Apple in talks with major networks over TV service: report
18 March 2015 11:30 PM GMT
The company has been in discussions with CBS, 21st Century Fox and Disney (owner of ABC) among other networks, as it attempts to put together a bundle of popular channels.
Unlike cable bundles, which offer a long list of smaller networks, the California-based tech giant is aiming to assemble a “skinny” bundle of heavy-hitters, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
However NBCUniversal, which owns channels such as NBC, USA and Bravo, is not part of the discussions. The company was struck from the list after previous talks about a streaming television platform with NBC parent company Comcast ended in a fallout, the Journal said.
In a separate deal, HBO has already partnered with Apple to provide a standalone online TV service that will launch next month on Apple’s streaming media player. The talks come as television channels and cable operators fear losing viewership to “cord cutters” who drop costly cable subscriptions and rely on online streaming, picking and choosing shows a la carte.
The deal with Apple would allow networks to retain viewers, albeit on alternate platforms. The approximately 25 channels would be available on all iOS operating system devices such as iPhones, iPads and Apple TV boxes. Indian-founded application solutions provider AppDynamics on Tuesday said it will provide mobile app performance monitoring and user analytics solutions for US-based Apple’s recently unveiled smart watch.
Founded in 2008, California-based AppDynamics was started by Jyoti Bansal, an IIT Delhi graduate. It has around 600 employees and 1,600 enterprise customers.
The solutions it would provide for Apple Watch would include real-time monitoring and analytics support for WatchKit, an extension that controls the smart wearable device’s user interface and responses to user interactions.
Unlike cable bundles, which offer a long list of smaller networks, the California-based tech giant is aiming to assemble a “skinny” bundle of heavy-hitters, the Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
However NBCUniversal, which owns channels such as NBC, USA and Bravo, is not part of the discussions. The company was struck from the list after previous talks about a streaming television platform with NBC parent company Comcast ended in a fallout, the Journal said.
In a separate deal, HBO has already partnered with Apple to provide a standalone online TV service that will launch next month on Apple’s streaming media player. The talks come as television channels and cable operators fear losing viewership to “cord cutters” who drop costly cable subscriptions and rely on online streaming, picking and choosing shows a la carte.
The deal with Apple would allow networks to retain viewers, albeit on alternate platforms. The approximately 25 channels would be available on all iOS operating system devices such as iPhones, iPads and Apple TV boxes. Indian-founded application solutions provider AppDynamics on Tuesday said it will provide mobile app performance monitoring and user analytics solutions for US-based Apple’s recently unveiled smart watch.
Founded in 2008, California-based AppDynamics was started by Jyoti Bansal, an IIT Delhi graduate. It has around 600 employees and 1,600 enterprise customers.
The solutions it would provide for Apple Watch would include real-time monitoring and analytics support for WatchKit, an extension that controls the smart wearable device’s user interface and responses to user interactions.
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