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CBS Open to Talks on Apple TV, Depending on "What We Get Paid"

Friday August 3, 2012 12:17 pm PDT by Jordan Golson
With the recent addition of Hulu Plus to the Apple TV platform, analysts are thinking of other video content that could be making its way to the product. Over the years, Apple has updated the Apple TV's software several times, occasionally adding new video content. In 2011, Apple added support for Vimeo, streaming NHL games, and Wall Street Journal videos.

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As noticed by All Things D, from a Seeking Alpha transcript, CBS CEO Les Moonves answered an analyst's question yesterday about offering CBS content on the Apple TV platform in the future:
Anthony J. DiClemente — Barclays Capital, Research Division

Okay. And then one for Les. You — I’m sure — you may have seen that Apple TV added Hulu onto its platform this week. I’m just wondering, when you think about Apple, are you in any way philosophically opposed to offering CBS on the Apple TV platform? And I know I — just from prior experience, I’m sure your answer will have something to do with getting paid for your content. But more specifically, is there anything you need to see or specifically anything you need to get in order to be convinced that that’s a smart strategy for CBS?

Leslie Moonves

Look, Anthony, you’ve — we’ve had this discussion many times before. You’re right, it depends what the terms are, it depends what we get paid for. It depends on what effect Apple TV would have on either our advertising, our syndication or our retrans, which are our 3 main buckets of revenue for our content. So if it sits in well, like Netflix did and Amazon did, we’re happy to discuss it. If it doesn’t and we’re — they’re using our content to build a business, we’re not quite as favorable to that. So the devil is in the details. I know it sounds like a pat answer, but it’s really true.
Perhaps the biggest competitor to the Apple TV's video streaming is from Microsoft's Xbox 360. The video gaming box has transitioned in recent years to much more of a content device, with Microsoft adding support for video content from Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, Comcast and Verizon FiOS. It is easy to see how adding those last three to the Apple TV could vastly expand the demand for Apple's set-top box, though the sticking point will be how to compensate both Apple and content providers.

Image from Sami

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[ 139 comments ]

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Benjamins
95 months ago
pay them in itunes credit.
Rating: 11 Votes
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dgree03
95 months ago
Given there lineup of shows, "What we get paid" shouldnt be much!

(DISCLAIMER I like "Person of Interest")
Rating: 9 Votes
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Ieo
95 months ago
I've said it dozens of times....until the Apple TV is opened up to the app store, It's a no-go for me. Without access to the app store, the AppleTV is missing a lot of content my Roku gives me access to like Crackle, Plex, and much more. I don't want anything that's not already available on the app store to the rest of iOS...I just want it on my TV without having to take up my ipad to airplay it.

If the Apple TV were opened up to the apple store (and my favorite apps were available, which I don't see why they wouldn't be)...I would buy 3 of them in a heartbeat. I know MANY, MANY other people who would do the same.

Oh, and make a different remote. The little aluminum sliver doesn't cut it as a remote for a primary entertainment device. At least give me something a little bigger so it isn't CONSTANTLY lost, with programable volume and power buttons to have at least basic control over other parts of my setup.
Rating: 7 Votes
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BornAgainApple
95 months ago
Big Bang Theory FTW!!! :D
Rating: 6 Votes
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emaja
95 months ago

Oh, and make a different remote. The little aluminum sliver doesn't cut it as a remote for a primary entertainment device. At least give me something a little bigger so it isn't CONSTANTLY lost, with programable volume and power buttons to have at least basic control over other parts of my setup.


Harmony One, my friend. Harmony One.

Everyone I know who has a home theater has a universal remote of some kind.
Rating: 6 Votes
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hobo.hopkins
95 months ago

wut? CBS has the best sitcoms and yes Person of Interest too


It might have the best in terms of its competition, but that doesn't mean much these days.
Rating: 4 Votes
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hobo.hopkins
95 months ago

You'd just prefer to continue to help build the Apple monopoly? Or do you think Apple will lower the cost to benefit the consumer like they do with their other products. Oh wait, they don't do that, do they?


You're right, just like music. Before iTunes songs were much less expensive than they are now. Oh wait, that didn't happen, did it?
Rating: 3 Votes
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AppleScruff1
95 months ago

Absolutely. I love being stuck paying exorbitant amounts of money for near-worthless content because the content providers are adamant in their antiquity. There's no need for them to reform, improve, or in any way change their pricing structure to better suit the needs of consumers, right?


You'd just prefer to continue to help build the Apple monopoly? Or do you think Apple will lower the cost to benefit the consumer like they do with their other products. Oh wait, they don't do that, do they?
Rating: 3 Votes
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G51989
95 months ago

Translation: in our terms. Not Apple's


Translation 2: we make all the content, we are the most watched netwotk in the nation, ( you don't even need cable. They do over the air in HD and sd ). Our parent company viacom is the largest media company in the country. You do it on our terms or you donr get our comtent.

Make no mistake, CBS holds the cards in this deal. Not apple.
Rating: 3 Votes
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class77
95 months ago
I want to know the reasoning behind HBO Go allowing access from Roku and iPad app, but not allowing it from ATV. You have to have a subscription to HBO anyway, so what's the problem
Rating: 3 Votes

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