulnerabilities

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:52 am PST by
The iOS 18.1.1, iPadOS 18.1.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.1 updates that Apple released today address JavaScriptCore and WebKit vulnerabilities that Apple says have been actively exploited on some devices. With the JavaScriptCore vulnerability, processing maliciously crafted web content could lead to arbitrary code execution. The WebKit vulnerability had the same issue with maliciously crafted...
apple card feature2

Apple Card 3% Daily Cash Back Now Available From Two More Apple Partners

Tuesday November 19, 2024 10:36 am PST by
Apple has partnered with select merchants to offer Apple Card users three percent Daily Cash back on their purchases, and two new companies were added to the partner list today. When purchasing goods and services from Booking.com and ChargePoint, Apple Card users will now get more cash back. Booking.com is a site for reserving flights, cars, cruises, and hotels, while ChargePoint sells...

Top Rated Comments

JCrz Avatar
126 months ago
I hope this isn't what Steve Jobs meant when he said he cracked the code for TV.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
newdeal Avatar
126 months ago
so wait, $30-$40 a month for what I can get right now, for free, over the air, in HD, with an antenna? This does not sound appealing to me
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BrentD Avatar
126 months ago
Cable + Internet runs me just over $100/month. If I ditch the cable and keep just the internet, I lose the bundle discount. So then my internet alone runs $60-70. Add the $30-40 subscription for this new service so I can "cut the cord", and I'm left with fewer channels, and have basically the same sort of on-demand options I have with cable.

I'm sorry, but until internet service pricing dips down to the sub-$20 range for 15Mbps or more, there's really not much appeal in these things. Especially when ISPs are implementing these soft bandwidth caps now.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Rogifan Avatar
126 months ago
So why would I want this over DirecTV? It seems like nothing more than s slimmed down cable package.
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fullauto Avatar
126 months ago
*USA only service
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ugcop Avatar
126 months ago
Comcast = 147 channels and nothing to watch
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)