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.â€
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.