Apple Confirms March 25th Event, Expected To Announce New TV Service (theverge.com) 38
Apple is holding an event on March 25th where it's expected to announce its long-rumored TV streaming and Apple News subscription services. The invitation shows an animated countdown GIF with the caption "It's show time," hinting that the new TV service will play a big role. The Verge reports: Rumors of an event at the end of March began last month, saying that the company will reportedly focus exclusively on services. Although, there is always a chance that we could see the anticipated announcements of revamped AirPods, a new entry-level iPad, and the long-delayed AirPower wireless charging pad. This is not the first time that Apple has used this tagline for an event: the company first used it for a September 2006 event where it announced that it would start offering movies on iTunes, along with the first reveal of the iTV (which would be renamed Apple TV on release in 2007). It's certainly a fitting teaser for the upcoming event. Just like in 2006, we could see Apple's media offerings for its devices expand yet again.
Along with the TV service, which is rumored to launch later this spring, Apple is also expected to take the wraps off its Apple News subscription service. The Apple News service will reportedly look to offer a Netflix-style bundle for magazines and subscription newspapers all in one convenient place. An early report from The Wall Street Journal indicated that Apple was having trouble with negotiations, reportedly demanding a staggering 50 percent of revenue from the service.
Along with the TV service, which is rumored to launch later this spring, Apple is also expected to take the wraps off its Apple News subscription service. The Apple News service will reportedly look to offer a Netflix-style bundle for magazines and subscription newspapers all in one convenient place. An early report from The Wall Street Journal indicated that Apple was having trouble with negotiations, reportedly demanding a staggering 50 percent of revenue from the service.
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Apple re-releases a decade old service slightly altered as new... they had to. Nobody has released any new hardware that they can rip-off and call an innovation recently.
While your latter statement holds a point, let's stop pretending that Apple is the only one entering the Entertainment Wars.
The content fracturing has only just begun, and by the time they're done those extinct cable offerings will seem like a fucking bargain by comparison.
I don't like either service chances... (Score:2)
To me, I just don't see how an ApppleTV service can gain much traction. Even with some original content, they are competing against a lot of huge players now, including Amazon and Netflix, with huge original content productions underway. Apple will be very much at the mercy of whatever content they can pay to acquire for the site... maybe Apple is willing to sink a few billion into trying to make it work but I don't see even that being viable long term.
Apple News, I just don't see having any chance of bei
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They do a better job of playing music (especially in pairs), however no smart speakers really appeal to me so I just leave that whole space alone.
How does 12 billion reasons grab you (Score:4, Informative)
I'm no Apple fanboy, but I don't even know how to respond to this comment. I don't consider Netflix a threat by a long shot.
Why not?
They spent over $12 billion on original content last year.
This year they will spend about $15 billion [variety.com]...
On top of that, it's not like they are spending money without result - they have had huge hits with shows like Stranger Things, and more recently Bird Box.
Netflix at this point is a stronger force for original content than HBO, which has just a few hits on the level that Netflix has (though granted one of them is Game of Thrones - but that ends this year).
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I think there's still a lot of opportunity for somebody to come along and make watching TV a lot better than it currently is. I'm interested in shows, not channels. I should never have to google "where can I watch the expanse".
I actually like Apple news. I've spent a lot of time liking and blocking stories and it's getting pretty good at finding stuff I want to read. The 50/50 rev share seems to be bothering a lot of people, but I'd need some context to really have an opinion. How does that split compare to
apple's HBO only $29.99/mo with slimmed down conte (Score:2)
apple's HBO only $29.99/mo with slimmed down content
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To me, I just don't see how an ApppleTV service can gain much traction. Even with some original content, they are competing against a lot of huge players now, including Amazon and Netflix, with huge original content productions underway. Apple will be very much at the mercy of whatever content they can pay to acquire for the site... maybe Apple is willing to sink a few billion into trying to make it work but I don't see even that being viable long term.
Apple's track record of breaking into established markets is not good. They've been trying the Apple TV thing for ages and it's gained zero traction, a streaming service adds almost no value and would compete with Amazon and Netflix which work on a myriad of different devices.
Beyond this, there's a reason Netflix and Amazon are investing hugely in original content. Its because they can't rely on other people's content any more. More and more of it is being snapped up by Disney and they're already plannin
5 will get you 10 it won't do what it needs to (Score:1)
Which is consolidate content and give you one stop shopping for the bulk of what you want to watch.
There's far too many business that owe their existence to fragmenting viewing options.
Apple TV kind of does that for you already (Score:2)
Which is consolidate content and give you one stop shopping for the bulk of what you want to watch.
The AppleTV is actually really nice for this - because you can search for a show or movie, and see which services are offering it. That's pretty handy.
What isn't great (and really is what you are getting at) is that you would need three or four services to really get everything. I'm willing to buy some shows on iTunes and I get other things from Amazon and Netflix. But Hulu is an experience that just suck
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That capability is not that unique, however...on my Amazon FireTV, I search with it, and it shows me content between all the services.
Even my Tivo OTA, does the same thing, as that it can pull content in from streaming services you subscribe too.
w00t! More streaming services (Score:2)
Not interested in their mind washing TV stuff, (Score:3)
Ah yes. (Score:1)
Brings back memories of my old TV set with the rabbit ears that I had to fiddle with.
"You're holding it wrong!"
Still waiting for news of a computer (Score:2)
An AppleTV stick would be nice (Score:2)
It would just need to support streaming from an iPhone or iPad, nothing more.
/me yawns. (Score:2)
Boring. What about better Macs?
Meh, how about making proper machines? (Score:2)
The price seems to go up and the quality down. :/
When my late 2013 iMac finally gives up I might have to learn Premiere Pro and give up on Final Cut Pro X.
Or perhaps have another go at a Hackintosh(note to self. buy AMD graphics card instead of NVIDIA)
Foundation (Score:2)
But!
Apparently they created a series based on Asimov’s Foundation books. I am quite curious to see that.