AllThingsD » ITV

Apple Spotted Shopping Around for TV Parts

John Paczkowski — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:02:43 +0000

The Macintosh TV

If Apple doesn’t already have a smart television in the pipeline, it’s almost certainly considering building one. That’s the latest from Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, who says the company has been scoping out the TV component supply chain as a prelude to entering the market.

“In January we spoke with a major TV component supplier who has been contacted by Apple regarding various capabilities of their television display components,” Munster wrote in a note to clients today. “We see this as continued evidence that Apple is exploring production of a television. This latest data point follows January 2011 meetings in Asia that led us to believe Apple was investing in manufacturing facilities for LCD displays ranging from 3.5″ mobile displays to 50″ television displays.”

So Apple’s reportedly been shopping around for parts that might be used in TVs.

Not the hardest of evidence that the company will actually produce one. That said, the signs do appear to be adding up. Over the past few months we’ve heard chatter claiming Apple televisions have been prototyped and that Sharp has been retooling a production line at one of its factories to produce the modified amorphous TFT LCD displays that will grace them.

If that is the case, it’s entirely possible that the TV market will be the next one Apple attempts to reinvent. And if it pulls it off, the rewards could be great. Some say Apple stands to gain an incremental $50 billion to $100 billion in market cap if it produces a compelling HDTV, one that not only trumps the competition but steals market share away from it, as the iPhone has from incumbent smartphone producers.

Supply Chain Chatter Has Two Apple TVs Targeted for Midyear Launch

John Paczkowski — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:50:38 +0000

The rumored Apple television now has a rumored launch date and a few rumored screen sizes as well.

Supply chain sources tell the occasionally reliable Digitimes that Apple hopes to launch the device in either the second or third quarter of 2012 and that initially it will be available in two sizes, 32 inches and 37 inches. The so called “iTV” will reportedly run on a Samsung chip and feature modified amorphous TFT LCD displays manufactured by Sharp, which has been rumored to be retooling a production line at one of its factories specifically to manufacture them.

Assuming Digitimes’ report is accurate, which is a big assumption, Apple would seem to be gearing up to disrupt yet another industry with one of its trademark seismic shifts. And if it succeeds, the rewards could be massive.

UBS analyst Maynard Um says Apple stands to gain an incremental $50 billion to $100 billion in market cap if it manages a successful television-set offering, one that not only stands out from the competition but steals market share away from it, as the iPhone has from incumbent smartphone manufacturers.

PREVIOUSLY:

What if Apple Television Is an iMac?

Apple’s iTV Could Have a Sharp Picture

Apple TV? Think Bose VideoWave, Only More Apple-ish.

Sharp Selling Too Many Big-Ass TVs to Worry About Apple Television

John Paczkowski — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 21:21:25 +0000

Sharp isn’t paying much heed to rumors that Apple is developing an HDTV. Nor does it have much reason to, says Kozo Takahashi, head of the company’s operations in North and South America.

“Currently it’s not something we’re studying very hard,” Takahashi said during a press conference in Osaka, though he conceded that whatever TV Apple has in the pipeline — if indeed there is one — could certainly “catch the market by surprise.”

But for the time being, Sharp’s not going to spend any time worrying about it. According to Takahashi, TV buyers in the United States right now are far more focused on price, picture quality and size than any advanced technology Apple might bring to bear on its rumored television.

And right now, Sharp is killing it in the big TV market.

Earlier this year, the company said it expected to sell at least one million TVs 60-inches or larger in the U.S. and Canada in the current fiscal year. Now it expects to hit that target in the U.S. alone. Said Takahashi, “I didn’t think sales would turn out to be this strong.”

What if Apple Television Is an iMac?

John Paczkowski — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:41:32 +0000

The Macintosh TV

Here’s a novel theory: The Internet-connected HDTV that Apple is rumored to have in the pipeline will be preceded by another device, which will pave the way for it:

A new iMac with integrated TV functionality.

That’s the latest speculation from Wedge Partners analyst Brian Blair, who believes there will be a step between the Apple TV and the Apple Television.

“We believe Apple’s redesign of the iMac in the first half of 2012 will likely usher in some … TV capability into the iMac offering first, effectively taking the high end and larger screens of the iMac line and pushing it toward the TV market by integrating Apple TV and iCloud features into a slimmer all-in-one PC,” Blair writes. “Apple could effectively start with what they already have on the manufacturing line and slowly push their offering from 27 inches and scale up from there to 32 inches and then move on to the 42, 50 and 55 inch market.”

Blair figures these new iMacs would behave like Apple TVs, streaming movies, TV shows, photo slideshows and more to newer Wi-Fi-enabled televisions and providing them access to content stored on iCloud as well.

It’s not an outrageous idea, particularly as an interim step on the way to a true television set. Or as a good reason for consumers to abandon their current TV sets in favor of iMacs. This would be particularly compelling if Apple was able to persuade the cable companies to stream their content though the Apple TV interface. Add to that AirPlay mirroring on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch, voice navigation via Siri, and integrate it all into a 42-inch or better screen, and and you’ve got a pretty good reason to watch TV in your office. Or mount your PC on the living room wall.

Of course, Apple has been down this road before, first with the ill-starred Macintosh TV and then with its Front Row media center program, which was abandoned with the launch of Lion.

The company may not be interested in traveling down it again, particularly these days, when it seems so focused on disruptive changes. If Apple hews to that strategy for its HDTV, there will be no interim step. Just a single big announcement intended to upend the industry as we know it and send the competition scrambling.

Apple's iTV Could Have a Sharp Picture

John Paczkowski — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:40:31 +0000

There may be more to Apple’s developing relationship with Sharp than simple supply-chain diversification and OLED panels for future iPhones and iPads. The Japanese company is said to be playing a role in the production of the long-rumored Apple television.

Over at Jeffries, analyst Peter Misek suggests that Sharp is retooling a production line at its factory in Sakai specifically to manufacture modified amorphous TFT LCD panels that will be used in the so-called iTV. If all goes well, the line should be ready for commercial production by February of 2012, which means we could see Apple’s take on the TV by midyear.

But what form it will take remains a mystery — one that the entire TV industry is evidently eager to solve. “Based on our discussions, interestingly other TV manufacturers have begun a scrambling search to identify what iTV will be and do,” says Misek. “They hope to avoid the fate of other industries and manufacturers who were caught flat footed by Apple.”

Good luck with that, guys. Without Apple’s software acumen — or a rival to its new iCloud service, which will incorporate video sooner or later — that’s a tall order.

Says Misek: “Mainstream TV manufacturers are likely to be at least 6 to 12 months behind in a best-case scenario.”

Apple's Annual Autumn Event Falls on September 1

John Paczkowski — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:05:33 +0000

The official word has finally come down from Cupertino: Apple has issued a typically cryptic invitation to a special press event at 10 am on September 1, at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco. The only clue as to content is the invitation’s image of a guitar with a cutout of the Apple logo.

Apple (AAPL) has held an end-of-summer event each year since 2005, traditionally focused on the iPod, music and other entertainment-related developments, and it looks like that will be the case again. That still leaves plenty of room for speculation about possibilities, such as a streaming music service, the coming iTV device or a spruced-up iPod touch. Based on Yoko Ono’s recent comments, the traditional Beatles-to-iTunes chatter is likely to be muted this year.

As always, we’ll be there to cover the event live, so be sure to join us on Sept. 1.

Rumored $99 iTV Could Pave Way for $2,000 Apple-Connected Television

John Paczkowski — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:27:04 +0000

“The problem with innovation in the TV industry is the go-to-market strategy. The TV industry has a subsidized model that gives everyone a set-top box for free. So no one wants to buy a box. Ask TiVo, ask Roku, ask us…or ask Google (GOOG) in a few months.”

That was how Apple CEO Steve Jobs answered a question about Apple TV and the future of the television interface at D8. “The television industry fundamentally has a subsidized business model that gives everyone a set-top box, and that pretty much undermines innovation in the sector,” he said. “The only way this is going to change is if you start from scratch, tear up the box, redesign and get it to the consumer in a way that they want to buy it.”

And who better to do this than Apple (AAPL)? The company has arguably already done it for the personal computer, the portable music player and the cell phone. Why not the TV as well?

In a Monday note to clients, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster suggests the company will do just that in the next two to four years, but only after it launches a new cloud-centric version of Apple TV.

“Apple has recently developed a data center in Maiden, N.C., that we believe could serve as the hub of a cloud-based service for iTunes video,” Munster wrote. “With Apple’s growing family of connected devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV and Macs) it only makes sense that Apple would deliver a cloud-based media service to leverage its competitive advantage in the space: devices. As part of this, we expect Apple to update the Apple TV product in the coming months with limited storage, a lower price, an app store and a focus on accessing content over the Internet.”

Munster believes this device, the rumored $99 iTV, will be a stepping stone toward an all-in-one connected television, something Apple could position as a replacement for the typical home entertainment system and for which it could charge a premium–$1,800 to $2,000.

That might seem like a daunting price at first, but keep in mind that paying it would allow you to replace an entire entertainment system with a single TV. Add to that an App Store that would enhance it with games and other apps, as well as an iTunes TV subscription offering, and you’ve got a pretty compelling device. Says Munster, “We believe an all-in-one Apple Television solution would provide an ease of use that many consumers are looking for. Apple could also bring its software expertise to the television market and provide for themselves an immediate advantage against its competition (primarily hardware makers). As connected TVs gain traction, we believe software will be a critical selling point, and Apple could offer best-in-class software on an Apple Television.”

Zuckerberg: Facebook Will Hit One Billion Users (One Day)

Peter Kafka — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:53:04 +0000

Did Mark Zuckerberg make news during his onstage interview at the big Cannes ad confab today? Not if this summation from the Guardian is correct.

The Facebook CEO did say there is “almost a guarantee” that the company will double its user base from 500 million to one billion, which is pretty heady stuff, but also pretty hazy stuff. (We already know that Facebook is really big.)

And Zuckerberg again danced around the question of Facebook’s eventual IPO. But unless he flat-out declares that the company will never go public, there’s almost no reason to ask him about it: Facebook is quite clearly headed for an IPO, one day.

Zuckerberg’s summation of Facebook’s global hegemony is worth pondering for a minute, though:

Facebook’s global domination is almost complete, he said. “We are down to just four countries where we aren’t the leading social network.”

Zuckerberg added that in Russia Facebook had just 1 million users, the kind of numbers that saw AOL sell off Bebo and ITV relinquish Friends Reunited. But in Facebook’s case, growth is “doubling every six months”, according to Zuckerberg, and Japan and Korea have similar user bases.

He said that Facebook can tell when an explosive growth “tipping point” is about to be reached by who is “friending” who. When Facebook first launches in a country, nearly all the friend connections are with foreign Facebook users.

“We know that a country has tipped when local-to-local connections outnumber local to foreign,” he added. “It is a long-term thing [and with regard to the four left to tip] we are probably not going to win in six months, not in a year [but] things look promising in three to five years out.”

Meanwhile, if you want a really deep dive with Zuckerberg, check out Inside Facebook’s recent Q&A.

EMI Gets a New Boss. When Does It Get a New Owner?

Peter Kafka — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:53:12 +0000

Terra Firma, the private equity fund that owns EMI Music Group, has brought in a new CEO for the music label. Elio Leoni-Sceti is out; Charles Allen, the former CEO of British broadcaster ITV replaces him.

Leoni-Sceti came to the company in July 2008, a move that raised plenty of eyebrows as he had zero experience in the music business. His background was marketing packaged goods like Woolite and French’s Mustard.

But in retrospect it doesn’t really matter who Terra Firma brought in to run the company; the investment group’s big mistake was paying too much for EMI, using too much debt, in 2007.

At this point, the real question for EMI isn’t who runs it, but who owns it. There’s a decent chance that Terra Firma will breach a banking covenant in coming months and that control of EMI will go to Citigroup (C), which owns most of the label’s debt.

The conventional wisdom is that part or all of EMI will end up in the hands of longtime rival Warner Music Group (WMG) sooner or later.

Release:

CHARLES ALLEN BECOMES EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF EMI MUSIC LONDON, 10 MARCH 2010 — EMI Music announces the appointment of Charles Allen as its Executive Chairman.

Charles has been non-executive Chairman of EMI Music since January 2009, chairing its Board and supporting the transformation of the business. Elio Leoni-Sceti, EMI Music’s Chief Executive, who has successfully led EMI Music through the first phase of its operational turnaround, will be leaving the company on March 31st 2010.

Over the past two and a half years, EMI Music has become a stronger and growing company, with a talented senior team, significant creative success and a more rigorous approach to marketing and operations. This has resulted in increased sales, improved market share and industry-leading EBITDA margins.

Charles said: “Elio has done a great job. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him; he is a very talented executive and we all wish him well in the future. Our goals for EMI Music remain the same. I will support and guide the group’s strong team, keep EMI’s focus on creativity and superb A&R, and deliver a digital platform. This is a great business – our task is to ensure it has a great future.”

Elio added: “EMI is a wonderful business with a great team and new creative and operational momentum. My job here is now done and it is time for me to move on. It has been a pleasure to work with Charles and so many other talented and committed people. I look forward to seeing the company go on to further success in the future.”

I Assure You, Mr. Busey, the Ad's Placement Was Entirely Unintentional …

John Paczkowski — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:24:04 +0000

In Futurama, our characters are thoroughly inundated by advertising, especially subliminal advertising that comes out of your pillow into your dreams.

– Futurama creator Matt Groening, February 1999

How do you persuade TV viewers to watch advertisements when the DVR has accustomed them to skip through them? That’s the dilemma facing television and cable networks today, one that’s so far defied a solution. But perhaps not for much longer.

The Times Online reports that the evil geniuses at Keystream have developed a new overlay advertising system that scans video content for open spaces–an unadorned wall, for instance–and slaps an ad on it, embedding it directly into the programming.

“There’s a lot of potential,” said Simon Fell, head of future technology at ITV, a company that’s testing Keystream’s technology on its ITV Local site. “If there’s a scene in a program where there’s time, then it could give us a chance to get an ad away. But obviously on television you won’t be seeing one of these appearing at a crunch point in a drama.”

Really? In this age of product placement? Ever see the list of brands plugged in the “Sex and The City” movie?

If ITV’s tests prove successful it’s only a matter of time before we begin seeing Garmin GPS ads etched into the beaches of “Lost” or Levitra logos popping up willy-nilly on “Desperate Housewives.”

I Assure You, Mr. Busey, the Ad's Placement Was Entirely Unintentional …

John Paczkowski — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 21:24:04 +0000

In Futurama, our characters are thoroughly inundated by advertising, especially subliminal advertising that comes out of your pillow into your dreams.

– Futurama creator Matt Groening, February 1999

Really? In this age of product placement? Ever see the list of brands plugged in the “Sex and The City” movie?

Goohoo Delayed

John Paczkowski — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:00:33 +0000

[ See post to watch video ]

I'm Hulu. James Hulu.

Kara Swisher — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 08:11:20 +0000

It seems the media industry across the pond is taking its cue from Hulu, the fledgling U.S. online video effort from NBC Universal and News Corp., at offering consumers TV content online in better and more flexible ways.

Three of the main British TV networks–the BBC, ITV and Channel 4–are planning a joint on-demand service, so consumers can see professional video programming of all kinds in one place.

It’s another step in the right direction by media giants for consumers–well, in Britain, at least.

Such a move is akin to all four U.S. majors (CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox) joining together in a helpful service. But don’t hold your breath on that happening anytime soon.

I gave good props to Hulu, which debuted recently, noting it was the first time traditional media companies had created a product that was more aimed at consumers than protecting their own vested interests.

But the Hulu service also is frustrating, like having a television set that only gets a small number of stations and then having to use another TV and then another if you want other channels.

Television’s success had a lot to do with it being a one-stop destination, while online video on the Web is still dispersed in ways that makes it hard for any one thing to take off.

Perhaps it cannot be that way on the Web for U.S. users, despite many efforts to do so, but such a confused approach hinders the distribution of professional online video content. (The user-generated vomiting-cats-on-skateboards fare does fine on its own in getting found.)

So, it will be interesting to see what happens with the U.K.’s effort.

Set to be launched in 2008, Britain’s version will add free downloads and purchase (something Hulu does not do now), as well as streaming, rental and eventual distribution to other platforms.

The BBC, for example, has tried this on its own with its much maligned iPlayer service. Said one British techie I asked about it on a recent trip: “It’s grotty.”

The iPlayer will continue, as will ITV’s current online service. Channel 4′s 4oD will cease to exist.

Channel 4 CEO Andy Duncan said that’s because the new effort would “give viewers ultimate control over what they watch and when they watch it.”

Of course, that’s bloody brilliant.