Although not official as of yet, Apple's HomeKit software framework for managing smart devices for the connected home apparently includes support for controlling power, volume, input source, brightness and so forth on compatible Smart TV sets.
Rumors
An Apple TV with coaxial cable port was once created, but never released
Much to the dissatisfaction of the folks who had worked hard on a version of Apple's set-top box that could integrate with cable services, that Apple TV product never saw the light of day.
Sarah Jones, Joel Kinnaman & Michael Dorman to star in Apple’s sci-fi drama
Apple's upcoming science-fiction space drama series from “Star Trek” veteran and “Battlestar Galactica” and “Outlander” developer Ronald D. Moore has reportedly cast actress Sarah Jones and actors Joel Kinnaman and Michael Dorman.
Apple planning to sell video subscriptions directly in TV app
You'll soon be able to subscribe to video services directly via Apple's TV app for iOS and tvOS.
Apple orders 10 episodes of extraordinary home docuseries
Apple has placed a straight-to-series order for the docuseries "Home," reports Variety. Citing sources familiar with the iPhone maker's plans, the outlet says the company has ordered 10, 1-hour episodes of the show, which offers a never-before-seen look at the world's most extraordinary homes and their builders.
Apple hires BBC TV executive Jay Hunt in its push for original video content
As part of its push for original video programming, Apple has reportedly hired BBC TV executive Jay Hunt, who was most recently chief creative officer at Channel 4.
Apple may offer HBO, Showtime and Starz in a combined premium TV bundle
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.
New details surface about Hulu’s live TV service
In a new report Tuesday, Mashable's Pete Pachal took a closer look at the early build of an upcoming live TV service from Hulu. Having seen Hulu's new iPhone, iPad and full-screen TV apps, Pachal shared his thoughts on the service. Hulu CEO said last week that the new service would be priced at under $40 per month.
The Wall Street Journal said earlier in the month that Hulu did manage to strike a deal with CBS to put both live streaming and on-demand content from CBS's various channels on Hulu's service.
Apple plans to cut App Store fees for video streaming apps
Apple plans to cut the amount it charges to sell video services over its App Store, Bloomberg reports. The outlet says the move is part of an effort to appease content partners, whose TV shows and movies are vital to the company's larger video strategy.
Previously, the iPhone maker took a 30% cut of revenue from app and in-app purchases. Then in June it announced it would slice that in half after the first year Now it sounds like Apple is going to make that an upfront price for participating video apps.
Apple said to be launching new TV guide app tomorrow
Apple plans to unveil a new TV guide app tomorrow during its Hello Again Mac event, reports Recode. Citing a source familiar with the initiative, the site says the guide will aggregate and show content that's available, and will work on Apple TV and iOS devices.
Unfortunately, not all major video providers have agreed to participate in the program. Most notably, the report claims that Netflix data will not be available in the guide, which is odd considering that the two companies have worked closely together in the past.
Report: Apple talking to programmers about creating a digital TV guide
Apple has started talking to TV programmers about creating a digital TV guide, reports Recode. The guide would work on both Apple TV boxes and other devices, like iPhones, allowing users to quickly find their desired TV shows and movies, and play them with a single click.
The new direction is a spinoff of the skinny-bundle TV service the company wanted to launch last year. After several years of failed negotiations with networks and studios, Apple has decided to just build an interface for content, and let everyone else worry about the red tape.
WSJ: Apple’s “hard-nosed” negotiation tactics have “alienated” cable providers
Apple's stubbornness and “hard-nosed” negotiation tactics have backfired and “alienated” cable providers, who say the firm is a cheapskate in terms of paying for digital content, reports The Wall Street Journal. For years, Apple's been persuading cable firms to let it sell their cherry-picked programming in a skinny TV bundle of its own for about $30 per month vs. $80+ for traditional cable subscriptions.