Is Apple taking on Netflix and Amazon with original content?
Reports say that the tech giant has recently entered talks to start an original TV business
Apple could be about to partner some of television and film's biggest companies to create original content to rival the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime.
According to the New York Post, the Cupertino-based tech firm has held talks with executives from Paramount Pictures and Sony to "kick-start a business in original TV programming".
The meetings suggest Apple is "looking for a transformative acquisition" of a film or television studio rather than simply buying the rights to an existing TV series, says the paper.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, a source said executives may want to acquire an existing production house or studio first as creating a start-up company could be "too small" and "too hard".
The tech giant appears to be keen to build a portfolio of original content to compete with Amazon Prime Video and Netflix following the launch of its Apple Music streaming service in 2015.
Last year, it announced it would be releasing original episodes of James Corden's Carpool Karaoke for Apple Music subscribers. While details of the upcoming web series are scarce, Fortune claims it will air 16 half-hour episodes later this year.
[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"content_original","fid":"109145","attributes":{"class":"media-image"}}]]
Meanwhile, Amazon Prime has been growing its online video library with the likes of The Man in the High Castle and Jeremy Clarkson's new motoring show The Grand Tour. Similarly, Netflix has released original series such as The Crown, Stranger Things and House of Cards.
Rumours that Apple might launch an original TV series have "gained momentum" over the last couple of years, says MacRumors, although it has "shelved" similar plans in the past to focus on its App Store content.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine interactive crossword - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine solutions - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - May 3, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - May 3, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Justice Department bites Apple with iPhone suit
Speed Read The lawsuit alleges that the tech company monopolized the smartphone industry
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Apple kills its secret electric car project
Speed Read Many of the people from Project Titan are being reassigned to work on generative AI
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The pros and cons of virtual reality
Pros and cons The digital world is expanding, for better and for worse
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
The Apple Vision Pro's dystopian debut
Why everyone's talking about Is "spatial computing" the next big thing?
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Netflix's epic quest into gaming
Under the radar The streaming giant's entry into the video game industry has been a slow burn, but that could change soon.
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Why Apple's carbon-neutral claims may be misleading
Speed Read The company isn't disclosing all the information, a new report alleges
By Devika Rao Published
-
The advent of the AI iPhone: does new tech show promise or peril?
Talking Point Apple design guru Jony Ive and OpenAI founder Sam Altman believed to be in talks to create new device
By The Week Staff Published
-
China steals the spotlight at Apple's iPhone 15 launch
How will a directive from the Chinese government affect the tech giant?
By The Week Staff Published