Apple

WSJ: Apple web TV service to launch in the fall for $30-40 a month, Comcast not happy

posted by Daniel P. / Mar 17, 2015, 3:25 AM

WSJ: Apple web TV service to launch in the fall for $30-40 a month, Comcast not happy

Long time in the rumor mill, Apple's TV streaming service with iOS-style interface will finally arrive after the summer, reports the Wall Street Journal. Apple's take on cable TV will initially launch with a modest collection of about 25 channel, amongst which will be heavy kickers like ABC, CBS, ESPN and Fox, but no NBC. Why? Well, despite all the sweet talks with NBC's parent Comcast that Apple had, the cable giant is reportedly wary of this new competitor, and talks there have reached a stalemate mode.

Apple's web TV service is likely to be announced in June, perhaps at the WWDC conference, and start broadcasting in September, together with the new iPhones and their eventual stream-optimized chipsets. Streaming those channels is supposed to happen across iOS devices like iPhones and iPads, but also the Apple TV (of course), and the Mac lineup. Pricing is said to be between $30 and $40 a month, which might sound steep, but, compared to the average $90 cable bill, and packing most major channels you'd actually like to watch, we wouldn't sniff at the approach just yet.

Moreover, Apple recently announced an exclusive partnership with Now, the new HBO streaming service, which might be folded into Apple's web TV offering, making it a really formidable competitor to the traditional cable companies. No wonder Comcast feels threatened - this unassuming TV streaming project of Apple could quickly turn it into a dumb pipe for broadband delivery. What do you think?

source: WSJ (paywall)

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19 Comments

1. tedkord

Posts: 17414; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Weary?

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 3:39 AM 0

2. tacarat

Posts: 854; Member since: Apr 22, 2013

Well, I'm sure they'd like to be done with competitors in general...

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 3:45 AM 2

10. engineer-1701d unregistered

I'm happy for anybody challenging comcast in the big others, I don't like Apple all that products but I also hate how cable companies for hundreds of channels you don't ever look at on to you and you have to pay for them when all you do is watch a total of seven channels

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 10:55 AM 2

17. corporateJP

Posts: 2458; Member since: Nov 28, 2009

^This.

posted on Mar 18, 2015, 1:22 AM 0

3. AlikMalix unregistered

Hello Apple TV, Good bye huge bills... One question, do I need Apple TV [box] for this or just sign up and use your iPad? Can I use it anywhere, at the park, at a friends house? can I stream thru chromecast (wait that may not be necessary)... but with HBO's "NOW" channel could I stream thru chromecast at my friends house for example?

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 3:53 AM 1

4. tedkord

Gotta know what the channels are. Most of what I watch isn't on any of the channels listed (plus, I'd still need an antenna to get the local NFL games, so really the broadcast networks wouldn't be much use streaming anyway. But anything that takes Comcast et. al. uncomfortable is a good thing.

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 5:02 AM 3

18. corporateJP

There's a link for a free $100 iTunes gift card at the bottom of the last paragraph...

posted on Mar 18, 2015, 1:23 AM 0

5. medwar07

Posts: 44; Member since: Oct 18, 2011

Sling TV is similar

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 5:37 AM 2

6. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Apple innovating yet again.

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 6:07 AM 3

7. HASHTAG unregistered

How so?

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 6:44 AM 3

8. tedkord

By copying Sling TV. Yep, that's about their level of innovation.

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 6:46 AM 4

13. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

they are making it better than sling tv... innovation look it up

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 2:27 PM 2

16. TheHitman1982

Posts: 97; Member since: Dec 30, 2014

You are COMPLETELY and blind fanboy, you are claiming Apple Streaming TV is innovating what Sling TV is doing and you have NO IDEA what Apple Streaming TV is going to be or if it even will exist. The only thing you know is they paid HBO to be the 3 month exclusive at launch for HBO Now which has nothing to do with the "Streaming" service. This is nothing but a rumor and you're already claiming innovation without a product even being announced.

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 9:57 PM 2

9. BobbyDigital

Posts: 2125; Member since: May 29, 2014

You really are a blind fanboy. This isn't innovating. Its been done already.

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 7:16 AM 4

14. gallitoking

the word you are looking for is invention... innovation is making something already invented better...

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 2:28 PM 0

15. Mxyzptlk unregistered

Looks like Bobby boy just got schooled hard.

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 4:55 PM 0

11. thegodfather

Posts: 23; Member since: Nov 27, 2013

Damn right, done already like mobile payments, etc. One more thing, Apple always over charges. If Google puts a product out like this, it would be close to half the price. In a way Google is pro consumer. But none the less Apple is getting the better end of the deal not the consumer. Will there be a day when you half to pay per gigabite data like phone companies with Comcast? I just want Google fiber , Comcast is horrible

posted on Mar 17, 2015, 11:10 AM 1

12. dcgore

Posts: 234; Member since: Feb 24, 2012

If Apple TV can get the big cable companies to lower their monthly fees like T-Mobile USA has done with the big cellphone carriers in the U.S., i'd would be happy. It doen't have to be perfect.