A new report in The Wall Street Journal has resurrected speculation from last year that Apple is still working on creating original television — and movie content — to offer as part of a subscription service. Citing people familiar with the matter, the WSJ report indicates that Apple is looking to “build a significant new business” in the area to make it a bigger player in Hollywood to offset slowing sales of its iPhone and iPad devices.
Sources suggest that Apple would offer this programming to existing Apple Music subscribers to give it a competitive edge over rival streaming music services.
Apple has reportedly talked with veteran producers over the past few months about buying rights to scripted television programs, and the company has attempted to woo experienced studio and network marketing executives to come on board to help promote the new content. Plans right now appear to be focused primarily on TV, with plans to produce original movies being in the more preliminary stages.
Sources suggest that shows would likely be comparable to critically acclaimed programs from HBO or Netflix, but it also doesn’t look like Apple is yet prepared to spend the billions of dollars annually to become a direct competitor to Netflix or Amazon Prime. Apple executives have apparently told people in Hollywood that they hope to start offering original scripted content by the end of 2017.
