Apple Wants Local TV to be Part of Its Web TV Service Possibly Delaying Its Launch

Apple wants local TV stations to be part of its rumored live TV service which could delay its launch, reports Re/code.

Industry executives familiar with Apple’s plans say the company wants to provide customers in cities around the U.S. with programming from their local broadcast stations. That would distinguish Apple’s planned offering from those already available from Sony and Dish’s Sling, which to date have only offered local programming in a handful of cities, or none at all.

It's said that Apple ambitions have complicated negotiations with broadcast TV networks, as many don't own their local stations.


Re/code notes that it took ABC two years to get the rights to show live programming in the Watch ABC app and that the livestream is still limited to viewers in eight cities.

Apple has apparently told programmers that it wants to launch a Web TV service in early fall; however, that could get pushed back as industry executives don't believe Apple has signed any programmers up for the service.

While it may be unlikely that Apple announces the service at WWDC in June, it could still announce a new Apple TV set top box and add the Web TV functionality later via a software update.

TV executives are optimistic the service will launch eventually and like that Apple is proposing an alternate take on the pay-TV bundle, rather than destroying it altogether.


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