Disney and CBS interested in Apple's subscription-based iTunes TV idea? [EngadgetHD]
Is Apple working behind the scenes on deals for Disney and CBS content for a subscription online video service? According to The Wall Street Journal, both content producers are considering the idea of providing their video content online via a subscription-based product from Apple. Based on reports from anonymous sources, Apple is working to build a $30 per month subscription video service. Disney and CBS are considering a deal with Apple that might include ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel, and CBS and CW shows.
But aren't these many of the same shows that are already available in an ad-supported format on Hulu and TV.com? And since when is $30 per month a good deal for viewers with a limited lineup of just a few video options? It will likely be positioned for those who don't mind limiting the number of networks they receive in order to pay less. Apple seems interested in parlaying its success in online music with iTunes into online video. It remains to be seen if they will be able to compete effectively with the ease, variety and cost of one of the best deals in America -- Cable TV.
Engadget indicates that Apple is planning to unveil the service sometime in the next year.
"It remains to be seen if they will be able to compete effectively with the ease, variety and cost of one of the best deals in America — Cable TV. "
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I'm sorry, but CableTV is NOT "one of the best deals in America". Quite the opposite, in fact. The current practice of bundling a few decent channels with dozens of other filler channels needs to die. Apple, and pretty much everyone outside the cable industry realizes this. On-demand a-la-carte content is the future. Period. The providers that do this the best will profit heavily …the others will become irrelevant.
Paying $40-$50 a month for access to "classic" (AD SUPPORTED and censored) content doesn't scream "deal" to anyone anymore.
Posted by: twitter.com/zweigand | Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 12:03 PM