Apple TV Streaming Service Delayed to 2016; Apple TV Set-Top Box On Schedule for Fall
ByApple's anticipated television streaming service is likely going to have to wait until 2016 to see the light.
Citing unnamed sources close to the situation, Bloomberg News reported Apple's negotiations with television networks are the holdup. Like with their recently launched music service, Apple needs to get the major players involved in order to deliver the content customers want, but doing that is taking longer than anticipated.
Last week, BuzzFeed News learned Apple's fall event would fall on the same day it did last year, Sept. 9. The website also said the Apple TV reveal was tentatively on the agenda, and Bloomberg's report suggests that will still true.
However, BuzzFeed was referring to the physical device, whereas Bloomberg's sources discussed negotiations with networks like CBS and Fox regarding a streaming service. It appears the two are mutually exclusive.
Apple's set-top box will likely run Netflix, Hulu, HBO Now and other streaming services and will compete with the likes of Google's Chromecast, the Roku box, and Amazon's Fire Stick. That said, BuzzFeed pointed out that Apple keeps their plans to themselves to allow for 11th hour changes.
Bloomberg's sources said the hangups in Apple's negotiations are over prices. Apple wants to start its channel offerings at $40 per month, but what channels from what networks is not clear. The networks are reportedly asking Apple to pay them more than what their current satellite partners are, because of the rapidly growing popularity of Internet streaming services.
Apple is determined to sell a bundle of channels for $40, Bloomberg learned, and will try to market the service to so-called "cord cutters."