“Would you pay $30 a month to watch TV via iTunes? That’s the pitch Apple has been making to TV networks in recent weeks,” Peter Kafka reports for AllThingsD. “The company is trying to round up support for a monthly subscription service that would deliver TV programs via its multimedia software, multiple sources tell me.”
Kafka reports, “Apple isn’t tying the proposed service to a specific piece of hardware, like its underwhelming Apple TV box, or its long-rumored tablet/slate device. Instead, it is presenting the offer as an extension of its iTunes software, which already has a huge installed base.
“A so-called ‘over the top’ service could theoretically rival the ones most consumers already buy from cable TV operators — if Apple is able to get enough buy-in from broadcast and cable TV programmers,” Kafka reports. “Network executives I’ve talked to are intrigued with the idea — they are eager to find new revenue streams — but are also wary, for multiple reasons.”
More details in the full article here.
For many of us, this is not a savings as we have our Internet broadband thru a cable company; you have to have cable to get highspeed Internet.
No savings there.
First off…. I love my Apple TV. I wonder which networks would be accesable on iTUnes for this subscription. Every network that is on iTunes? I would definietly pay $30 for access to all the shows on iTunes and I would probably only watch a few. I dont know how they could offer this but if true I would jump at it. Beats having to pay the high cost of cable in my area. I would even go so far as to pay $39.99 ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
I want subscriptions for movies. That would be the only thing that would ever get me to drop Netflix and buy an Apple TV. That, and a great selection with Bluray quality. As far as TV shows, it going to be pretty near impossible for iTunes to compete with or replace cable, in spite of all it’s flaws.
I think Apple would be wise to move into a subscription model. Right now, when you subscribe to cable service, you are given very little, if any, choice on what channels you want to have in your channel package. In our cable package, we got like some 4-5 QVC/HSN-type channels, which I NEVER watch, along with other crap channels but yet have to *PAY* for. I want a model where I can choose which channels/shows I _WANT_ to watch and pay for only those, no more, no less. That and the shows are yours to keep, commercial-free to boot.
As someone has already said, service is too limited in most areas for this to work (limits/speed.) Further, you require cable to have sufficient speed for this model to work. What seems like a great idea may end up being a dream for Apple.
Yes, IF I can pull the shows off the web whenever I want & have ALL the same channels my TV has now.
This would work for me if:
A) The content was available the same time as it is on TV.
B) Net Neutrality was guarantied, I subscribe to House MD now and it takes 6 Hours each Tuesday to download the SD\HD video (2GB) I am sure Rogers in Canada is throttling my download.
Ah….. I get my TV for free. I discovered that there is a device called an antenna. They cost anywhere from $20 to $100, but you only need the more expensive ones if you live far from the TV towers or in an area where the signal is blocked. Once you hook up this new fangled gadget, you can get many channels for FREE!