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Apple Planning to Launch Streaming TV Service Featuring ABC, CBS, Fox and More
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A MacBook lover
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Mike MA
macrumors 68020
The whole thing will be a deal breaker for nearly everybody outside the U.S. 😀
Seriously, you somewhere have to start, but I rather had hoped for a revamped (Apple TV) iOS with usable apps and some new devices in the first place.
Good question. When you breakdown the operational backbone of almost every modern cable television company and telco in the USA, you see analog and frame relay replaced by modern IP packet routers. About ten years ago, router companies started to promote "deep packet" routing. This allows the cable television companies and telcos to arbitrarily prioritize IP packets for whatever servise they offer.
Thus, the cable TV channels, telephone service and internet service is all the same backbone technology with just different packages at the client terminals. Modern telecommunications / cable television is just a ubiquitous data transfer business when you get into the backbone of these companies.
There is no reason why you need to have a special cable television box from your cable TV provider to show television or make a phone call. All these companies need to do is get out of the private network labeling game and just transfer data with much less overhead.
This is how it will shake out when cable television companies loose their local broadband monopolies with competitors such as Google Fiber and telco broadband.
No idea if this would ever work but it would be cool to have no cable and be able to watch TV shows a-la carte for say .25 cents a piece...of course that would have to include commercials also.
Local Sports Blackouts and stuck with Comcast
If I want to watch my Portland Trailblazers I have no way around it other than to have Comcast (plus I do like to DVR) .. NBA.Com blacks out the games. Thats not something unfortunately I see Apple TV getting around. Any ideas?
If I want to watch my Portland Trailblazers I have no way around it other than to have Comcast (plus I do like to DVR) .. NBA.Com blacks out the games. Thats not something unfortunately I see Apple TV getting around. Any ideas?
There is a lot of anti-trust actions going after Comcast for getting these games. Technically they are creating a captive market which is illegal.
For now, there are a lot of proxy streaming services that can let you watch a local game via accessing a server streaming out of the area and the proxy streams it back to you. It is a cat and mouse game with backbones attempting to detect proxy streams like this.
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You want to see the future of television, the pay services on YouTube are very close to how it goes.
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Ever notice how ultra left NBC has become since Comcast bought them? I'm sure Chet Huntley, John Chancellor & David Brinkley are not happy.
JamesPDX
Suspended
Greed is why...
Yeah Paul Allen's companies (Comcast and Vulcan) have made a lot of anti-consumer choices that have driven Blazer fans away. Comcast has such a bad rep, really an unsightly skidmark in the shorts of the industry that THEY HAD TO CHANGE THEIR NAME TO VERIZON! Enough time goes by and you forget what on or not on TV. The last time I watched OTA broadcast was for the 2015 Oscars, and I had to run a coax cable to a flat OTA antenna upstairs, clamp it to a mic boom, and point it at the local ABC affiliate.
Your local library probably has a better selection of movies and TV shows on DVD than -most- of your sat/com providers. -And you're already paid for it with your taxes. So get a library card and see what's up, you've got nothing to lose. Some libraries even offer streaming digital services. You can thank me later, I've got to catch up on Mad Men. 😉
Yeah Paul Allen's companies (Comcast and Vulcan) have made a lot of anti-consumer choices that have driven Blazer fans away. Comcast has such a bad rep, really an unsightly skidmark in the shorts of the industry that THEY HAD TO CHANGE THEIR NAME TO VERIZON! Enough time goes by and you forget what on or not on TV. The last time I watched OTA broadcast was for the 2015 Oscars, and I had to run a coax cable to a flat OTA antenna upstairs, clamp it to a mic boom, and point it at the local ABC affiliate.
Your local library probably has a better selection of movies and TV shows on DVD than -most- of your sat/com providers. -And you're already paid for it with your taxes. So get a library card and see what's up, you've got nothing to lose. Some libraries even offer streaming digital services. You can thank me later, I've got to catch up on Mad Men. 😉
You still have to get the signal into your house somehow. So, unless you have something like Google Fiber in your area, you're still paying for cable.
As im from England this doesn't affect me, though I would like to see better on demand services.
What id like to see is the Simpsons available on 4oD, Family Guy on iPlayer and some kind of Comedy Central on Demand so I can still watch friends.
Happy to sit through ads, so Channel 4 and Comedy Central still make money, as its way more convenient that recording the shows on series link and getting repeats filling up the Sky+ box.
What id like to see is the Simpsons available on 4oD, Family Guy on iPlayer and some kind of Comedy Central on Demand so I can still watch friends.
Happy to sit through ads, so Channel 4 and Comedy Central still make money, as its way more convenient that recording the shows on series link and getting repeats filling up the Sky+ box.
HiRez
macrumors 603
I doubt it, I think they will choose to protect their monopoly over profits in this case. Comcast's acquisition of NBC should have never been allowed to happen.
I have Sling TV, and this claim doesn't surprise me at all. Using AirPlay from my MacBook Air that until a couple of weeks ago was the latest and greatest (well, for $900), it would be a little choppy on my Apple TV. But streaming from my iPad or iPhone would look fine.
A lot of this likely has to do with Sling not claiming that AirPlay works, but it does when you mirror.
If this is just a bundle and we are forced to take Disney and ESPN, no thanks, already have that, most want to pick the channels or in a perfect world just let us pick and pay for content we choose from the source.
Reason077
macrumors 601
I just wish they would make a new Apple TV in "HDMI Stick" format, like the ChromeCast.
I'm tempted to get an Apple TV (again - had an early model years ago), but I'm put off the extra cables that would be hanging out of my TV.
It's nice just having an LG Smart TV that has most of the streaming services I need built in without having extra boxes and remotes dangling about. Keeps the living room clean and simple. The only thing it lacks, really, is AirPlay.
I'm tempted to get an Apple TV (again - had an early model years ago), but I'm put off the extra cables that would be hanging out of my TV.
It's nice just having an LG Smart TV that has most of the streaming services I need built in without having extra boxes and remotes dangling about. Keeps the living room clean and simple. The only thing it lacks, really, is AirPlay.
I'm purely speculating here, but I wonder if Apple might try to use Comcast's Time Warner acquisition as leverage. I'm not a lawyer, so my understanding of the entire process is basically nonexistent, but when Comcast acquired NBC, the company was forced to offer some minimum quality internet to low income families. Perhaps something similar will occur in this case as well.
For example, while Comcast might be withholding NBC for now, I can see Apple putting pressure on the regulatory bodies to force Comcast to negotiate in good faith (with all internet television providers, not just Apple) in order to get the merger through. The merger will happen one way or another, but I could see the regulatory bodies forcing Comcast, as part of the deal, to accept similar terms to those of the other networks.
Even if things don't play out in this manner, I still could see Apple trying to use Comcast's acquisition of Time Warner in order to put pressure on Comcast to accept some deal.
If this in only because HBO their own streaming web-base service, I'll then ill wait and see.
I was excited about this till it read '25 channels'....... I don't wanna pay for stuff i don't intend to watch..... So far, this is looking just another digital TV package bundle.
I was hoping their would be all separately paying.
Not bad price though for what u get
I was excited about this till it read '25 channels'....... I don't wanna pay for stuff i don't intend to watch..... So far, this is looking just another digital TV package bundle.
I was hoping their would be all separately paying.
Not bad price though for what u get
Mac Fly (film)
macrumors 68040
Love the final line:
Or, even if you hear no mention of this is June and it does not happen don't you dare say our report was inaccurate.
Or, even if you hear no mention of this is June and it does not happen don't you dare say our report was inaccurate.
Topfry
macrumors regular
This shouldn't be a great surprise- the content delivery network apple started setting up last year and in Ireland in the next year or two was very suggestive. Unfortunately nor is the US centric pitch (if true), but as someone else said they have to start somewhere.
I've been following this debate about where ATV is going for some time, have bought a couple of different ATV models, and I've come to a few conclusions, purely based on speculation of course and thinking about it more than is probably healthy; if there is a new atv box I suspect it will be the last one, or the focus may shift from it. It seems to make sense to me that the software would more likely be licensed out to tv makers to integrate in their own mature products, much in the way 2015 smart tv models are using Firefox OS, or other variations. Another parallel is the way CarPlay is licensed out to car manufacturers, and there may be a partnership announced; Loewe?. This avoids the risks and tiny profit margins of mass producing TV sets, and would allow the software to be better integrated into broadcast or Internet tv, with universal searches and picture in picture effects and so on, delivering apple software its best opportunity to impress. That would be a win win win for Apple, TV company and customer rather than entering the market as immediate competitors. The software could then be backed by proprietary hardware, so that you get your bluetooth accessories, home kit, App Store, iwatch etc. at launch. I think the current offering pales in comparison to the direction competitors are going, and the only way that Apple can get the kind of integrated experience that would improve the situation significantly is to to get on board with a TV manufacturer. The software is the key to establishing their foothold in the average home, because we already have the phones the iPads the watches etc. A plug in box, although convenient for those who can't afford a new TV every couple of years, is a step away from full integration. It's the cheapest, lowest risk, best potential punt for apple, and they can concentrate on their strengths in the software. But a new physical apple accessory with such a tv wouldn't surprise me either. My own idea would be for a stereo touchpad remote that could be used for gaming, or navigation depending on context. maybe with the current button layout in between, and a microphone for Siri.
I am probably way off base, but if this is true it might explain the long wait we have had in atv development, negotiating a hardware partnership, and there's been plenty of speculation about that before.
I've been following this debate about where ATV is going for some time, have bought a couple of different ATV models, and I've come to a few conclusions, purely based on speculation of course and thinking about it more than is probably healthy; if there is a new atv box I suspect it will be the last one, or the focus may shift from it. It seems to make sense to me that the software would more likely be licensed out to tv makers to integrate in their own mature products, much in the way 2015 smart tv models are using Firefox OS, or other variations. Another parallel is the way CarPlay is licensed out to car manufacturers, and there may be a partnership announced; Loewe?. This avoids the risks and tiny profit margins of mass producing TV sets, and would allow the software to be better integrated into broadcast or Internet tv, with universal searches and picture in picture effects and so on, delivering apple software its best opportunity to impress. That would be a win win win for Apple, TV company and customer rather than entering the market as immediate competitors. The software could then be backed by proprietary hardware, so that you get your bluetooth accessories, home kit, App Store, iwatch etc. at launch. I think the current offering pales in comparison to the direction competitors are going, and the only way that Apple can get the kind of integrated experience that would improve the situation significantly is to to get on board with a TV manufacturer. The software is the key to establishing their foothold in the average home, because we already have the phones the iPads the watches etc. A plug in box, although convenient for those who can't afford a new TV every couple of years, is a step away from full integration. It's the cheapest, lowest risk, best potential punt for apple, and they can concentrate on their strengths in the software. But a new physical apple accessory with such a tv wouldn't surprise me either. My own idea would be for a stereo touchpad remote that could be used for gaming, or navigation depending on context. maybe with the current button layout in between, and a microphone for Siri.
I am probably way off base, but if this is true it might explain the long wait we have had in atv development, negotiating a hardware partnership, and there's been plenty of speculation about that before.
This is actually the most logical post so far.
Why couldn't Apple combine Netflix, Hulu, and SlingTV together? You're looking at $30-$40 right there. Basically: why have three different services when Apple offers one! Plus, it could easily be tied into the Apple Ecosystem.
It seems like this is the most likely option and easily explains the 'high price' that people have been complaining about.
The only issue I see is this cutting into the revenue from buying season passes and pay-per-episode model that Apple has been using on the iTunes store. Why buy an episode when you could stream it any time anywhere?
One answer would be that streams would have advertisements, like Hulu does. However, if you buy the TV Show/Movie it doesn't have any advertisements, plus it allows for off-line viewing. Perhaps season pass buyers will get iTunes extras like commentary and so forth.
I could imagine a lot of interest possibilities for this service...
bart4u
macrumors member
The problem is you still need to get your high speed internet to your home. Cable providers still have the fastest service and charge for it. With my TV service I can watch just about every channel on my IPad. Will this new subscription service charge taxes and it will have to be much cheaper than what the cable company charges.. Cable TV companiies might start to charge more if you only want the internet service. I wish we could see many cable companies compete in the same areas of cities. Right now homes can get only one cable company provider in their area which makes them a monolopy in your area and you DSL which is much slower.
nick42983
macrumors 6502a
Sounds like trading the "cord" for a wifi connection and subscription to Apple. So 26 channels (including a $14.99 HBO GO subscription) for about $50-60? Sounds weak to me, but maybe this will work for others.
Best case scenario that I see (in the distant future) is that you get most or all of the channels you want for $120+ per month, except that Apple replaces Comcast and gives you a better interface, but not necessarily better customer service.
Truly cutting the cord means not being tied to a subscription like this. An internet connection is more than enough for me.