Eddy Cue Says Apple HD Television Depends on Content

[Michael Essany]

More dramatic and suspenseful than most television cliffhangers ever could be, suspicions lingering over Apple's supposed plans to enter the connected TV market have ramped up significantly in recent months. But a new report is throwing a big wet blanket on burning rumors that the new Apple product is coming soon.

On Friday, provocative comments form Eddy Cue, Apple's longtime chief of Internet Software and Services, indicated that the success of the rumored Apple HDTV depends on many factors. But content is chief among them.

According to Cue, there's no doubt that Apple could deliver a snazzy and better than average television user interface, but that's an "incomplete solution," he says. In fact, Cue thinks that his company wouldn't move forward with such a product unless it could first be able to "deliver content in a way that is different from the current multichannel pay TV model."

"Unfortunately for Apple and for consumers," says Pacific Crest's Andy Hargreaves, "acquiring rights for traditional broadcast and cable network content outside of the current bundled model is virtually impossible because the content is owned by a relatively small group of companies that have little interest in alternative models for their most valuable content."

Given that MMi reported several weeks ago that Apple CEO Tim Cook attended an Idaho tech retreat with the rumored goal of reaching out to potential content partners, Cue's recent remarks seem to underscore why Cook is actively doing everything possible to reach the deals necessary to make the Apple HDTV an eventual reality.

Source: Fortune

[Mrteacup]

ZzZzZz who knew that people wouldnt want to buy a tv without television included..

[raduga]

I can't wait!
why should we fork over $25 a month for hundreds of channels
when we could purchase individual episodes in iTunes for $3 each?

re-authorizing payment, every time I sit down on the couch
is the way Television was always meant to be.

[LearningMan]

Duh.

[mortopher]

I can't wait!
why should we fork over $25 a month for hundreds of channels
when we could purchase individual episodes in iTunes for $3 each?

re-authorizing payment, every time I sit down on the couch
is the way Television was always meant to be.

Umm do you only watch 8 tv shows (episodes) a month?

[GrandMstrBud]

I'm not sure but doesn't this TV look just like a Samsung TV?

[desepticon]

I don't understand why Apple wouldn't just give money to production companies to produce their own content. They surely have enough cash. Why go through all the middle men and corporations when they can go straight to the source.

[Gamemaster77]

I'm not sure but doesn't this TV look just like a Samsung TV?

They're all just black rectangles. I'm sure Apple will start claiming they invented that though.

[GrandMstrBud]

Your right Apple probably did and if it went to court they'd win. A jury of fan boys I'm sure