Time Warner CEO ‘pretty confident’ Apple TV service is on the way

Apple’s streaming TV service has long been a force of fodder for the rumor mill, but according to Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes, it’s already a foregone conclusion.

During Time Warner’s earning’s call on Wednesday, Bewkes told investors that he’s ‘pretty confident’ will launch a service that streams TV over the Internet, and we might not have to wait much longer to finally see it.

“We think Apple is very forward-thinking about television,” Bewkes said, according to a CNET report. “It’s no surprise to anyone that Apple would be interested in launching a TV product.”

Time Warner inked a deal with Apple recently as the launch partner of HBO Now, which is owned by Time Warner. Various rumors have claimed for over a year that Apple is working a Sling TV-style service that would allow iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV users to stream channels that normally require a cable subscription to their devices for a monthly fee.

HBO CEO Richard Plepler said on the earnings call that HBO ‘couldn’t be more pleased’ with it’s Apple partnership that gave users a one month of free HBO Now. “We got out of the gate very fast with Apple,” Plepler said. “We see a lot of momentum there.”

Tim Cook also hinted during the company’s Q2 2015 earnings call this week that Apple is looking to make a big play in TV

“I think we’re in the early stages of some major major changes in media,” said Cook. “I think Apple can be a part of that.”

As part of its HBO Now promotion, Apple dropped the price of the Apple TV down to $69. Previous rumors have hinted that an updated Apple TV could be released this year with third-party applications to go with the new streaming service. Shipping times of the Apple TV have currently slipped to 1-2 weeks ahead, but we’ll have to wait from WWDC in June before we get our first glimpse of the changes coming to Apple’s little black box.

Via: CNET

Buster Hein

Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.