The more we hear, the more Apple’s reported web TV service sounds like a dream come true for cord-cutters!
With previous reports suggesting the subscription service will offer around 25 channels in total, a new Wall Street Journal report claims Apple is busy talking with both Discovery and Viacom about the venture. Deals with those companies could bringing channels including Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, TLC, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon to viewers.
It has been claimed that ABC, CBS and Fox are already lined up as partners with Apple, although NBCUniversal is not on board due to a falling out between Apple and parent company, Comcast.
A separate report has suggested Apple could offer to share viewing data, including which shows users watch and when they watch them, with TV partners as a way of courting additional networks. This would, however, appear to be in conflict with Apple’s goal of data protection, as regularly espoused by Tim Cook.
WSJ previously announced that Apple plans to debut its web TV service in June — around the time when Apple holds its Worldwide Developers Conference every year — and release it in September.
The service will allegedly cost $30 to $40 per month, which is slightly pricier than Sling TV’s core $20 package, although it would offer more channels.
Color me excited!
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
6 responses to “Apple in talks to bring Discovery and Viacom aboard its web TV venture”
AMC, IFC, Comedy Central, SciFi, NGT, HBO and Showtime
Put that package together and I’ll dump Comcast right now
i’m sorry … unless this ends up being a la carte, how is this different than any other cable package? other than the interface, semi-less pricey, and way less channels? i’m not seeing the upside here.
I think an amazing new interface alone would be worth it to me. I HATE having to skip through hundreds of channels I don’t even get to find something to watch. Just give me a handful of channels and be done with it.
Can’t wait for the day I can toss the clunky comcast remote.
I dumped cable nearly two years ago. Never regretted saving nearly $100 a month [duh]. But, what if this Apple deal is something of a hybrid thing? I’ll call it a ‘5 x 5 service’, as in: a package of any five channels will cost you ‘x’, a package of 10 channels cost you ‘y’… and so on.
Given the somewhat premium nature of most of the channels I’m reading about, a “5 x 5 service” I could possibly live with.
Until apple starts making agreements with these companies in other countries only the U.S. will see em…a real shame.
Discovery Communications channels? I am all over that. Goodbye Comcast cable TV.