Apple has signed a new confidential licensing deal with Rovi today, a deal that has at least one analyst claiming Apple will release a Web-connected HDTV with live TV and DVR in the future.
Gene Munster of Piper Jaffray calls the deal strong evidence of an upcoming HDTV.
Rovi is the company behind the interactive program guide used by many cable/satellite operators and set-top box makers.
Says Munster (via AI): “We believe this announcement is further evidence that Apple is developing live TV and DVR features for its Apple TV product, and will likely launch an all-in-one Apple Television in the next 2-4 years. Following its deal with Rovi, Apple would be clear to add live TV, DVR and guidance features to its Apple TV product, which we believe is a critical step towards an all-in-one Apple Television.”
Apple launched an updated Apple TV earlier this month.
Although it is unclear, Munster believes the deal will cost Apple $10 million per year.
Result for: television
Citing sources “familiar with the plans,” the LATimes is reporting that Sony Pictures Television is set to launch two new movie channels by the end of 2010.
The first channel, dubbed Sony Pictures Movies HD for now, would be the company’s first cable channel completely devoted to movies
Says television analyst Derek Baine: “They have been very successful internationally with their channels, but in the U.S. they have not had the leverage of the other media conglomerates, which have a bunch of different cable channels. Perhaps they are doing this because the market to sell movies to broadcast and cable networks has been so bad.”
The channel has a tentative launch date of October 1st.
Sony’s venture would be very similar to the popular Universal HD and MGM HD channels that are currently available to most cable subscribers.
The second channel would be the widely popular FearNet station, which is a joint venture between Comcast, Sony and Lionsgate. FearNet is currently available as a VOD channel through Comcast, FioS, and Cox and offers a plethora of horror films.
Result for: television
Microsoft’s UK boss Neil Thompson has responded to Sony’s E3 press conference by saying that 3D gaming is too expensive for consumers for now. Sony have attendees 3D glasses to view 3D content at the conference while revealing titles that will support 3D for the PS3.
PS3 users will need a 3D television for the effect to work. Thompson feels that the price involved with 3D gaming puts it a while off being mass market.
“If you look at the costs of entry into the living room and when that’s going to become mass-market, we think the offering with Kinect and the natural user-interface we’re bringing, that’s a more compelling proposition for consumers over the coming years than maybe looking at 3D at this point.”
Of course, Nintendo also promoted the 3D effect of its new 3DS handheld console, and that doesn’t require an investment in 3D glasses, but for living room gaming, maybe Thompson has a point on price for now. As for Microsoft’s Kinect, Thompson resisted providing any pricing information to Eurogamer.net.
“We haven’t decided to announce that at this point and we’ll make that decision in due course and then announce it in due course. We haven’t landed on a date yet when exactly we’ll announce it, but when we do we’ll let you know.”
Gamestop lists the Kinect at $150, which is largely expected to be around the price point Microsoft charges for the motion-sensing system.
