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Bloomberg: 4K-capable Apple TV being tested for release as soon as this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ February 16, 2017

Bloomberg is reporting that Apple is testing a next-generation Apple TV media-streaming box that will have native 4K video output and other improvements.

The new set-top box is said to release “as soon as this year,” according to sources familiar with the development who spoke with reporter Mark Gurman.

Internally codenamed “J105,” a fifth-generation device will be capable of 4K streaming and should support “more vivid colors,” indicating support for the wide color gamut feature that Apple already introduced in latest iPads and iPhones.

Apple hires former Netflix executive and Amazon Fire TV chief to head up Apple TV business

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated October 17, 2018

Apple appears poised to shake up its Apple TV business amid data showing that sales of the media-streaming box saw a year-over-year decline. Apple TV was last refreshed in October 2015.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple in February hired Timothy D. Twerdahl to lead Apple TV operations and beef up teams seeking content deals.

Twerdahl is the former head of Amazon's Fire TV operating unit. Prior to his tenure at Amazon, he served as an executive at Netflix and later as a Vice President in charge of consumer devices at Roku. He was also Vice President of Products at smartwatch startup WIMM Labs from 2009 to 2012, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Apple plans to cut App Store fees for video streaming apps

Cody Lee ∙ November 16, 2016

Apple plans to cut the amount it charges to sell video services over its App Store, Bloomberg reports. The outlet says the move is part of an effort to appease content partners, whose TV shows and movies are vital to the company's larger video strategy.

Previously, the iPhone maker took a 30% cut of revenue from app and in-app purchases. Then in June it announced it would slice that in half after the first year Now it sounds like Apple is going to make that an upfront price for participating video apps.

AT&T to give away Apple TV if you subscribe to at least 3 months of DirecTV Now service

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 7, 2016

Variety is reporting today that U.S. wireless carrier AT&T will incentivize customers to subscribe to its DirecTV Now Internet-based live TV service by gifting a free Apple TV to each and every customer who commits to at least three months of paid service. AT&T earlier this month announced plans to acquire the media conglomerate Time Warner for $80 billion.

Apple said to be launching new TV guide app tomorrow

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Apple plans to unveil a new TV guide app tomorrow during its Hello Again Mac event, reports Recode. Citing a source familiar with the initiative, the site says the guide will aggregate and show content that's available, and will work on Apple TV and iOS devices.

Unfortunately, not all major video providers have agreed to participate in the program. Most notably, the report claims that Netflix data will not be available in the guide, which is odd considering that the two companies have worked closely together in the past.

New Apple TV app launching Thursday to give users personalized TV show recommendations

Christian Zibreg ∙ October 26, 2016

For years, Apple's been courting content owners to support its ambitions to provide its users a package of TV programming and live broadcasts, to no avail.

But Apple's living room strategy is said to have shifted recently from building an inexpensive skinny bundle of TV programming to developing a simple interface for browsing digital programming guides.

First signs of this new direction should become visible at Thursday's “Hello again” Mac event: USA Today claims that Apple will unveil a new app for giving owners of the fourth-generation Apple TV personalized recommendations for television shows.

Twitter said to be building Apple TV app to stream NFL games

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

Twitter is in talks with Apple to bring its Twitter app to Apple TV, reports The New York Times. In a wide-ranging article on Twitter's live-streaming ambitions, the outlet said the social network could use the app to stream several NFL games this season.

For those that missed it, earlier this year Twitter beat out Facebook and other tech giants to win the rights to Thursday Night Football broadcasts. The deal is for 10 games, and the company plans to stream them all live for free (supported by ads of course).

Report: Apple talking to programmers about creating a digital TV guide

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

Apple has started talking to TV programmers about creating a digital TV guide, reports Recode. The guide would work on both Apple TV boxes and other devices, like iPhones, allowing users to quickly find their desired TV shows and movies, and play them with a single click.

The new direction is a spinoff of the skinny-bundle TV service the company wanted to launch last year. After several years of failed negotiations with networks and studios, Apple has decided to just build an interface for content, and let everyone else worry about the red tape.

Apple’s rumored Amazon Echo competitor may be new Apple TV

Cody Lee ∙ May 26, 2016

Apple's rumored Amazon Echo competitor may come in the form of a new set-top box, reports VentureBeat. Citing a source familiar with the matter, the outlet says the iPhone maker is working on a new Apple TV with an improved version of Siri.

“They want Apple TV to be just the hub of everything,” the source told VentureBeat. Earlier this week, The Information reported that Apple is building a new device with a speaker and always-on microphone to rival products from Amazon and Google.

Apple meeting with top talent to develop original programming

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple has been secretly meeting with top entertainment talent, reports Fast Company. In a lengthy article detailing the streaming ambitions of various tech giants, the outlet says the iPhone-maker has its sights set on building a lineup of original programming.

According to sources, the company quietly set up shop at the Imperial Hotel in Utah during this year's Sundance Film Festival. There, it hosted a series of private events, known as the "iTunes Lounge," where it discussed content deals with actors and filmmakers.

Apple vying for streaming rights of Thursday night NFL games

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 1, 2018

Apple is among a group of tech giants vying for the rights to stream Thursday night NFL games, reports Variety. The NFL said on Monday it has reached a two-year agreement with CBS and NBC for broadcast rights, and it's been in active discussions with potential partners for digital rights.

According to Variety's sources, Apple is among those potential partners, as are Amazon, Google and Verizon Communications. The League is said to be considering a variety of scenarios, including potentially selling the rights to more than one distributor, and mixing in games played overseas.

Apple ‘frustrated’ by streaming TV challenges, says ESPN President

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 30, 2018

Apple is frustrated with the many challenges it has faced in trying to build its streaming TV service, reports The Wall Street Journal. The outlet recently sat down with ESPN president John Skipper, who said the iPhone-maker is finding it tough to create something that works for both them and programmers.

"They are creating a significantly advantageous operating system and a great television experience and that television experience is fabulous for sports," Mr. Skipper told the Journal. "We are big proponents of believing it would be a fabulous place to sell some subscriptions. We have ongoing conversations."