Apple Steps Up Negotiations for Movies/TV Shows on iCloud?

Apple has reportedly stepped up its negotiation efforts to convince Hollywood film studios to license movies for its upcoming iCloud service, according to CNET.

Apple reportedly began discussing the service with studios over a year ago. Today it announced that Steve Jobs would introduce the service alongside iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion at WWDC 2011.


While its widely expected that Apple will have contracts signed to offer music via iCloud there are several problems that could prevent it from offering movies and TV shows. CNET says one of these problems is the HBO blackout.

The so-called HBO window or HBO blackout, as it is known in the film industry, refers to an exclusive distribution relationship that the cable network has with three of the top six film studios: Warner Bros. Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and NBC Universal. When a movie from one of the participating studios is aired on HBO, the cable network's electronic-distribution rights require other outlets to halt sales or distribution of the title. Conceivably, this would prevent cloud services from streaming movies to customers during the blackout period.

Film industry sources believe a deal to relax the window is possible but its unclear if Apple will be able to get all the licensing in place before June 6th.