Apple nears Time Warner deal for Apple TV, hires Hulu VP to aid in future content negotiation
Apple and U.S. cable company Time Warner are closing in on a deal that will give subscribers access to cable channels via Apple TV, which also claims the Cupertino company has taken on Hulu media marketing chief Pete Distad to help secure content, according to one report.
Citing people familiar with the talks, Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Apple and Time Warner plan to announce the agreement in the coming months once a deal has been solidified. It is unknown what channels will be offered if and when a deal is finally struck, but access will likely be for existing cable subscribers only.
While a Time Warner Cable spokesperson said the company has "no agreement with [Apple]," it has similar content deals in place for Roku's set-top box, as well as Microsoft's Xbox game console. The company already allows subscribers to watch certain channels on iOS devices with its TWC TV app, which is also available for Android.
In addition to the Time Warner arrangement, the publication claims Apple has hired Hulu's now former vice president of marketing and distribution Pete Distad to help executives with upcoming negotiations with media and cable companies.
No further details were divulged regarding the executive's hire, but Distad's bio on Hulu's website says he is in charge of ?subscriber acquisition and retention, paid, on-channel, and brand marketing, distribution and promotional partnerships, and content marketing.?
Apple has become more aggressive in acquiring content for its Apple TV "hobby," most recently adding channels HBO GO, WatchESPN, and more to the small streaming device.
Citing people familiar with the talks, Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Apple and Time Warner plan to announce the agreement in the coming months once a deal has been solidified. It is unknown what channels will be offered if and when a deal is finally struck, but access will likely be for existing cable subscribers only.
While a Time Warner Cable spokesperson said the company has "no agreement with [Apple]," it has similar content deals in place for Roku's set-top box, as well as Microsoft's Xbox game console. The company already allows subscribers to watch certain channels on iOS devices with its TWC TV app, which is also available for Android.
In addition to the Time Warner arrangement, the publication claims Apple has hired Hulu's now former vice president of marketing and distribution Pete Distad to help executives with upcoming negotiations with media and cable companies.
No further details were divulged regarding the executive's hire, but Distad's bio on Hulu's website says he is in charge of ?subscriber acquisition and retention, paid, on-channel, and brand marketing, distribution and promotional partnerships, and content marketing.?
Apple has become more aggressive in acquiring content for its Apple TV "hobby," most recently adding channels HBO GO, WatchESPN, and more to the small streaming device.
Comments
Quote:
Originally Posted by AppleInsider
Citing people familiar with the talks, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that Apple and Time Warner plan to announce the agreement in the coming months once a deal has been solidified.
So, looking over my calendar, it seems by the time Monkey Boy's $500 XBomb hits the market around the end of the year, Apple will have a $100 alternative for home entertainment shipping in droves.
Well played, Tim, well played.
I was hoping that there would be some sort of a-la-carte deal going on. That would be significantly different from what's already out there but it doesn't seem like it's happening. Also, I'm not sure what the point is when I already have a cable box.
Not trying to be negative, this is just the way I see it.
The iTV might not be a "Smart TV" but a TV that seamlessly link to Apple TV and all iOS devices. Apple TV might get an upgrade with more powerful processors for 3D games!
The TV industry is all so massive to try and steer. I guess if Apple can wrangle in a bunch of services and just let you pick stuff that is available to you instantaneously -- that could be amazing. Not sure how feasible.
I'm thinking you get suggestions or search or see what your friend is watching on a home page, and then you can select something. On the back end you may be a paying Time Warner subscriber or a Netflix, Prime, or Hulu subscriber and all it matters to you is that the logo comes up while it's caching to remind you where it comes from. In other words you don't have to go through their individual hub apps/interfaces.
Hulu and Time Warner might warn you about commercial breaks and how many and how long they are...
You could also set reminders as new shows are released to queue them up for you... and this would be a cross-service queue. (good bye Tivo?)
Lots of triple-thick red tape to cut through just to get there. I'd rather have something more sensible, but that seems like a reasonable stop gap until then.
One very cool side effect is that it has potential to breed some heavy competition on content and prices. In other words, New Apple TV users would be seeing the content on equal ground and can start to easily decide on what service they are using the most and what they are using very little. Easier to compare and prune.
Now that I think about it, I hope this happens.
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Originally Posted by jpvn
Watch how the get into search and attack google..
It will be like Japanese (Google-Spamdroid) attacking Pearl harbor (Apple- iOS) and then Apple launches Nuclear on Google Search!
Quote:
Originally Posted by winstein2010
We might see both iWatch and iTV this year!
The iTV might not be a "Smart TV" but a TV that seamlessly link to Apple TV and all iOS devices. Apple TV might get an upgrade with more powerful processors for 3D games!
In an alternate universe you might see an Apple television, but it isn't named iTV.
I would love to control TV, incoming calls, car access, public transportation and payments with just a flick on my wrist.
Already have the TWC app on my Roku 3 and I love it. We have our TV mounted on the wall in our bedroom, and instead of having some ugly cablebox dangling around somewhere to get the full assortment of HD channels (and not just the basic lineup), the app lets us have it all while the Roku is out of sight, stuck to the back of the TV with double sided tape.
The whole point is everything should be on demand, no need to record. This is 2013 after all.
That just occurred to me as I was scoping out the new Time Capsule.
"but access will likely be for existing cable subscribers only."
Doesn't look like cable cutting to me. You have to be a Time Warner subscriber to get the services? What's the difference between watching on your Apple TV vs watching on your cable box? Shouldn't companies like Apple be trying to deal directly with the content providers like Syfy so I can watch Warehouse 13 on my ATV without having cable or satellite service?
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Originally Posted by digitalclips
That just occurred to me as I was scoping out the new Time Capsule.
Best friend of mine at Intel relayed his experience with the new Airport Extreme Base Station and how much improved it is compared to the 802.11n model. Well worth the investment.
I'll be buying one and moving the 802.11n upstairs and the Airport Express to the Garage.