Time Warner CEO 'Pretty Confident' Apple Will Launch Streaming TV Service

[MacRumors]

During a recent earnings call relayed by CNET, Time Warner CEO Jeffrey Bewkes said he believes Apple will launch an Internet-based television service and that Apple is "very forward-thinking" when it comes to TV.

"We think Apple is very forward-thinking about television," he said, noting the computer maker's deal with Time Warner as the launch partner of streaming service HBO Now. "It's no surprise to anyone that Apple would be interested in launching a TV product."

It is not clear if Bewkes has insider knowledge regarding Apple's television plans, but Apple and Time Warner have been entwined in deals several times in the past, most recently with the HBO Now deal. Apple and Time Warner, HBO's parent company, partnered up for the HBO Now launch, with Apple's Apple TV and iOS devices being some of the first to offer the HBO Now service.

Aimed at cord cutters, HBO Now is priced at $14.99 and offers all of HBO's content without a cable subscription. Beyond HBO Now, Apple and Time Warner have discussed television many times in the past and have attempted to establish content deals, but those have yet to materialize.

Apple's ongoing difficulties establishing content deals with companies like Time Warner have spanned several years and have repeatedly delayed its television efforts. Apple's inability to convince cable companies and content providers to change the status quo has also caused Apple to scale back on its ambitious television plans.

Apple may have begun having more luck getting companies on board with its television plans, however, as recent rumors have indeed pointed towards the imminent launch of a streaming television service and possibly a new set-top box. Apple's new service may include content from CBS, Fox, Walt Disney, and more, with approximately 25 channels available at a cost between $30 and $40 per month.

Apple's rumored streaming television service may make an appearance in June at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference.

Article Link: Time Warner CEO 'Pretty Confident' Apple Will Launch Streaming TV Service

 

[willmtaylor]

Surprised the the CEO of any of the major telecom companies could take the head out of their @$$E$ long enough to notice what Apple could be doing, much less be interested or speculate in regards to it.

 

[arggg14]

At 125 a month for basic HD cable and internet when I watch 12 of those channels, I would love to cut the cord...

 

[sualpine]

So you start caring after you couldn't sell your company out...

 

[2457282]

At 125 a month for basic HD cable and internet when I watch 12 of those channels, I would love to cut the cord...

Cut the cord!

1. call the cable company and cancel the tripple play, downgrading to internet only

2. Get an atenna to watch over the air digital tv stations

3. Get an apple TV box to buy or rent seasons of what every you want

4. Get a Hulu or Netflix account if you want a buffet approach

I do this and really get everything I want.

 

[nutmac]

We think Apple is very forward-thinking about television," he said, noting the computer maker's deal with Time Warner as the launch partner of streaming service HBO Now. "It's no surprise to anyone that Apple would be interested in launching a TV product."

I hate to pull Gene Munster here, because Time Warner's CEO is talking about streaming service as a TV product and not a television set.

But I think for Apple to succeed, it needs to sell a set top box as well as a television set. Before everyone here hits the reply button and flame the heck out of me, hear me out.

Walk into Best Buy, Costco, etc. Look at TVs that came out this year. You know what nearly every single one, including those priced under $200 have in common? They can all play Netflix, etc. out of the box. Most are running Android TV or ChromeCast OS.

While us Apple fans would still purchase set top box with these TVs, a vast majority won't.

 

[indieshack]

At 125 a month for basic HD cable and internet when I watch 12 of those channels, I would love to cut the cord...

Wish my TWC bill was $125; currently closing on $200 with internet, HBO and enough channels that TWC deems I can have Disney Jr for my kids. I can now get Disney Jr on Sling TV, so we'll see if I keep TWC. The only downside for me relying on streaming content is timeshifting, which I won't be able to do via my TIVO.

 

[applepuree]

I guess any Apple TV (television/streaming) update will be USA only so its not really interesting for the rest of the world.

#stillwaitingforiTunesradio #stillwaitingforApplePay

 

[Rogifan]

I hate to pull Gene Munster here, because Time Warner's CEO is talking about streaming service as a TV product and not a television set.

But I think for Apple to succeed, it needs to sell a set top box as well as a television set. Before everyone here hits the reply button and flame the heck out of me, hear me out.

Walk into Best Buy, Costco, etc. Look at TVs that came out this year. You know what nearly every single one, including those priced under $200 have in common? They can all play Netflix, etc. out of the box. Most are running Android TV or ChromeCast OS.

While us Apple fans would still purchase set top box with these TVs, a vast majority won't.

I wonder how long these smart TVs will last because I keep hearing people want dumb TVs and smart boxes. I kind of see smart TVs like 3D; a passing fad.

 

[arggg14]

Cut the cord!


2. Get an atenna to watch over the air digital tv stations

In HD?

 

[oneMadRssn]

As long as Apple doesn't remove current functionality, like Netflix, that might compete with their own streaming offering.

----------

In HD?

OTA signals are 1080i HD in most areas.

 

[2457282]

I wonder how long these smart TVs will last because I keep hearing people want dumb TVs and smart boxes. I kind of see smart TVs like 3D; a passing fad.

Totally agree. I have two TVs that have extra stuff that in the end I never use. I want Displays not TVs. Give me a giant display like the one for a computer that does nothing but broadcast a feed from a wire. I use my apple TV to send the signal through the wire, others use the cable box. I know some people that use their BlueRay player to do this. I know no one that actually uses the really slow or bad software in the TV.

 

[Nunyabinez]

The music industry got caught with its technological pants down and Apple came in and basically did what ever they wanted.

Cable companies saw this, and don't want that to happen to them. So they have protected themselves as long as possible, but they are not stupid. They see the writing on the wall. They just want to control it better than the music industry did. They will gradually bleed off their customers to cord cutting, they just want to be sure that when their customers leave, they go somewhere where the cable companies are still making money off them.

 

[Elbon]

OTA signals are 1080i HD in most areas.

It depends on the network. Some are 720p (but that's still HD).

 

[2457282]

In HD?

Yes

 

[ProVideo]

Network OTA broadcast are usually better quality than Cable/Satellite because Comcast and others compress the channels to hell to allow more channels.

Also if you are interested in an OTA DVR, I'd suggest looking into Tablo. I got one this past weekend and have been really impressed with it's abilities. It's like a TiVo and sling box in one with an interface that blows away what Comcast offers. There are also applications on their forum made by users that allow you to rip your recordings to MP4. It's $200, but I cut the cord a few years ago so I can easily justify the upfront expense for the free OTA programming.

 

[realeric]

Cut cord and create a new cord ($30-$40 per month).

 

[Beerstalker]

I wonder how long these smart TVs will last because I keep hearing people want dumb TVs and smart boxes. I kind of see smart TVs like 3D; a passing fad.

Exactly, we just saw it happen recently. YouTube just stopped supporting it's app in a lot of older devices (but they are really one like 3-5 years old) so now YouTube doesn't work on those devices anymore. I think we are going to start seeing this happen more and more often.

So the person who goes out and buys a smart TV today may be able to just use those built in apps for the next 3-5 years, but then they might no longer be supported by the app makers anymore, so that person is left with what is essentially a dumb TV. So they have to either go out and buy a new Smart TV with the newer versions of those apps, or they buy the latest AppleTV (or whatever other device is current then) and hook it up to their existing TV.

Meanwhile I go out and buy a dumb TV today and buy the current Apple TV with the money I save from buying a dumb TV. Then I just upgrade the AppleTV every few years to get the latest apps/features and keep using my dumb TV.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Cut cord and create a new cord ($30-$40 per month).

And when the cable companies lose enough tv customers, they'll jack up their internet rates.

 

[nebo1ss]

I wonder how long these smart TVs will last because I keep hearing people want dumb TVs and smart boxes. I kind of see smart TVs like 3D; a passing fad.

I will keep my smart TV thank you very much. Got rid of the Apple TV a year or so ago since It offers nothing that I cannot get on my Smart TV. With Netflix and Amazon prime I have no need to rent movies from Apple. Itunes is too limiting and I find Plex a much better option for my large movie and TV collection. Based on your comments i would guess you also have no time for 4K functionality which I also have on my 60 Inch Sumsung TV and yes there are sources of product plus lots seem to forget that the same way line doubling was in use before 1080 was widely available it is also available on 4K tvs for sources that are 1080.

A little surprising also that even after all these years for the UK market Apple still not supporting Iplayer.

 

[hauntvictim]

Now I just need a stable wifi connection. Stupid AT&T U-Verse!!!#

 

[nebo1ss]

Exactly, we just saw it happen recently. YouTube just stopped supporting it's app in a lot of older devices (but they are really one like 3-5 years old) so now YouTube doesn't work on those devices anymore. I think we are going to start seeing this happen more and more often.

So the person who goes out and buys a smart TV today may be able to just use those built in apps for the next 3-5 years, but then they might no longer be supported by the app makers anymore, so that person is left with what is essentially a dumb TV. So they have to either go out and buy a new Smart TV with the newer versions of those apps, or they buy the latest AppleTV (or whatever other device is current then) and hook it up to their existing TV.

Meanwhile I go out and buy a dumb TV today and buy the current Apple TV with the money I save from buying a dumb TV. Then I just upgrade the AppleTV every few years to get the latest apps/features and keep using my dumb TV.

So do you think the Smart TV manufactuers do not offer regular software updates plus individual App updates. You really should check into it a bit more.

 

[TC03]

I hate to pull Gene Munster here, because Time Warner's CEO is talking about streaming service as a TV product and not a television set.

But I think for Apple to succeed, it needs to sell a set top box as well as a television set. Before everyone here hits the reply button and flame the heck out of me, hear me out.

Walk into Best Buy, Costco, etc. Look at TVs that came out this year. You know what nearly every single one, including those priced under $200 have in common? They can all play Netflix, etc. out of the box. Most are running Android TV or ChromeCast OS.

While us Apple fans would still purchase set top box with these TVs, a vast majority won't.

I gave you +1 for the Gene Munster reference.

Also you are right. Apple is all about integration, a separate box is quite the opposite. However, tv's are a tough sell. Ask Sony.

 

[allanfries]

Interesting? Could be some competition for Netflix? As long as the price per month isn't to stupid!

 

[nutmac]

I have two TVs that have extra stuff that in the end I never use. I want Displays not TVs. Give me a giant display like the one for a computer that does nothing but broadcast a feed from a wire. I use my apple TV to send the signal through the wire, others use the cable box. I know some people that use their BlueRay player to do this. I know no one that actually uses the really slow or bad software in the TV.

Not all smart TVs are slow, especially most new crop of TVs that came out this year. Usability is subjective and some will prefer Android TV (Philips, Sharp, Sony), Firefox OS (Panasonic), Tizen (Samsung), WebOS (LG), or Yahoo Connected TV (Vizio). But within the next few years, I suspect all will be more than good enough for the masses and you won't be able to buy non-smart TVs (or at the very least, there won't be any cost savings).