Roger Fingas
Perhaps offering a glimpse at Apple's master plan for video, the company is reportedly planning to sell subscriptions to third-party services through its "TV" app for iPhones, iPads, and the Apple TV.
The option should become available in the next year, according to several Bloomberg sources. The publication didn't say whether Apple would claim a cut of subscription fees, but did suggest the move could boost the company's services revenue. Apple currently claims a cut from every subscription bought via the iOS App Store.
For the public, centralized subscriptions could make it easier to find and watch content. At the moment the TV app requires people have to have apps for every service they subscribe to, even if they've taken advantage of Apple's single sign-on feature.
In effect, the arrangement would be copying Amazon's "Channels," which lets people add networks like HBO to their Prime subscription for easier search — and billing.
The prediction that Apple will monetize the TV app isn't a surprise, as it isn't clear where else Apple would sell video subscriptions in a central location — plus it makes sense given Apple's ambitions in the space. Apple is currently on a $1 billion push into original video programming, expected to premiere sometime next year.
The company has a number of projects in the works, such as an adaptation of Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" novels, and a sketch comedy show starring Kristen Wiig.
Apple's own shows have been rumored as being free to anyone with the TV app, but with a cut of third-party subscriptions, the programming could pay for itself.
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50 Comments
I still believe today this is what Apple was trying to do with Time Warner cable many years ago, their was rumors all over the place that Apple was doing a deal to distribute TW content via Apple TV. They Comcast step in and tried to buy TW and stopped the deal.
This approach allows content owners and distributors to sell their content anywhere someone has High Speed internet and an Apple TV. Content owners will not be limited to who the cable operator is in any given locations. Apple will be the hardware/GUI platform, the cable guy provide the bandwidth and the content owners can see to anyone one who want to pay for their content.
Apples own shows are rumoured to be free to anyone with the TV app? Which is everyone who has an iPhone, iPad or Apple TV then? I’d be surprised if that was true