Apple Plans to Sell Bundles of Cable TV Channels Through New Streaming Service

[Rob_2811]

How will this work for us in the U.K? It’s expected that the service will launch in 100 countries by the end of the year.

It won't, or it will work in a very limited capacity.

Satellite providers have exclusive rights to a lot of the content provided by subscription streaming services in America. Thats why HBO Now isn't available here, because Sky paid £££££ to have all of the HBO content.

Until that changes these kind of packages are pointless in the UK.

I wonder if it will bundle like we have in the U.K with Sky/Now TV.

Entertainment - Tv shows including drama, comedy and documentary

Film - self explanatory

Sports - again self explanatory

That way those of us that don’t want sport can just watch entertainment and or film.

I think if this can be done through the TV app, like it currently does with certain things here in the U.K, it will be good. For example i get notifications when a TV series I’ve been watching has a new episode (after starting it in iPlayer).

Given that rumoured to launch in other countries im guessing they have something ready for us too.

No chance for Sport and the HBO stuff, Sky have paid way too much for the rights to let someone else have a piece of it.

I expect their UK offering to be their original content + optional subscriptions to the streaming services that are available here minus Netflix, so Starzplay, HAYU, ITV Player +, Discovery etc.

Basically what has been available via Amazon Prime Channels for a while.
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Yep, no way they can pull this off outside of the US. So if you're a big fan of series made by Reese Witherspoon or Spielberg look for "other ways" to watch it.

Nah, that is their own original content they paid for its production, they will be able to show that where they like.

It's the partner content like HBO which they will have a problem with.

 

[dannyyankou]

That would be great. Especially if they offered the Weather Channel live stream.

But probably not. TWC seems mired in ancient cable TV contracts that always bundle a ton of crappy channels, such as the 700 Club (pardon me while I puke) and the like.

What happened to the a la carte movement? Wait, I know the answer...

I’d like The Weather Channel too, Verizon dropped them because of contract disputes. It’s been missing on Fios for a few years now.

 

[rmsanger]

More interested in Disney’s new service than apples.

 

[ErikGrim]

Literally no chance of this ever escaping US. Just in Australia HBO content is licensed exclusively to Foxtel. Starz and Showtime are licensed to Stan. Everything else is on Netflix (including "network" series like the new Star Trek, Brooklyn 99 etc.)

Now the interesting question here is what will happen to original Apple content outside the US. Will it be offered sans the bundle? If so, at a lower rate? (ha!)