Apple aims to make it so viewers can watch any show at any time via a cloud-based DVR that would store TV shows online. The service would be designed so viewers could begin streaming a show minutes after it began airing live.
Where do I pay?
More details on the Apple TV
I’ve been wondering who would do that first. The networks will have a fit, just because they can. Maybe Apple can offer more money direct to the source without a cable company middleman taking a cut and inserting their own local ads?
Hate to say it, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if we cannot skip ads as a result of these negotiations. Though I’d hope for something Apple-thought like being able to skip an ad we’ve already watched before. I would prefer that over paying extra for channels I watch with no ads at all. (I do skip back and watch ads that interest me on the DVR. But they are rare.)
I wouldn’t even mind if Apple shared aggregate data on the shows we watch, instead of the mysterious small-sample ratings system in use now. It could be another value point to the networks, and might even prevent the shows I watch from being cancelled. But that’s a whole other can of worms.
Jim, it won’t be available in Canada for the first 5 years. So you won’t be able to pay for it!!
That’s appealing!
Cable companies already offer on-demand and DVR.
So if you have to have cable then what value is Apple bringing
to the table. None.
Those companies that want to bypass Cable already are using YouTube.
Apple could have brought iPlayer from BBC to Apple TV
for small fee before the olympics but that didn’t happen.
Or any other foreign channels. Some foreign TV upload their
show in youtube on the same day.
All of this going to happen because Tim Cook only watches ESPN and CNBC. Too bad we have to subscribe to 200 channels to be able to use it.
PS: XBOX already has this functionality, wonder why it hasn’t set the world on fire.
DVR if you record it or if you start watching from the beginning. Switching 10 minutes into a show means you miss the first 10.
Supposedly, Apple is going to record them online making them available just like going to watch a VOD show so missing the first 10 means you just go back 10 minutes like it is pre-recorded.
As someone already paying for TiVo I have a hard time imagining paying Apple for a similar service. Particularly if the playback relies on my flakey network actually working.
As someone with no cable service or DVR of any sort, I would LOVE this.
The problem with this is it sounds like you’ll still have to have a cable TV subscription for it to be useful. I have no plans to ever pay for cable TV. I just want shows a la carte in a timely fashion (I’m looking at you, HBO)!
If such a service could bypass the cable and network monsters, I’d be interested.