Google signs up CBS for upcoming YouTube Unplugged live TV service - report
Google has forged a deal to carry CBS channels on its upcoming live TV streaming service, YouTube Unplugged, a report claimed on Thursday.
CBS is the first major network to join, sources informed the Wall Street Journal. Google is said to be nearing an agreement to carry Fox channels though, while talks with Disney and NBCUniversal are allegedly in their advanced stages.
Google is hoping to offer a "skinny" channel bundle costing between $25 and $40 per month, media executives told the Journal. That would put Unplugged in league with Sling TV and PlayStation Vue -- and maybe keep it cheaper than Hulu's future live service.
Rumors have suggested that Unplugged could arrive as soon as early 2017. One Journal source indicated that while Unplugged subscriptions will probably be separate from YouTube Red, they will at least include some Red videos as a bonus.
Earlier this week YouTube executives are said to have met with several local TV station owners in New York, suggesting that Unplugged will also carry local content.
Google has allegedly encountered resistance from some potential partners, though, over plans to overlay data on live feeds. People watching ESPN might see statistics, while a news broadcast could be paired with Twitter posts. The networks are said to be concerned that people might, for instance, use Twitter to insult a news anchor.
Another worry is that Google might mix the networks' "premium" content in with regular YouTube material, which they see as lower-value.
Apple has been rumored as working on a similar live TV service, but making little to no progress in negotiations. The company has supposedly been low-balling content owners, even Disney, a long-time corporate partner.
CBS is the first major network to join, sources informed the Wall Street Journal. Google is said to be nearing an agreement to carry Fox channels though, while talks with Disney and NBCUniversal are allegedly in their advanced stages.
Google is hoping to offer a "skinny" channel bundle costing between $25 and $40 per month, media executives told the Journal. That would put Unplugged in league with Sling TV and PlayStation Vue -- and maybe keep it cheaper than Hulu's future live service.
Rumors have suggested that Unplugged could arrive as soon as early 2017. One Journal source indicated that while Unplugged subscriptions will probably be separate from YouTube Red, they will at least include some Red videos as a bonus.
Earlier this week YouTube executives are said to have met with several local TV station owners in New York, suggesting that Unplugged will also carry local content.
Google has allegedly encountered resistance from some potential partners, though, over plans to overlay data on live feeds. People watching ESPN might see statistics, while a news broadcast could be paired with Twitter posts. The networks are said to be concerned that people might, for instance, use Twitter to insult a news anchor.
Another worry is that Google might mix the networks' "premium" content in with regular YouTube material, which they see as lower-value.
Apple has been rumored as working on a similar live TV service, but making little to no progress in negotiations. The company has supposedly been low-balling content owners, even Disney, a long-time corporate partner.
Comments
iPhone 6 was a great phone but I don't think it blew every other phone out of the water. There are phones on the market today with the same screen size (or bigger) but in a smaller overall body because they don't need large bezels to accomodate a physical home button. Can Apple claim they waited to make a bigger phone until they could do it best? Not if they're honest. I use my Apple Watch every day and like it a lot. But is it really that much better than all the other wearables out there? It might be selling the most because of brand recognition and customer loyalty but is it really some blow away breakthrough device? Same with Apple TV. It seems like we wait a long time for stuff and then what's announced is a bit underwhelming.
I hope we get a really great Mac event that does blow everyone away. Ben Bajarin says his research data shows that premium Windows machines are taking share from the Mac. And Microsoft has been pushing them hard. I see Windows 10 PC commercials on TV all the time. I can't remember the last time I saw a Mac commercial on TV. I hope we see killer new Macs and a big holiday ad campaign to go with it.
http://ped30.com/2016/10/17/apple-prime-goldman-sachs/
2. IOS desktop / laptop. It is obvious and I am certain Apple is waiting for both tech and market elements to align. The worst thing would be to bring out something that underperforms at a low price. Low price - yes, low performance? Not so much. Also, their IOS direction is the iPad. Their regular computer is OSX. Could they sell a 13" iPad with a keyboard (+ mouse) + touch screen for 299 - 499? If not, how can they do a laptop for that price?
3. I am not sure Apple is interested in content, and I am not sure it would be a good idea. Just because others do it it doesn't mean it will be a good idea in the long run.
I agree Apple seems slow at times but I think they always were. They take their time and don't rush anything. That whole m.o. has been discussed here often. If you remember Jobs talked about this and was very clear about it. Apple is way more complex than it ever was in Jobs' days and quick decisions often turn out not so great. Think back at all those things we thought Apple should have acted on but didn't. Did they all pay off for the buyers?
Also - Apple is deep in a couple of growing areas - Banking and e-commerce through Pay - This has only just began but it is clear Apple will be a serious player in the long run, and Watch, which you may not much like but Apple clearly believe has a great future. I share this view but I believe there is some way to go before the Watch will become central in just about everybody's lives. And who knows what they are doing with personal transport. This is an area so much in its infancy I don't think it matters what Tesla et al are doing now. Apple could decide to enter the arena in5 - 10 years in a major way. They are clearly looking at it.
Eventually we should be able to get content directly from content producers. Hopefully in an open market and not in silos like Netflix' content. We should have a many to many relationship of content producers and content distributors like we have with music producers and music services.
I think the hulu model is closest to what services should look like. I don't know or care what channel the shows are on and I can pay extra to eliminate commercials. Their add in packages should be improved as they are still channel based. I don't want to want to have add ons like HBO and espn, I want to have add ons like family friendly sit coms, long format drama, or local sports teams. And I should be able to add individual shows. Why pay $180 a year for HBO, if all you want to see is Game of Thrones.
A good "go to market" strategy is critical. Note that Apple does not miss often with its global go to market strategies, nor does it quit.
Notice how it keeps pushing ApplePay Globally, CarPlay is in almost every car sold nowadays etc...
Apple is very thorough and will not offer a product or service that it believes is half ass.
Any YouTube offering will be going head to head with the Cable Providers early next year.
If the cable companies are smart, they will offer scalable bundles from very skinny to very fat on the AppleTV / iOS platforms at reasonable prices and a reasonable fee to Apple and make a killing. AppleTV is by far the most advanced TV platform.
Once TV service is decoupled from cable/internet service you will see some serious competition and a lot less crapy content.