CBS Likely to Reach Streaming TV Deal With Apple, Met With Eddy Cue Last Week

Wednesday May 27, 2015 11:31 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple's much-rumored plans to launch a streaming TV service in the fall were confirmed today at Code Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, where CBS CEO Les Moonves told Re/code's Kara Swisher that CBS will "probably" sign a deal with Apple for the network to be included as a launch partner. “We’re very excited about it,” he told Swisher during his live interview on Wednesday morning.

Code Conference CBS CEO
CBS CEO Les Moonves speaks with Kara Swisher at Code Conference (Re/code)

Moonves confirmed that he met with Apple senior executive Eddy Cue last week to discuss the plans, as part of an "ongoing conversation" about the upcoming streaming TV service, but said he does not know when the service will launch. The service has been rumored to be unveiled at WWDC next month, but Apple's efforts to include local programming could delay the announcement until later this year.
“Apple TV is trying to change the universe,” Moonves said, by offering a smaller bundle of TV networks, delivered over the Web, than pay TV providers traditionally sell. Moonves said Apple’s effort was similar to ones that have already launched from Dish Network’s Sling and Sony’s Vue.

“I think the age of the 200 channel universe is slowly dying,” Moonves said. “The good news for us, is any one of those groups will need CBS,” adding that his network will get a bigger proportion of whatever revenues those “skinny bundles” generate than it does in traditional packages.
Apple's web-based TV service for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and other devices is expected to deliver a lightweight package of about 25 channels for between $30 to $40 per month, anchored by popular networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN and FX. The service is expected to be available in the United States this September if Apple can secure content agreements in time.

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Tags: CBS, Code Conference, streaming TV service, Les Moonves
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bigjohn
59 months ago
40 for apple's service plus 20 for sling tv plus 15 for hbo.

yeah, i'm so glad i cut the cable cord only to replace it with the streaming cord.
Rating: 11 Votes
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Elbon
59 months ago

A fiscally conscious consumer wouldn't be buying Apple products.


Not true. From my experience, they are generally of high quality and tend to last a long time.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Nexramous
59 months ago
Same thing different name

I don't understand how this is revolutionary... This is the same price as what I am currently playing for the cable portion of my bill for more channels. I am all for apple "changing cable" but it needs to be cheaper than the competition, otherwise it’s just another "cable" option. As it stands, all they are doing is lowering the amount of channels you get for the same price you are currently paying.
Rating: 7 Votes
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wkadamsjr
59 months ago
But will it do live sports??
Rating: 7 Votes
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Z400Racer37
59 months ago
I really don't understand why this is so important to people... There are so few things on TV that are actually good/substantive anymore. Anything good I find in video form anymore is literally on Youtube...
Rating: 6 Votes
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Defactomonkey
59 months ago
Am I the only one who saw that picture and thought, "Wow Ric Flair is looking a lot better these days."
Rating: 5 Votes
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tooloud10
59 months ago

A fiscally conscious consumer wouldn't be buying Apple products.


My 2009 27" iMac cost me about $1500 and it's still worth more than half of that six years later. My 2012 Mac Mini cost me a little over $700 and is actually worth more than that three years later.
Rating: 4 Votes
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avanpelt
59 months ago
The age of the 200 channel bundle might be dying (not sure); but the age of the fiscally conscious consumer is not. Many people would have a hard time swallowing $30 to $40 a month for 25 channels *unless* they get to pick their own 25 channels from a lineup of 100+ channels and swap some of them out for other channels in the lineup every so often.

My family probably only watches 20 channels yet in order to get all of those channels, we have to buy a bundle that includes 100 channels that we don't ever watch. If we could buy just the 20 channels that we watch regularly and have five or so "slots" open to rotate additional channels in and out if there's an interesting series showing or something like that, I would give Apple $30 to $40 per month in a heartbeat if we're also able to get on demand content for each of the channels and stream both live and on demand content to our iPad, iPhones, and Macs with Family Sharing.
Rating: 4 Votes
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nutmac
59 months ago

Apple's streaming TV service will reportedly be anchored by popular networks such as ABC, CBS, FOX, ESPN and FX. The web-based TV service for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and other devices is expected to deliver a lightweight package of about 25 channels for between $30 to $40 per month.


I really hope Apple will secure at least few more compelling networks on coming months. $30-40/month is not exactly competitive, even after factoring in on-demand feature.

What I would like is ability to create my own package by purchasing theme-based bundles: sports ($10), kids ($5), movies ($10), news ($5), lifestyle ($5), international ($5), and networks ($10), where minimum package must cost something like $10/month.
Rating: 4 Votes
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bdkennedy1
59 months ago
People are sick of paying $150 a month for the few channels they do watch and don't watch the rest.
Rating: 3 Votes

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