Apple(NASDAQ:AAPL)-TV to Launch HBO App Later This Year- TWX & NFLX
Northern, WI 02/02/2013 (avauncer) Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is in talks to begin offering Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX)’s app HBO Go on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV by middle 2013. HBO’s cable as well as satellite subscribers can watch over 600 hours of films as well TV shows on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV is a set-top equipment that allows iTunes’ content as well as other web based services to be streamed to consumers’ TVs.
Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV services include Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) as well as Hulu Plus. With the inclusion of HBO to the services, the company can increase its set-top box sales, which is facing stiff challenge from other video-delivery equipments like Roku Inc. as well as Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s Xbox. Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV would allow Time Warner, offer another alternative to customers who are increasingly avoiding broadcasts to go for on-demand viewing as well as online streaming video.
The company currently offers HBO Go only to the customers who have subscribed to the network via satellite or cable service, and is set to be the 1st app asking for pay-TV authentication on Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) TV. Presently, HBO Go apps are available for iPhone & iPad.
The number of set top boxes sold by Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) exceeded 2 million during the 1st quarter of the 2013 financial year. During the earlier 2 financial years, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) sold over 7.8 million. The equipment has given rise to the speculation that Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) is likely to launch a full-scale television.
Tim Cook, Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) CEO termed the area as one of “intense interest” for his team, saying “there’s a lot we can contribute in this space”. He also affirmed his intention to “continue to pull the string and see where it leads”.
The shares of Apple’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) declined by 0.41% to close at $453.62.
The shares of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX) were up by 0.71% to close at $50.88.
The shares of Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) were down by 0.27% to close at $164.80.
Lisa Johnson
