Apple TV rumours pinpoint that the Cupertino company is developing a TV subscription service for release at year end alongside a new set.
While Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, has pegged the company’s set-top box – Apple TV – as a hobbyist product many times, rumours pinpoint that the Cupertino company is developing a TV subscription service for release at year end.
The rumour also follows another speculation – that Apple will unveil a brand new Apple TV box at some point in April.
Earlier this week, Cook made Apple’s intentions known by announcing that the company had secured exclusive access to the imminent HBO Now service, which will allow consumers to watch popular series – notably Game of Thrones – across their devices.
Now, rumours pinpoint that Apple is in talks with major US networks, including Fox, ABC, and CBS, with the intention of securing channels such as ESPN and FX. In total, it is alledged that Apple intend to bring over 25 channels to its own streaming service.
However, as with all things Apple, the service won’t be free, and is expected to be priced at $30-40 USD per month – a steep premium compared to other popular streaming vendors such as Netflix, which charges an $8.99 dollar subscription for new members.
Apple is apparently also planning on broadening the service beyond the Apple TV, which drives a relatively small minority of the company’s profits. It is expected that the streaming service will be available across multiple Apple devices using an iTunes account, much in the same manner iTunes in the Cloud functions; where users are able to access their digitally purchased content across their Apple products.
Apple’s subscription service will enter into a hotly contested arena, facing not only opposition from cemented streaming services such as above-mentioned Netflix, but also PlayStation Vue – Sony’s forthcoming TV service – which is expected to cater around 75 channels – for PlayStation 3 and 4 owners.
While Apple has refused to comment, the move is in line with age-old speculation that Apple is intent on developing either it’s own TV set or service.
More news as the story develops.
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