Apple Inc. is taking pitches from Hollywood producers and courting television marketing executives as it considers bolstering its Apple Music service with original movies and TV shows, according to people familiar with the discussions.
Apple has toyed with playing a larger role in entertainment several times, only to either retreat in the face of roadblocks or opt for smaller moves. A goal of streaming broadcast and cable television seamlessly to Apple TV never materialized, for instance. Instead, it’s worked on a concert film with Taylor Swift and video shorts with artists such as Drake. It cut a deal with CBS for a program based on the “Carpool Karaoke” skit featuring late-night talk show host James Corden and is planning a reality show about technology start-ups.
But Apple has the cash, cachet and incentive to push further. Less clear is whether the Cupertino company’s ambition is to take on HBO and Netflix or simply to launch occasional gambits to encourage Apple Music sign-ups.
A person not authorized to speak publicly about the sensitive talks said Apple has told people in the entertainment industry that productions greenlighted and funded by the company would become available to people who pay $9.99 a month for Apple Music. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the discussions.
Apple has toyed with playing a larger role in entertainment several times, only to either retreat in the face of roadblocks or opt for smaller moves. A goal of streaming broadcast and cable television seamlessly to Apple TV never materialized, for instance. Instead, it’s worked on a concert film with Taylor Swift and video shorts with artists such as Drake. It cut a deal with CBS for a program based on the “Carpool Karaoke” skit featuring late-night talk show host James Corden and is planning a reality show about technology start-ups.
But Apple has the cash, cachet and incentive to push further. Less clear is whether the Cupertino company’s ambition is to take on HBO and Netflix or simply to launch occasional gambits to encourage Apple Music sign-ups.
A person not authorized to speak publicly about the sensitive talks said Apple has told people in the entertainment industry that productions greenlighted and funded by the company would become available to people who pay $9.99 a month for Apple Music. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the discussions.
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