Apple video service expected to launch in April or early May

We've been hearing for months now that Apple is planning its own video service, and now it's rumored that the launch is happening soon.

Apple is planing to launch its video service in April or early May, says a new report from CNBC. The service will reportedly let you subscribe to and watch the streaming services all in the iOS TV app rather than having to rely on a bunch of separate apps.

It's expected that CBS, Starz, Showtime, and Viacom will offer subscription services through Apple's platform. However, Netflix reportedly won't be a part of Apple's service, and HBO may also skip out, though it's rumored that HBO is still in discussions with Apple.

Apple is said to be asking for a 30 percent cut on every customer that these subscription services get through its platform. Apple currently takes a 15 percent cut of the revenue that services like HBO Now and Netflix get through the App Store.

Apple is also reportedly working on original content, with movies and TV shows that'll be offered to Apple device owners for no extra charge. The company will also offer paid content that it'll begin charging for by the summer, according to Bloomberg.

While iOS users can already subscribe to a variety of video streaming services, Apple wants to get all of the streaming content in its one app, making the TV app a one-stop shop for video entertainment on iOS. Netflix would be a pretty major omission, though, so it'll be interesting to see if Apple can get Netflix on board before it launches this TV service 

Apple is rumored to be planning an event for March 25th, so we may hear more about its video plans there.

Disqus Comments