Apple to Sell Subscriptions to Streaming Services Through its TV App

[shareef777]

I was just talking about viewing experiences and choices available besides cable tv. Nowhere I mentioned anything about the internet, that's a different topic but a good one at that.

I was referring to your monopoly statement. They're (Comcast) still taking the same amount of money from me every month they have been taking for the past decade. Even though I no longer subscribe to cable TV. Why's that? Because as I moved over to streaming services I started going over this arbitrary cap they implemented forcing me to pay extra fees. All because they have a monopoly in my area.

On the same topic of cable monopolies, I think what'll truly free us from this is 5G service. Once that's readily available, competitors can put up 5G towers offering high speed, low latency internet, without costly infrastructure expansion and politics getting in the way.

 

[dilbert99]

Yep, It won't be but a few more years till a bundled cable subscription will be significantly cheaper than paying for just internet and streaming services.

I don't have a cable service and I have stopped watching free to air broadcast tv because of the adverts every 5 minutes, the constant stopping of shows during ratings breaks, the constant over run time so that shows clash...
So I can see that cable companies days are numbered unless they evolve.

 

[truthertech]

What are you talking about? Hulu runs on nearly every device just like Netflix. Apple, as usual, has minimal market share.

I will NEVER buy anything "through Apple" again, because:

• I want the relationship with the service provider, not Apple, and
• I don't want to get locked into Apple like with iTunes. I've got movies I bought that are now a waste because I moved away from Apple TV. If I had bought them on Amazon, I could use them on any device.

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Your example isn't relevant to this. All of these providers already have the infrastructure, brand recognition, apps, etc.. You as a seller on Amazon have none of that. Literally Apple is providing convenience it buying because someone is too lazy to take 60 seconds and go to a browser window to make the purchase.

You're wrong on so many levels; you really need to rethink your analysis. Just start with your idea that the Amazon analogy is inapplicable because sellers don't have "infrastructure, brand recognition, etc." Huh?? The largest companies in the world with tremendous brand recognition and multiple sales outlets, on line and otherwise, e.g., Apple, sell their products on Amazon. Under your theory, they shouldn't have to pay Amazon a reseller and per item fee because Amazon doesn't "deserve" it.

Your analysis is clouded by your emotional feeling that people and companies should be paid based on your idea of what they "deserve," instead of a free market of sellers and buyers deciding what a product or service is worth.

 

[convergent]

And most of hulu's revenues come from subscriptions which are used on iOS devices, not on all these other devices. Hulu needs apple as much or more than apple needs hulu.

That's what I'm talking about.

What's your source? I believe you are wrong. I would find it surprising if devices that represent about 10% of the market contribute the majority of streaming viewers. All the charts I've seen show Roku alone beats Apple.

 

[2010mini]

Can someone explain why Apple deserves 30% or 15% of a monthly fee I pay to Netflix or Hulu? Apple doesn’t host the content or do any marketing on behalf of these companies. And if they could offer their own payment system in-app they would. If the argument is without Apple’s platform these companies/services wouldn’t exist then why isn’t Apple taking a cut of every Uber or Lyft ride?

Let’s say you have the best retail location in every city all around the world. The location is practically a household name and is the default description when people talk about stores. You have worked hard to make the customer experience the best. Now, You don’t sell your own merchandise in those retail locations, but others can have access to all the people who visit your store. So without spending money building your own retail locations, hiring staff... and all other overhead. You can make a lot of money.

Now how would you feel if people start telling you..”hey why don't you let others get access to your store and customers for free?”

As much as people here rag on Apple. Their ecosystem is very popular. Apple has put a lot of time into it and will not give it away for free/cheap. And they should not.
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I must say how much I dislike the TV App. I've bought a season 1-8 set of Curb Your Enthusiasm. When I go to the TV app it suggests I carry on watching Curb, and so offers me the next episode - but at £2.49 from the iTunes Store...

It seems to totally disregard my extensive library of iTunes purchases and only offer me opportunities to buy additional copies of content that I already own.

Not to mention the dire way that it classifies content. Want to watch Doctor Who - then episode one is followed by about 15 other episode ones...

Before the App it was easy - the series were correctly presented in order, with the episodes in order therein.

And don't get me started on the voice control when compared to the Alexa remote on the Firestick...

That’s weird.... I’ve never experienced that.