Amazon Channels may beat Apple to offering cable-like experience
Amazon's Channels program -- which allows Prime subscribers to sign up for otherwise separate video services through a single platform -- is proving surprisingly popular with streaming partners, and could evolve into a live TV service before Apple reaches that point, a report hinted on Tuesday.
In its first year Channels has been a real success, Amazon video VP Michael Paull told The Information. Networks and services were originally said to be skeptical about partnering with a competitor, but some of them now count Amazon as their biggest avenue for selling subscriptions.
Evan Shapiro, an executive with NBCUniversal, commented that Amazon has done a particularly good job marketing to customers who want to keep all their billing and consumption within Prime. As an added bonus, Channels is said to make it possible to deploy to new platforms faster.
Notably, Amazon has also reportedly been talking to TV networks about creating a bundle of live TV channels, similar to Sling TV or PlayStation Vue. Paull refused to comment on the topic, but argued that he doesn't see Amazon as luring cord-cutters away from cable.
Apple has been rumored to be working on a live TV service for years, but has so far failed to gain any traction in talks with service providers. This may be because of hardline negotiation tactics, including low-balling potential partners -- even Disney, with which Apple has close corporate ties.
In its first year Channels has been a real success, Amazon video VP Michael Paull told The Information. Networks and services were originally said to be skeptical about partnering with a competitor, but some of them now count Amazon as their biggest avenue for selling subscriptions.
Evan Shapiro, an executive with NBCUniversal, commented that Amazon has done a particularly good job marketing to customers who want to keep all their billing and consumption within Prime. As an added bonus, Channels is said to make it possible to deploy to new platforms faster.
Notably, Amazon has also reportedly been talking to TV networks about creating a bundle of live TV channels, similar to Sling TV or PlayStation Vue. Paull refused to comment on the topic, but argued that he doesn't see Amazon as luring cord-cutters away from cable.
Apple has been rumored to be working on a live TV service for years, but has so far failed to gain any traction in talks with service providers. This may be because of hardline negotiation tactics, including low-balling potential partners -- even Disney, with which Apple has close corporate ties.
Comments
the he article is full of mays and looks like pr stock pump play
I still can't believe with Apple's talent in branding/marketing that movies are a subcategory of iTunes (what does tunes have to do with video?) Create an Apple Books, Apple Cloud and rebrand the entire iTunes
But don't you see? Apple are losing in the imaginary marketplace! Their imaginary stock price might suffer.
Actually, come to think of it, their imaginary stock price is pretty much the same as the real stock price.
For Subscription there just isn't a 30% margin. Apple could only get through this by introducing their own Music / TV Subscription, which pass those 30% cut back to themselves. Their competitor will never be able to win.
I have been thinking if Apple should provide the streaming bandwidth for any video subscription on its platform . It doesn't mean they should have their own network infrastructure, they could rent from others, but this way Apple gets to ensure the quality of these services. And Apple will win with the scale they are buying those bandwidth. It makes that 30% cut easier to bite.