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Apple pitching "all you can watch for $30 a month" TV to networks

by Steven Sande Nov 2nd 2009 at 5:00PM

Apple is already the huge name in the music business with the iTunes Store, and they've made continual inroads into the application, video, and movie markets as well. But what if Apple also became the content provider of choice for TV?

That idea isn't that far-fetched, according to a blog post by Peter Kafka at the Wall Street Journal's All Things Digital. Kafka reports that Apple has been pitching the concept of $30 monthly TV subscriptions through iTunes to TV networks.

You'll note that I said iTunes. That's the interesting point here -- Apple isn't pushing sending content to a particular device, like the Apple TV that Kafka refers to as "underwhelming" (sounds familiar, doesn't it?) or the fabled Apple tablet / slate / whatever. Instead, the service would be available immediately to the more 100 million iTunes account holders that Apple had as of a year ago. Have a Mac? You're a potential customer. Have a PC? Ditto.

There's only one fly in the ointment -- will broadcast and cable programmers buy into this? Kafka thinks the first content provider to jump would be Disney, which of course counts Steve Jobs as its largest shareholder. Cable companies might not like the loss of their usually overpriced monthly packages to an upstart, or having their bandwidth chewed up by hordes of people streaming HD video. And there's always the question of whether current cable TV subscribers would make the jump to streaming content.

Kafka ends his post with a quote from an unnamed TV executive, who says of Apple's subscription plan "I think they might get it right this time." What's your take, TUAW readers? Do you think the world is ready to purchase all of its video content from Apple? Leave your comments below.



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iSlate

The Apple tv service is going to help make the iSlate the device to have in 2010. islate.org

November 07 2009 at 10:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ladiegeek

I have to say I am not someone who buys DVD's of programs. I do like the ability to stream whatever show I want on demand. I have that with Hulu.com -- free for now. And also Netflix for under $20.00 a month that includes unlimited DVD rentals. Not sure why anyone would pay that much for streaming content.

November 05 2009 at 12:03 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stickybit

...if it were to include HBO, SHO and other overpriced options in with every other option that Comcrap or Cox or Cablevision bundle in, sure, I'd make that switch, like a few have mentioned above, I might even drop my cable TV plan and boost my ISP service to a higher bandwidth... bring it on Apple...

November 04 2009 at 9:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tim

Conditionally, I would be on board if:

- the video were advertising and commercial-free,
- they were transferrable between the computer, AppleTV, and iPod,
- they included selections not only from ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox, but other channels as well (SyFy, BBC, BBCA, etc)
- most importantly for me, they included closed captioning or subtitling.

As it goes for now, I'll stick with downloaded captions and video from free sites. Sorry Apple, you can't beat "FREE" when you don't even offer the option.

November 03 2009 at 7:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Neal@wealthpilgrim

I shut off the cable and saved something a lot more valuable than my money - it was time"

I don't care if they gave me TV for free, it would still cost me the time I waste in front of the tube so I don't want the temptation. In the short time I've gotten rid of it my family spends much more time together, the energy level in our home is great and it's an entirely new life experience.

Apple...no thanks.

November 03 2009 at 7:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
lens

I would be very interested in this, BUT it has to be complete, not 15% of the available TV shows and Movies. If they can offer every movie released on DVD and all current and past TV shows, then I'm there. But they can't expect me to pay them $30/month and then pay someone else $XX/mo to get the rest.

November 03 2009 at 5:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bassplayer

the trouble with this is there will be that *one* show that isn't available on this, so I'd have to have both this and Cable tv.

November 03 2009 at 1:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bioadam

resounding yes to this

November 03 2009 at 9:11 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GJD

This is the most obvious idea in the world, I'm glad they're going for it.
If consumers are happy to pay for Netflix alongside a cable/satellite sub - as they seem to be - it means there's something there that they're not getting from regular TV delivery.

The networks are too scared to do it, mainly because they have no idea what the repercussions would be and they're terrified of losing their grip on the market the way the record labels did back in the day.

Apple has its trojan horse for music and games, now it needs one for video. The trouble is that AppleTV as it stands just isn't compelling enough for consumers to fall over eachother to get one as they have doen with the iPod and iPhone. I reckon a US$30/ppm TV sub would certainly make the device a lot more attractive. That and a serious price drop.

November 03 2009 at 8:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
markclarisse1

Bring it on. As my plasma has recently died I'm looking at replacing it with a new 27inch iMac. A TV monthly subscription would now make my apple tv more useful

November 03 2009 at 5:14 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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