Following yesterday’s report that Apple is in talks with cable companies over a new Apple TV product, today AllThingsD backs up that report, confirming that Apple is indeed in talks with cable companies – but unlike yesterday’s report, AllThingsD clarifies that the launch of a new Apple TV product is not “imminent.”
John Paczkowski, AllThingsD:
Sources tell AllThingsD that Apple has indeed had talks with a few large cable operators about some new TV product. It makes sense that one of them might be doing its due diligence on capacity issues and whatnot.
But the idea that a “potentially … imminent” launch is in the works seems harder to take seriously.
Paczkowski points out that if Apple were actually close to launching a new TV-related product or surface, they would probably be in talks with TV programmers as well, and the’s so far no indication that anything of the sort is happening.
There are still a lot of missing pieces here, and while a major cable providers running what-if scenarios on a rumored Apple product is certainly interesting, it’s not necessarily a trumpet fanfare announcing its imminent arrival.
For Apple to release a television, or even a new set top box, they would need to have content deals worked out, and would need cable providers to support the new device. Anything short of that would leave Apple dead in the water.
So, don’t expect Apple to reinvent the living room any time in the immediate future – but as far as we (and a number of other credible sources) are confirmed, it is coming. It’s just a question of when.
