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NewsCBS, Les Moonves, Apple, TV subscription, broadcasting firms coordination

CBS CEO said Apple paused TV subscription making it hard for broadcasting firms to coordinate

Dec 13, 2015 01:05 AM EST

CBS Corp. Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves announced Tuesday that Apple has hit the pause button in its TV subscription plans.

According to Talking New Media, this is a sign that coordinating with broadcasting firms to develop a system for their business plans is harder than what was initially expected. Apple's TV service is dependent on the content providers. If Apple TV offers a service better than cable or develop a new app store where developers can make their own channels, then networks would really want to be a part of this system.

MacWorld reported that Moonves said, "They've had conversations on it, and I think they pressed the hold button." Apple's TV subscription service would let users select and pay for small bundles of network and cable channels. These channels will be live-streamed through the Apple TV set-top.

Moonves said CBS and Apple almost agreed to have the monthly price at $30 to $40, but Apple pulled out and put the deal on hold. Despite the deal not pulling through, Moonves said the end of cable TV and the dawn of TV streaming has come.

On a report from Bloomberg News, Apple is just one of the companies looking for alternatives to the TV. Other companies looking to create its internet TV-streaming service is Dish Network Corp., which introduced its Sling TV this year.

It is at $20 for a package with about 12 channels. Verizon Communications Inc has also started providing skinny bundles, where viewers can choose from various options of channels.

At present, CBS is just developing content that makes app with limited and archived content. This is far from what live TV is. This is already a better alternative for cord cutters who would prefer this service than paying cable bills.

However, Moonves is still expecting Apple to have its own subscription service soon. If this happens, people don't have to pay for channels that they are not going to watch anyway.