Apple to stream itunes movies on Samsung TVS
SANFRANCISCO: Apple and Samsung announced a deal that only recently would have seemed unthinkable: The iphone maker will begin offering itunes movies and TV shows on its arch-rival’s TV sets.
Coming ahead of the annual CES technology show in Las Vegas, Sunday’s move demonstrates Apple’s shift toward developing into a tech- and media-services company as sales of gear like the iphone continue to wane. It’s “further evidence that Apple is willing to change its hardware-first approach and work with third parties to boost services revenue,” said Gene Munster, a long-time Apple watcher.
Last week, after Apple shocked investors by saying iphone sales missed expectations for the holiday quarter, it pointed to an all-time record services revenue of $10.8 billion for the quarter.
“With services a key part of the Apple flywheel and one of the only silver linings in an otherwise dark period of growth, Cook & Co. need to double down on content and distribution partners going forward,” according to Dan Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities.
The “deal shows that perhaps Apple doesn’t quite view Samsung as the enemy it used to,” wrote Michael Gartenberg, a former Apple marketing executive. “There are others both Apple and Samsung should worry about. Or the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” The addition of itunes on Samsung TVS comes just weeks after Apple opened up Apple Music to the Amazon Echo.