TV

Apple said to be exploring original programming

Cody Lee ∙ August 31, 2015

Apple is exploring getting into the original programming business, reports Variety. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the outlet claims the company has held "preliminary conversations" in recent weeks with Hollywood executives to suss out their interest in producing entertainment content.

It's unclear how large Apple's ambitions are at the moment, but one source says the endgame is to set up development and production divisions that would churn out long-form content in a bid to compete with Netflix, and the like. They say these divisions could be operational as early as next year.

Apple’s subscription television service reaffirmed to remain on hold ahead of September 9 event

Christian Zibreg ∙ August 28, 2015

A next-generation Apple TV hardware with Siri voice control, a revamped remote and a dedicated App Store is expected to launch alongside new iPhones and iPads at the September 9 media event at San Francisco's gigantic Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

But don't expect a rumored subscription television service to go live anytime soon.

A report Friday by Jessica Lessin of The Information contends that content makers are not down with a monthly subscription fee Apple reportedly wants to charge consumers for streaming live television and premium channels to their devices.

Study shows Apple TV fell to fourth most popular streaming device in U.S. last year

Cody Lee ∙ August 20, 2015

The Apple TV fell to the spot of the fourth most popular streaming media device in the US last year, according to a newly-released study by Parks Associates. The research firm says that sales for Apple's set-top box were eclipsed by those from Roku, Google and Amazon.

"Roku continues to lead streaming media device sales in the U.S.," said Barbara Kraus, the director of research at Parks Associates. Their data shows that Roku accounted for 34% of units sold in 2014, with Google in second at 23%, and Amazon overtaking Apple for third.

Bloomberg: Apple to delay TV service until 2016

Cody Lee ∙ August 13, 2015

Apple has scrapped plans to announce its long-rumored streaming TV service at its upcoming September 9 event, reports Bloomberg. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the outlet says that content deal talks with 21st Century Fox and others have been progressing slowly.

Additionally, Apple also doesn't have the computer network capacity in place to ensure a good viewing experience—a common complaint among users of Dish's Sling TV and other streaming services. Thus, the company has decided to push back the launch of its service to 2016.

New Apple TV coming in September with full App Store, report says

Cody Lee ∙ July 30, 2015

We are finally going to see the long-rumored update to Apple's set-top box this fall, reports BuzzFeed's John Paczkowski. The well-connected journalist says sources have informed him that the company plans to introduce a new Apple TV in September.

Pacszkowski says to expect a slimmer chassis and new internals, anchored around Apple's A8 processor. He also says the remote has been "drastically improved" with a built-in touchpad for input, and there will be a native App Store and developer kit.

Apple’s long rumored cable-killer TV service is “ready and it rocks”

Christian Zibreg ∙ July 14, 2015

Could Apple be on the verge of unveiling a killer app aimed squarely at cord cutters? After all, the company has long been rumored to have been developing a television streaming service that would trump and undercut the cable with more affordable subscription prices, convenience and ease of use.

According to a new report, there seems to be light at the end of a long tunnel.

“The platform is ready and it rocks,” one source told New York Post yesterday. Talks with major U.S. networks like CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox are reportedly gaining momentum rapidly in terms of securing rights to offer local TV programming.

Previously, Apple went about this licensing business on its own, a strategy which thus far has yielded poor results. But now CEO Tim Cook and his team have apparently asked the networks to obtain those rights on behalf of Apple, and it seems major progress has been made since.

CBS will ‘probably’ sign up for Apple’s TV service

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 18, 2018

CBS CEO Les Moonves says his network will “probably” sign a deal with Apple for its upcoming streaming TV service. Speaking at the Code Conference on Wednesday, Moonves told Recode's Kara Swisher that he met with Apple's Eddy Cue last week to discuss the service.

“The talks are still early, but we’re very excited about it,” he told Swisher. The executive went on to say that he believes the age of the 200-channel universe is slowly dying, and if companies like Apple are going to offer trim 15-20 channel packages, CBS has to be included.

Time Warner CEO ‘pretty confident’ Apple is launching a TV service

Cody Lee ∙ April 29, 2015

Time Warner's Jeff Bewkes is "pretty confident" Apple is working on a subscription TV service. ABC's Jon Erlichman reports on Medium today that during Time Warner's quarterly earnings call, the CEO said that the Cupertino firm is "very forward thinking" on the future of television.

Bewkes' comments are interesting because Apple and Time Warner recently partnered up to launch 'HBO Now' on Apple TV, and rumors have been bouncing around for years that the two were looking to do TV together. In July 2013, Bloomberg reported they were "close" to reaching a deal.

Apple reportedly in talks with programmers over new web TV service

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 17, 2018

Apple is in talks with TV programmers in search of a deal that would allow it to launch a new web-based TV service, reports Recode. Citing sources familiar with the project, the site says the Cupertino firm wants to put together standalone channel packages and offer them directly to customers—wrapped within its own interface and user experience.

Recode is hearing the talks are still in the very early stages, so things like pricing and launch dates aren't anywhere close to being settled, but Apple has shown a demo of the service to programmers. It's said to look similar to Dish Network's just-launched Sling service, which offers select channels instead of a broad lineup, and bypasses cable providers.

Time Warner Cable’s new app lets you use their home phone service on iPhone at no additional cost

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 30, 2018

Your Home Phone service from Time Warner Cable is no longer limited by physical location as the nation's second largest cable company behind Comcast revealed a new iPhone application Tuesday.

Dubbed Phone 2 Go and available as a free download from the App Store, the software allows existing TWC Home Phone subscribers to use text, voice and video calling for no additional fees.

In addition, you can decide whether you'd like to use your Home Phone service to receive voice and video calls and text messages on your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad anywhere there's Wi-Fi or cellular coverage, including overseas.

You can now stream every episode of The Simpsons to iPhone and iPad

Cody Lee ∙ October 21, 2014

In line with expectations, FX has activated the Simpsons World portal in its FX Now application this afternoon. Authenticated users get access to a deep catalog of content, including, for the first time ever, on-demand access to all 552 episodes of The Simpsons television show.

Simpsons World will be available on various platforms, such as the FXNOW app for iPhone, iPad, Android, Xbox, Apple TV, and of course SimpsonsWorld.com. At the time of this writing, the portal was not showing up on Apple TV, but it did appear within the iOS FX Now app.

CBS is cutting the cord: launches $5.99 per month video subscription

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Just ahead of Apple's keynote (see our roundup) and less than 24 hours after HBO said it would finally start offering online-only video subscription service in 2015, the world's second largest major network, CBS, has now appeased cord-cutters by announcing immediately availability of a new on-demand video service priced at $6 per month.

Fourteen cities in the United States can now stream their local CBS stations and watch the network's new shows as they air for the first time. NFL games, however, won't be available on the new service, CBS All Access.