Disney and CBS Signing on to Apple TV Subscription Service? Tablet to be a 'Multimedia Gadget'

The Wall Street Journal reports that CBS and Walt Disney are considering participating in an upcoming plan by Apple to offer television subscription services over the Internet.

The proposed service by the maker of iPhones and iPod music players could, in at least some scenarios, offer access to some TV shows from a selection of major U.S. television networks for a monthly fee, according to people familiar with the discussions.

Apple is hoping to introduce the service in 2010.

The news comes as there is increasing evidence that Apple is looking to revamp its iTunes services. The recent acquisition of Lala Media has raised the possibility that Apple is seriously looking at subscription services as the future for iTunes. This approach is said to also fit in with Apple's tablet plans, which are being described as "a multimedia gadget" according to The Wall Street Journal's sources.

Apple is said to be seeing early resistance, however, from other content providers, potentially limiting the offerings of the service. Content providers seem to be apprehensive about cutting off existing revenue streams depending on the terms of the deal with Apple.