Customers who are expecting Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) to revolutionize live TV will have to keep waiting until 2016. The iPhone maker planned to launch a television service delivered through the Internet this year, though it is now aiming to launch it next year, according to a report published by Bloomberg citing sources familiar with the company’s plans.
Discussions to license programming from television networks, like those operated by 21st Century Fox Inc. and CBS Corp., are progressing very slowly. The report further said that the company doesn’t have the computer network capacity to offer a good viewing experience.
Apple has postponed plans to reveal service at Sept. 9 event, as it doesn’t have sufficient content deals ready. Though the company plans to launch a more powerful model of its Apple TV set-top box at the event.
TV programming is an important part of the AAPL’s policy to use entertainment, music and information to keep itself and its gadgets at the center of users’ digital lives.
The main hurdle is the price of the content. Just as the company once persuaded music labels to offer songs for a reduced 99 cents, it wants to provide a package of famous channels for $40 per month, which is about half of the average cable bill users pay in the United States.
However, the TV programmers anticipates to get more from the new Web-based services, such as Apple, as compared to the current satellite TV partners, since they are new to the industry and are looking to gain share. According to the report, discussions with NBC, Fox and CBS have been stuck for several months.
Talks between pay-TV firms and content providers often take a long time. Dish Network has spent years for obtaining a small package of cable channels for Sling TV that was launched in January and offers Time Warner’s TNT, Disney Co.’s ESPN and some other live channels for $20 per month.
