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Will Apple Replace Your Cable Service?

by Matthew Zuras on November 2, 2009 at 05:40 PM

Rumor has it that, in a possible bid to continue its complete takeover of our lives, Apple might soon replace your digital cable box.
Apparently, Apple has been quietly shopping a pitch to TV networks, in which it will provide networks' content (in lieu of a cable provider like Comcast) for $30 per month.

According to these same rumors, the streaming subscription service wouldn't be grounded in specific hardware necessarily. In place of the one-note, unimpressive Apple TV (which, mind-bogglingly, is still Apple's only HDMI-connected device), shows would be bought and viewed through iTunes and its ever-popular iTunes Store.

Cable providers could have some tough competition in Apple if this idea develops, but first Jobs and Co. needs to get enough content producers on board. Disney is a shoe-in as a partner, since the two companies have been tighter than spandex ever since Steve Jobs sold Pixar to Disney in 2006. But other networks may be wary of alienating massive cable providers as well as unduly influencing ratings and ad sales.

But this plan would also be a logical extension of the current iTunes Store, and following the trend of Netflix streaming movies and (alas) Hulu's plans to charge for content. We're wondering how the subscription service might eventually translate to mobile devices -- it could be a very cool thing to get live streaming shows on the iPhone and iPod touch with a native, Apple-made app. [From: All Things Digital]

Tags: apple, cable, rumor, subscription, top

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