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Apple Confirms March 25th Event, Expected To Announce New TV Service (theverge.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the it's-show-time dept.

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.

38 comments

  1. Apple re-releases a decade old service as new by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:Apple re-releases a decade old service as new by geekmux · · Score: 1

      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.

  2. Oh boy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    More services. Nothing gives me a raging tech boner quite like additional services.

  3. I don't like either service chances... by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    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 being profitable. It is a kind act of charity to help dying news orgs but I don't see where it would gain traction as a paid service, when even now I don't like using the free version they have.

    Maybe they have some trick to make these compelling, but I doubt it... we shall see.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re: I don't like either service chances... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Lately anything new coming from apple has been disappointing or too expensive. Their smart speakers with siri being utterly unable to do anything as well as alexa or google assistant is just inexcusable.

    2. Re: I don't like either service chances... by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    3. Re:I don't like either service chances... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      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.

    4. Re: I don't like either service chances... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They've got a solid innovation up their butt this time - a service with a n1gger face slapped all over it.

    5. Re:I don't like either service chances... by Eponymous+Coward · · Score: 1

      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 what Hulu pays for shows I watch? what do magazines pay writers? What does Spotify pay to copyright holders?

    6. Re:I don't like either service chances... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's going to be included in Apple Music and include the news service.

    7. Re:I don't like either service chances... by mjwx · · Score: 1

      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 planning their own streaming services and started removing their content from other streaming services. It may not be a question of how much Apple will pay for access to content... but even if Apple can pay. As much as I enjoy the 90's kitsch of Gerry Anderson's Space Precinct, you can't make a service out of old content that can be licensed to anyone.

      Won't stop Apple from throwing billions at it though.

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  4. Sorry Ken doll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No iphones in FEDERAL PRISON! Sorry Trump traitors! Ask your punk buddy Skrelli.

  5. 5 will get you 10 it won't do what it needs to by Crashmarik · · 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.

  6. True enough, all those who cross Trump... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No iphones in FEDERAL PRISON! Sorry Trump traitors!

    While it's a little extreme to say all those who cross Trump are going to federal prison or to call them traitors, does seem to be a lot of them heading that way. Eventually even Mueller himself will probably end up in prison after a few years, for his zealous excesses.

  7. w00t! More streaming services by nwaack · · Score: 1

    Netflix, Hulu, Prime video, Disney, iTV, Shudder. This is getting kind of ridiculous.

    1. Re:w00t! More streaming services by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't forget every current television network wants you to buy a subscription for their "special" content.

  8. Not interested in their mind washing TV stuff, by ReneR · · Score: 2

    how about a working keyboards though? The 90's Alps switches ones where not too bad, certainly not stuck w/ the 1st crump of dust: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

  9. Ah yes. by PPH · · Score: 0

    Brings back memories of my old TV set with the rabbit ears that I had to fiddle with.

    "You're holding it wrong!"

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  10. Services. Yay. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Great. More services doing what other services are already doing. More entertainment, for the most entertained people that have ever existed.

    It's like they're desperate to distract us all from something...

  11. Re:Eh, who needs apple? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Upscale wintendo crap..

    You mean "Upscale aintendo crap", right? And who buys a Mac to play games?

  12. new tv service by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    YAWN!!!!! Unless your going to do site content who cares, just another channel sharing the same old sitcoms

  13. Apple TV kind of does that for you already by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    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 sucks too much for me to use currently and there are some things I would like from there... maybe if they are on the AppleTV service, I'd consider that. But I really doubt it given how content providers are going hard silo and not letting other services play stuff from them.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:Apple TV kind of does that for you already by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      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.

      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.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  14. Nope. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Nobody cares at all what you do, idiot.

  15. Still waiting for news of a computer by your_mother_sews_soc · · Score: 1

    I have almost given up hope for a headline announcing a user serviceable Mac with lots of slots and connectors. Like the old days. I wish Apple split into two - Macintosh and Apple. Their hardware could have been great.

    --
    My user name was a mistake. Input wasn't restricted, my bad.
  16. An AppleTV stick would be nice by joh · · Score: 1

    It would just need to support streaming from an iPhone or iPad, nothing more.

    1. Re: An AppleTV stick would be nice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It will, no radioactive WiFi or Bluetooth needed. You'll just have to hold your iPhone in one hand, and face tv with your butthole.

  17. apple's HBO only $29.99/mo with slimmed down conte by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    apple's HBO only $29.99/mo with slimmed down content

  18. How does 12 billion reasons grab you by SuperKendall · · Score: 3, 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...

    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).

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  19. /me yawns. by antdude · · Score: 1

    Boring. What about better Macs?

    --
    Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  20. so what? wait until they do something by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    more of the annoying trend in "news" to announce someone is going to do something in the future - it's not news until they actually do something

  21. Meh, how about making proper machines? by ruddk · · Score: 1

    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)

    --
    L'Idiot
  22. Re:Eh, who needs apple? by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

    Ugh....just give us word on the new Mac Pro please!!!

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  23. Foundation by Camembert · · Score: 1

    In general I am not so excited about a new tv streaming service.
    But!
    Apparently they created a series based on Asimov’s Foundation books. I am quite curious to see that.

  24. it's not news, it's slashvertising by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You think all the Apple stories today are coincidence?