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Apple iTunes wants to be more like Netflix and Comcast

November 2, 2009 Sort of. Apple is shopping an iTunes TV subscription service to TV programmers that would give subscribers unlimited access to iTunes TV content for $30 a month,  MediaMemo's Peter Kafka reports. No programmer has yet signed up, but Kafka says several have told him they're intrigued by the idea.

The rumor has been making the rounds for awhile, with Apple analyst Gene Munster predicting in a report earlier this fall that Apple also might upgrade the Apple TV to include DVR capabilities, making it a more popular set-top for consumers who are already dealing with too much set-top clutter.
The WSJ's Kafka reports that the proposal Apple is discussing now doesn't tie the service to the Apple TV or other devices, making it available with iTunes software. A $30 subscription TV service would put Apple in direct competition with cable companies, one of the reasons programmers are reportedly holding back so as not to anger those big customers or advertisers.

Apple is pushing to launch the service early next year. By that time, Comcast is expected to have rolled out its TV Everywhere service to subscribers, allowing them to watch TV shows on demand online, which it would seem might also give iTunes paid TV downloads, currently sold for $1.99-$2.99/episode, some more competition.

Posted by Jennifer Netherby on November 2, 2009 | Comments (0)