Apple has reportedly suspended plans to add an Internet-based live television service for Apple TV, maintaining its focus on providing media from other companies.
A person familiar with negotiations claims that Apple’s plan to sell a $30-$40 monthly package of exclusive television stations has run into problems — based on the amount of money content creators are asking for for programming.
As a result, CBS CEO Les Moonves says that plans for Apple to enter the live TV arena are, “on hold.”
Despite an increasing number of cord cutters ditching traditional TV and going with the new options offered by tech companies, it’s unsurprising that a large number of existing media giants would be squeamish about letting Apple shake up the industry like it did with iTunes.
While Apple’s got plenty of great negotiators on its books, this is the moment Steve Jobs is sorely missed on a business level.
Apple has, unsurprisingly, not made any public confirmation about its original programming ambitions. When asked about it recently while promoting the new Apple TV, Eddy Cue said that, “We love working with our partners. We’re great at technology, and they’re great at creating content. We think that’s a great partnership to have.”
Not that things couldn’t change in the future, right?
Source: Bloomberg
