Apple is apparently looking to offer a TV subscription service that would give customers access to TV programs through its iTunes Store. The article suggests that the service would cost around US$30 per month.
Apple has been talking to TV networks and while there appears to be much interest, no studios has yet to sign on. As happened when Apple first launched movies on iTunes back in 2006, Disney (with its strong association to Steve Jobs via Pixar) could be among the first to try the new service.
Apple’s TV subscription service could prove to be quite disruptive to the TV market. While everyone in the TV industry is looking for new revenue streams, they are also likely to be concerned about the effect this service could have on existing services such as advertising revenues and current partnerships with providers. For example, would customers abandon their cable TV subscriptions in favour of such a service? The nascent TV online industry (Hulu, a la carte offerings from iTunes and other services, etc) would also likely be affected by such a service.
Apple would like to launch the service early next year.