Entertainment

Apple is looking for a programming chief

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 16, 2017

Highlighting Apple's ongoing initiatives in terms of producing original shows, The Information reported yesterday that Apple has been looking for a programming chief to lead its video efforts across the company.

“HBO’s former programming head Michael Lombardo met with Apple executives earlier this year to discuss Apple’s video programming strategy,” a person familiar with the talks told author Tom Dotan.

While the iPhone maker has been looking to fill that particular role, it's unclear if Lombardo could be a candidate to run the company's video efforts. Lombardo left his role as HBO president and programming lead in early 2016 to become a producer.

He is currently producing a 10-episode scripted series for HBO, based on true events, because the executive now has a production deal with the network he departed just earlier this year.

The publication speculates that having a programming chief would signal to the entertainment community that Apple was serious about making its own shows and movies. The Cupertino company is working on several video projects for Apple Music members, including reality competition show “Planet of the Apps” and the “Carpool Karaoke” spinoff.

Hulu’s $40 per month Live TV service launches, app hits App Store

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 23, 2018

Hulu's long-expected live TV service has gone official with today's launch of the Hulu Live TV app on App Store. Designed for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV, the software lets subscribers access the entire Hulu streaming library and more than 50 top live and on-demand channels, including FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, FX, NBCSN, FS1, History Channel and TNT.

In addition, live sports from top pro and college leagues, as well as regional sports networks, are available in certain areas. As a bonus, you'll get to stream national news with local feeds in select cities, popular kids shows, can’t-miss events and thousands of popular on-demand shows and movies from many of these channels.

You can choose to subscribe to Hulu with ad-supported Live TV for $40, or an additional $4 per month to get rid of advertising. Advanced features are available for extra money, such as Cloud DVR which lets you record live TV to watch your favorites on your own time, the ability to watch concurrent streams on multiple devices, as well as track and record games from your favorite teams with a My Teams feature.

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For an additional $15 per month, you can upgrade Cloud DVR functionality with up to 200 hours of cloud storage and the ability to fast-forward through commercials. Unlimited simultaneous viewing on as many screens as you want is an additional $15 per month. And if you purchase both add-ons, you'll save a cool $10.

As soon as you launch the app, you're greeted with all-new onboarding experience.

Firstly, you're asked to log in with your Hulu subscription credentials. The app cannot be used unless you're a subscriber. The setup procedure then takes you on a quick tour of the app's main features such as your personal live TV lineup, a My Stuff section and more.

Next, you can optionally tell the app about the kinds of shows you prefer to watch, helping it recommend content that's tailored to your needs. Finally, you can add your favorite shows and movies to the My Stuff section, or skip this step and set up these items at a later stage.

The app lets you create up to six personalized profiles so everyone in your household gets to enjoy their own personalized Hulu experience with their own collection of shows, movies, networks and more. Like with other services, the more you watch, the smarter the system gets.

You can browse Hulu's library while you watch with a Fliptray feature that lets you quickly find what else is on, change the channel, or get recommendations of what to watch next. Just tap the Fliptray button during playback to get started with this multitasking capability.

The app supports iPhone and iPad with iOS 10+ and the fourth-generation Apple TV.

A free seven-day trial of Hulu Live TV is available to new and eligible subscribers. As a cool bonus, Hulu will let you try out each of the add-ons for one month without being charged.

Download Hulu Live TV from App Store.

Apple’s dedicated TV app picks up support for Crackle, Filmstruck and Freeform apps

Christian Zibreg ∙ May 1, 2017

Apple's dedicated TV app on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple TV now supports Sony's Crackle video-streaming service, in addition to content from Filmstruck and Freeform apps. The company's support document highlighting the TV app was updated earlier in the morning to reflect these additions.

iOS 11 to bring new video features to Apple Music, 10 original series planned this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated June 28, 2017

Bloomberg BusinessWeek today ran an extensive profile of Jimmy Iovine, 64, who runs Apple Music. In it, he reveals some of Apple's plans for the service, including new video-centric features coming to Apple Music as part of iOS 11. Iovine says Apple could release up to ten original series on Apple Music this year. Essentially, it boils down to turning Apple's music-streaming service into a one-stop shop for pop culture.

Apple postpones its Carpool Karaoke spinoff until later this year

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 25, 2017

“Carpool Karaoke”, Apple's first original series based on the popular segment of “The Late Late Show” with James Corden, has been officially delayed until later this year, Reuters was able to confirm Tuesday. The show was supposed to make its debut on Apple Music this month and Apple has even created a star-laden trailer for it ahead of launch.

According to Reuters' sources, a premiere party for the series was originally scheduled for March in Los Angeles, but got postponed without explanation days before it was to take place.

Apple’s Hollywood strategy remains murky

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 21, 2017

Apple is launching a show about apps and their makers, titled “Planet of the Apps”, as well as a Carpool Karaoke spinoff this spring, marking its first two original reality shows. However, the company's overall programming strategy when it comes to original video content production is still a moving target as to what exactly it wants to do in that space, several people in the industry have told Mashable.

Apple may offer HBO, Showtime and Starz in a combined premium TV bundle

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 2, 2017

Recode reported Sunday that Apple is considering offering a “premium TV bundle” with content from the networks HBO, Showtime and Starz.

As I'm sure you'll recall, the Cupertino company's long been rumored to have been interested in creating a $30-$40 per month skinny bundle of top TV programming from multiple content owners.

While App Store offers apps from each of those channels individually, Apple has reportedly approached the three networks about rolling them up into a single package, as conventional pay TV operators sometimes do.

Apple hires former YouTube and Spotify veteran to help shape its video content strategy

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 31, 2017

Apple has hired Shiva Rajaraman, a product leader formerly with Google's YouTube, Spotify and Twitter, to accelerate its failing video content strategy, The Information reported yesterday citing people familiar with the matter. The paywall'd article cites three people briefed on the hiring as saying that Rajaraman will help shape Apple’s video strategy to take on established players like Amazon and Netflix.

Hulu teases upcoming live TV service: cloud DVR, multi-device streaming & more confirmed

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 16, 2017

Hulu recently updated its experiencehulu.com mini-site, which highlights the company's existing video on demand service and a forthcoming live television offering. The website refresh has revealed previously unconfirmed features such as cloud DVR, multi-device streaming, user profiles, support for guest accounts, real-time notifications for live events and other perks. The sub-$40 service is expected to launch across iOS, tvOS and other platforms in the coming months.

Senior Apple executives reportedly clashing over who gets to secure major Hollywood deals

Christian Zibreg ∙ March 3, 2017

Apple's ambitions in terms of securing lucrative deals with Hollywood are reportedly being stymied by internal infighting between three senior executives who have been clashing over who will secure the first major content deal for Apple TV. According to The New York Post, Hollywood insiders are scratching their heads over who exactly is driving the effort.

HBO GO picks up support for Single sign-on and Apple’s new TV app

Christian Zibreg ∙ January 26, 2017

Apple today put HBO GO on the list of video apps supported in its new TV app via the Single-sign on feature that recently launched in iOS 10 and tvOS 10.

This lets HBO GO users sign in with their cable or satellite credentials on their iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Apple TV to enjoy instant access to HBO shows, not only in Apple's own TV app but in other supported video apps that their pay TV subscription includes.

Hulu for iOS gains user profiles for multiple-user accounts, offline viewing in the works

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated March 21, 2017

Hulu for iOS was updated on App Store with personalized profiles for multiple-user accounts following the introduction of single-user profiles in December 2016.

Personalized profiles for multiple users who share a single Hulu account are now available on the web at Hulu.com and in the mobile Hulu app for iOS and other platforms, TechCrunch reported yesterday.

The oft-requested offline viewing feature will arrive “in a few months” as the company is working hard on the technology as well as on securing content rights, Hulu CEO Mike Hopkins told Adweek.