Report: Apple Looks To Improve TV Experience, Start Own Service
By KYW tech editor Ian Bush
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - In the battle for your TV screen, Comcast and Verizon could have new competition, and it comes from the maker of the iPhone:
"The TV experience sucks," said Apple's Eddy Cue at the Code Conference last year. "All we have today is glorified VCRs."
He complains the experience has been 'stuck' -- it's too cumbersome to have to log in to a cable account and to navigate individual apps for shows that may or may not be available when you want to watch.
Now, the tech site Re/code reports Apple is negotiating with programmers about starting its own television service, with subscribers offered bundles of channels, not unlike, but not as exhaustive as a traditional cable package.
Apple wouldn't comment on the report. But it wouldn't be alone in offering what's called an 'over-the-top' TV service.
At the Consumer Electronics Show, Dish showed off its Sling TV that features ESPN, Disney, CNN, the Cartoon Network and more.
At $20 a month, Dish thinks it can convince customers to cut the cable cord -- though broadband is another matter.