No Apple TV Revolution, Again

Apple, Inc.’s live streaming television service has been delayed again, with a report Thursday that the tech giant has been unable to come to an agreement with the large television networks. It turns out those stubborn TV networks are foiling Apple’s plans to deliver sooner.

The firm had deliberate to introduce the service, which is delivered over the Internet, this yr. Talks to license programming from TV networks such as those owned by CBS Corp., and 21st Century Fox Inc. are progressing slowly, the sources said.

Apple also lacked the computer network capacity to ensure a good viewing experience, Bloomberg said.

Apple is having an event on September 9 where it’s expected to announce a new Apple TV and iPhone models.

Licensing negotiations with programming providers has proved a stumbling block for others hoping to create alternatives to traditional TV.

Apple, which has been trying for more than a decade to remake video entertainment, is struggling to find the right mix of channels to appeal to cord-cutters for about $40, said the sources, who could not say when or whether the negotiations would be completed.

At the time, an industry source said the service Apple has in mind would feature national reach of live TV broadcast channels, versus being limited to select markets, and said Apple would be “hard-pressed” to launch a meaningful pay TV service by this fall because of the aforementioned lack of distribution deals with some major programmers. “It represents the next frontier for Cook & Co”. Such a network requires storing popular shows close to viewers, so each time a customer in New York, for example, wants to see a local baseball game or the evening news, the shows don’t have to be streamed all the way from one of Apple’s four data centers in California, Nevada, North Carolina and Oregon. Apple’s basic bundle will offer less programming, focusing on ESPN and network.

Apple representatives declined to comment on the report.

An Apple subscription service was expected to make its debut at a scheduled product launch in San Francisco around September 9th.