Launch Of Apple's Live TV Subscription Service Pushed Back To 2016; Delay Caused By Slow Negotiations With TV Networks

By Staff Reporter | Aug 14, 2015 06:00 AM EDT

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Apple will reportedly not be able to launch a new online-based live television subscription service later this year.

According to insiders, who claim to have inside information regarding the company's operations, the Cupertino-based tech giant is experiencing issues regarding its negotiations with television networks and the technology to deliver the service.

Mac World reported that Apple has been working on a new service that will allow subscribers to stream television content online to their devices for a couple of years now.

Although it still does not have an official name, the service is expected to function like the recently launched Apple Music, which lets users stream songs online.

Originally, the television-based service was supposed to launch alongside Apple Music during June's Worldwide Developers Conference. But, since it did not come out, various sources speculated that Apple might unveil its new service in September instead, along with the launch of its new iPhones.

However, based on a recent report from Bloomberg, it seems Apple will not be able to introduce its newest service to consumers next month due to stalled negotiations with television networks. The service will most likely launch sometime in 2016 instead.

According to the site's informers, Apple is still working on forming a deal with network giants such as NBC, Fox, ABC and CBS that will allow the company to secure television content at a reasonable price.

Also, as noted by Eddy Cue, Apple's senior vice president for its Internet Software and Services department, there is also the matter of conforming to copyright laws.

"TV is a hard problem to solve," the executive told CNET. "One of the problems you have with a TV is you have a disparate system with a bunch of providers. There's no standards. There's a lot if rights issues."

But even if Apple manages to successfully form partnerships with networks, it will still not be able to launch the live television streaming service right away due to technical restrictions.

As explained by Bloomberg, Apple still has not developed a computer network that's powerful enough to stream television programs to subscribers in different parts of the country.

For now, the only way to do so is to store popular programs in the networks of its data centers in Oregon, Nevada, California and North Carolina. But, this method doesn't guarantee that the streamed programs will be glitch-free.

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