Apple's Beats brand in April unveiled the Powerbeats Pro, a redesigned wire-free version of its popular fitness-oriented Powerbeats earbuds.
Apple Aiming to Launch New Streaming Video Service in April or May
Apple is planning to launch its rumored streaming television service in April or May, but some cable content providers won't be participating, reports CNBC.
Recent rumors have suggested that along with Apple's own original content, which will be provided to Apple users for free, the service will allow Apple customers to subscribe to additional add-on subscription services on top of Apple's own offering. Customers will be able to sign up for existing digital services like Showtime and watch that content within the TV app, so long as those services are partnered with Apple.
According to CNBC, as Apple prepares to launch the service, some content providers are still not on board. HBO may not be participating because of disagreements over data sharing and revenue splits, for example, and Hulu and Netflix are not expected to participate.
Starz, Showtime, and Viacom are all expected to offer subscription streaming services through Apple's platform, though, and HBO may also join up if the disagreements can be settled.
Apple is requesting a 30 percent cut on every subscription that originates from its TV service, higher than the 15 percent cut that Apple takes when customers sign up for services like Netflix through the App Store.
The April or May target launch date is in line with past details from The Information, which suggested Apple was telling content partners to be prepared for a launch by mid-April.
Apple has more than two dozen original television shows and movies in the works for its streaming service, which rumors have suggested will be available in more than 100 countries by the end of the year.
Recent rumors have suggested that along with Apple's own original content, which will be provided to Apple users for free, the service will allow Apple customers to subscribe to additional add-on subscription services on top of Apple's own offering. Customers will be able to sign up for existing digital services like Showtime and watch that content within the TV app, so long as those services are partnered with Apple.
According to CNBC, as Apple prepares to launch the service, some content providers are still not on board. HBO may not be participating because of disagreements over data sharing and revenue splits, for example, and Hulu and Netflix are not expected to participate.
Starz, Showtime, and Viacom are all expected to offer subscription streaming services through Apple's platform, though, and HBO may also join up if the disagreements can be settled.
Apple is requesting a 30 percent cut on every subscription that originates from its TV service, higher than the 15 percent cut that Apple takes when customers sign up for services like Netflix through the App Store.
The April or May target launch date is in line with past details from The Information, which suggested Apple was telling content partners to be prepared for a launch by mid-April.
Apple has more than two dozen original television shows and movies in the works for its streaming service, which rumors have suggested will be available in more than 100 countries by the end of the year.
Tag: Apple TV Guide
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)
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18 weeks ago
People hate subscriptions.
Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, etc. disagree with that assessment
18 weeks ago
Whenever that article image is reused, I wonder what those characters are talking about…
18 weeks ago
People hate subscriptions.
It's not like subscriptions are some new concept. Cable TV has been around for decades.It's contracts that people don't like. I'm fine with subscribing to tons of things as long as I can give that service the finger any time I'm displeased.
18 weeks ago
People hate subscriptions.
I agree, I hate subscriptions, but I suspect that we are the minority.
Apple believes that subscriptions are the answer to less dependence on hardware and bringing more people into the ecosystem to even out revenues.
18 weeks ago
Interesting that Apple wants a 30% cut from the ecosystem - which already has or is moving towards a well established distribution systems : widely available on Apple and non-Apple ecosystems. So what is Apple’s angle in demanding this higher cut? Are they planning to block content creator apps and Safari from accessing their own independent competing subscription services?
18 weeks ago
Netflix, Hulu, Spotify, etc. disagree with that assessment
People hate APPLE subscriptions.
We pay up the wazoo for their mediocre hardware, and now they want MORE????
BTW the picture of Cook on CNBC's front page looks like he's praying this one's gonna work for him.
18 weeks ago
This announcement seems kind of boring if this is all there is. Announcing something like DirecTV Now where you can get a bunch of actual channels w/ a guide & DVR, etc.. w/o the bugs of DTN would make for a good announcement. Just allowing access to the same stuff they already have through the TV app is not really news.
18 weeks ago
We've seen the writing on the wall for this for a couple years.
The question is what content is Apple going to have ready to go on launch? If it's Apple's own content only, than there might be an issue of just not enough content to warrant a subscription.
Netflix, Hulu, Prime, don't do well because they only have exclusive content. they do well because they have exclusive content and millions of other of hours of programming to watch. full seasons of our favourite shows. Full movies. Etc.
What will Apple's service look like? how much will it cost? And how much ancilliary content will they offer.
unlike when iTunes started to provide TV and Movies to download, there are already streaming services well established today. Those streaming services have a lot of contracts for content.Will Apple be able to get involved this late and have enough content outside of their own.
The question is what content is Apple going to have ready to go on launch? If it's Apple's own content only, than there might be an issue of just not enough content to warrant a subscription.
Netflix, Hulu, Prime, don't do well because they only have exclusive content. they do well because they have exclusive content and millions of other of hours of programming to watch. full seasons of our favourite shows. Full movies. Etc.
What will Apple's service look like? how much will it cost? And how much ancilliary content will they offer.
unlike when iTunes started to provide TV and Movies to download, there are already streaming services well established today. Those streaming services have a lot of contracts for content.Will Apple be able to get involved this late and have enough content outside of their own.
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