Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Eddy Cue on Apple TV: Customers Should Be Able to 'Buy Whatever They Want, However They Want'
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Cable providers are waking up to the fact that the money's in the data, which is something phone companies realized years ago. Look at how fast basic Internet speeds are via cable or fios. I get almost 200 down. Comcast just keeps raising it higher and higher.
But there hasn't been a lot of innovation in cable TV channels. H2 is going to become a new channel that sounds very promising, but most of the rest of the channels are same old same old. Comcast could easily bundle specific types of channels and sell them to subscribers without having them buy every channel. Sure, some channels will inevitably disappear, but they are usually propped up by contracts that force cable companies to carry all the content provider's secondary channels if they want to carry the big one.
The cable companies need to change their business model if they want to be successful in the future. Content providers want to get their content to interested parties in any way possible, so if they could sell their channels directly to Apple, I'm sure they would be happy. I think prices would have to come down, because the cable monopolies that exist in most areas would disappear and they'd have to compete with Apple TV or any other streaming box that offers content.
But there hasn't been a lot of innovation in cable TV channels. H2 is going to become a new channel that sounds very promising, but most of the rest of the channels are same old same old. Comcast could easily bundle specific types of channels and sell them to subscribers without having them buy every channel. Sure, some channels will inevitably disappear, but they are usually propped up by contracts that force cable companies to carry all the content provider's secondary channels if they want to carry the big one.
The cable companies need to change their business model if they want to be successful in the future. Content providers want to get their content to interested parties in any way possible, so if they could sell their channels directly to Apple, I'm sure they would be happy. I think prices would have to come down, because the cable monopolies that exist in most areas would disappear and they'd have to compete with Apple TV or any other streaming box that offers content.
I myself am getting tired of the "there are other countries besides America!" comments, as if it's in Apple best interest to ignore other countries. Offering products and service over seas isn't simple with all the regulations.
But hey, its cool nowadays to make Americans look like self-centered ass holes who don't care about other countries, right?
"We're not fixed into 'There's only one way to buy it.'"
This it total BS.
Because, of course when someone wants to buy an iOS app: Then Apple is very happy that 'There's only one way to buy it', which is through Apple's App Store.
This it total BS.
Because, of course when someone wants to buy an iOS app: Then Apple is very happy that 'There's only one way to buy it', which is through Apple's App Store.
I think you're missing the point. If you have an HD antenna, you must live in one of the 25 or so markets that actually have more than one HD OTA channel. The rest of the US, and the rest of the world doesn't. People who live in cities aren't allowed to install DBS (pizza-sized satellite dish), while people who live in the countryside or in mountainous areas are lucky if they even get one TV channel OTA. IPTV offers a way to get "all the TV" channels that someone could possibly want regardless of their internet connection or ISP.
Smaller ISP's (think ones that do NOT offer their own TV package) often offer internet access but aren't big enough to negotiate with these large broadcasters. There are some community cable systems that would not be empowered to make such deals, and thus all they ever offer are "Basic" packages which just relay the broadcast channels from the nearest city.
So what Apple offers here could enable more smaller ISP's/ISP competition because now the TV "subsidy" can be disconnected from the internet package. So large players like Comcast in the US and Shaw/Rogers/Bell in Canada who own a disproportionate amount of "television content" and also own their own internet infrastructure tend to have monopoly power or duopoly's in the market where they own the only viable internet service. So these companies will be the most "hurt" from cord-cutting.
On the flipside, ISP's that do not own their own media, or strictly limit it to community channels come out ahead here because they can offer larger caps/faster internet packages without the need to invest in IPTV infrastructure (eg the former Microsoft Mediaroom technology.) They just need to make sure their backhaul can support it.
Past experiences with "streaming" anything from Apple is a bit of a crapshoot through. So I don't see Apple making a "dent" in cable services though it may force cable companies to offer pick-and-play or smaller/cheaper packages that are equal to that of which Apple offers to avoid "cable cutting".
I'm completely looking forward to this subscription service idea to see what it offers and have been living without cable, watching only items on iTunes USA, HBO Nordic, Netflix and NRK for 2-3 years, but for those of you so eager to kill cable packages there is a strong possibility that your favorite channels or programs won't make it. Bottom line - there is going to be a lot less choice and by a lot less we're talking about a half dozen and you'll be paying about the same in total as your cable package. I spend roughly $80-100 per month on entertainment and on many days the TV isn't on because there is nothing to watch.
I can't believe how expensive television is. Until on demand services do better, I can't see much sense in doing anything other than sticking to free TV, Netflix and buying Boxsets of the shows I really like.
4: ignore products that dont bring added value here in Europe.. So, a dont give a **** about new apple tv
You mis-quoted me. You elimininated these words: "that I can use as a monitor for a games console?", which changes the context of my statement completely.
It is entirely up to Amazon to provide an app. NOTHING is holding them back. They tried to use the "Apple tax" as an excuse, but Buzzfeed quickly shot that bs down. There is no 30 percent tax if you subscribe on another device (like a computer) and just view on tvOS. They have an iOS app so that PROVES conclusively that they are full of it. Amazon's shills and allies would love you to believe Apple controls whether or not an Amazon app can exist. Oh really? Why is it on my iPad and iPhone???
Taking his words too literally... wow.... and you put so much effort into your lack of a point. Clearly his context was relating to cable channels and a la carte tv. But nice try. Btw, emulators themselves aren't the problem, the ROMs violate copyright laws and Apple would get sued if they hosted an emulator. Absent a lawsuit, it would hurt their relationship with developers who like to earn a living.We want to get to the point where customers are able to buy whatever they want, however they want. We're not fixed into 'There's only one way to buy it.' Just like we've done with the App StoreReally, you're going to bring up the App Store as an example? On iOS, and tVOS and watchOS by extension, you cannot in fact buy "whatever you want", but rather only what Apple approves of. Porn, NES emulators, apps that modify the system, apps that run in the background — there's all sorts of limitations to what gets allowed in the App Store, and the Apple-sanctioned ways to install something without the App Store are limited to special cases like enterprises and developers.
So, no, as long as this:
doesn't happen to iOS, you won't "be able to buy whatever you want".
Apple fans will dump prime if Amazon doesnt provide a tvOS app. Apple has way more loyalty than Amazon ever will. Amazon is a cut throat low rent selling marketplace that pretends to be more. The fire phone and tablets are failures. The fire tv stick is a failure. They can't compete so they stopped selling Apple TV.
Last edited by a moderator:
Here is the problem, almost none of the content is actually available in New Zealand at all. Take Bill Maher's Real Time - neither Sky nor Vodafone have it on their pay television networks and yet I cannot get access to it. Again, this is inherently an American problem where American businesses refuse to look beyond their own borders and see the world as a single marketplace - the number of American businesses who refuse to ship outside of the US is the best example of that such as Amazon's refusal to sell electronics or software outside of the US or when even a jeans company, who have no presence in New Zealand, will refuse to sell outside of the borders. I know this is getting long winded but this is why the US has a massive trade deficit - businesses who refuse to view the world as an untapped marketplace ready to be taken advantage of.
Why do you get so defensive like someone is insulting your country, the OP was just stating (Correctly I believe) that Apple should make more of an effort in bringing some of their services to foreign countries, without having to emigrate, (Sorry but why would I move from here to the US).
The OP's complaints are echoed by many many other non-American countries so it is a valid gripe, not an attack on your country. Advance Australia Fair...
Yep
40.00 for Basic ? On Charter over 100 channels for 29.99 Intro for a yr. Then 10.00 more ea month.
And they throw in HD box for free.
All I want is an iPhone where I decide what software I'm allowed to install on it, not Apple. Can I have that Eddy? PLEASE?
Yup, this. They're having an awkward negotiation through the media (Apple said Amazon was welcome to join their "conga line" of apps??), making them both look anti-consumer..
I can see two big, related issues:
1. In-app purchases - Amazon probably wants to be able to sell content directly through their app, and without giving a cut to Apple; Apple probably wants to make users go to a separate computer to order Amazon Instant Video in order to drive people toward iTunes as a more convenient option.
2. Universal search - again, I suspect Apple wants to leave out Amazon so that they don't compete with Apple's offerings.
No, they don't make the Amazon app.
With the 5-10 things that you can watch in UHD, it's okay.
Last edited by a moderator:
Forget the dinosaur network and cable media and do what I did, 4 years back, and cut the cord to cable. The base cable package I had was $88 a month and had mostly full frame vhs quality low definition channels (and still do).
Now I buy and play on my AppleTV; Netfix, Hulu and iTunes purchases. I get more for less than I paid for cable per month. I save roughly $20+ per month. You'll save far more if you pay the higher ripoff fees of HD cable.
In short, the cable companies and Networks are irrelevant now that I can get what I want, how I want without them.
Only sports fans are still under the thumb of these media dinosaurs. The media know sports is their last hope for revenue and they fiercely protect it at all costs.
The media dinosaurs days are numbered as AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, Google and others introduce devices that free people of the chains of live TV and middle men once and for all!
Viva le resistance! Viva le AppleTV!!
Now I buy and play on my AppleTV; Netfix, Hulu and iTunes purchases. I get more for less than I paid for cable per month. I save roughly $20+ per month. You'll save far more if you pay the higher ripoff fees of HD cable.
In short, the cable companies and Networks are irrelevant now that I can get what I want, how I want without them.
Only sports fans are still under the thumb of these media dinosaurs. The media know sports is their last hope for revenue and they fiercely protect it at all costs.
The media dinosaurs days are numbered as AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, Google and others introduce devices that free people of the chains of live TV and middle men once and for all!
Viva le resistance! Viva le AppleTV!!
Can you link to the Buzzfeed coverage? I'm oddly invested in following this issue.. I'd assume Amazon wants in-app purchases without an "Apple tax" and is hoping Apple blinks..