If you've been hoping to stream live episodes of major network TV to your Apple TV anytime soon, don't hold your breath. In an earnings call on Thursday, CBS CEO Les Moonves said that CBS declined a deal with Apple to stream content to its set top box, Apple TV.
When asked about teaming up with streaming services that don't pay the network up front, Moonves said, "Frankly, we don't believe in them. We've even been against joining Apple TV, which was an advertiser split."
Moonves didn't elaborate on that statement, so it's not clear exactly what he meant. However, if past rumors are true, we have a pretty good idea: Talk of a subscription-based Apple TV service circulated in 2009, as Apple was rumored to be in discussion with Disney and CBS. The purported plan would have let customers pay a monthly fee for streaming content, which, presumably, would be delivered through iTunes.
Apple TV currently supports full MLB and NBA streaming, and recently added NHL streaming to the mix as well. But for other television offerings from networks such as CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox, you can only purchase individual episodes -- after they've aired -- at $2 for standard definition, $4 for HD, and varying prices an entire season.
The "advertiser split" portion of Moonves' statement is interesting, as current Apple TV offerings aren't subsidized by ads. This suggests that if Apple had been working on a subscription model, it would have been implemented completely differently from its current form.
With networks resisting Apple charms, it's possible that the company could be working on its own connected TV to circumvent the problem. That would allow for live TV content to sit beside iTunes, iCloud and App Store integration for more robust video and entertainment options.
Via GigaOm
Photo: Jon Snyder/Wired.com
