Hmmm in combination with a 27 inch Imac (or whatever these macs are called) I can image that you dan save yourself buying a tv. good Idea

Doesn't interest me what-so-ever. Who pitches these ideas at Apple?

Typically I'd agree with you to some extent, however, I just can't see myself sitting at a desk or huddled around a laptop to watch TV. I don't know, maybe there's an entire market out there that I'm completely missing but I'd rather take the couch over an office chair. Just my opinion.

If the TV service was in HD AND I could record episodes I would definitely consider their service. Although I doubt that will happen.

That's true, Apple does seem to be the paragon of copy protection.

I would without question sign up for this. iTunes had made it so easy to catch up on shows you miss during broadcast, forgot to DVR, or got interested in before premier that I use it all the time. It would be great to pay one price per month and then just pick and choose whatever I wanted to watch on my iphone, appletv or Mac (Yes I have them all).

pfff. 30 bucks a month or a 50-70 dollar tuner card? thanks but no thanks. I'll take the tuner card. I already pay for cable.

There is a limit on bandwidth for most people. Also, you would need the hardware to output to your TV from your computer ie HDMI out with sound. I guess it depends what you get for the $30, which is around the same price as basic cable most places.

I wonder if you could use FRAPS...

However there is a FREE site fancast.com. Saw the comercials and I thought it was bull but it's not bad, still have a little bit of comercials however they aren't 4 to 5 minutes long like 30 seconds. Most good shows are on it.

30 bucks a month seems a little much though, just as much as cable service is.

And how much do you pay for Cable TV? If you are getting any number of channels I bet you are paying at lot more than $30 a month.

Wouldn't it be consistent on these forums to be in support of saving money. Considering how much bitching goes on about how much a Mac is then to turn around and say "hmmmfff. I'll just pay more for cable" sounds completely 100% inconsistent.

I'd go for it if it wasn't through iTunes.

I watch Hulu on a regular basis and having complete access to all TV episodes, commercial free, and on demand sounds good to me. However, I don't want it tied to specific devices or software. For example, I'd like to have access to it in the same manner as netflix as started going (PS3, xBox, and PC).

He may be paying more, but with a Tuner card in hand and good DVR software he gets everything this provides on top of the extra channels and programming you wont see on the service, like every sport program. If he has cable he probably already has on demand movies too.

With services like Netflix, Hulu (still free as of this comment), and good old pirating I think $30 is way to steep.

Does Apple even offer a good HTPC solution (with fully supported HDMI and around $400)?

Count me in for the market that you're missing. No TV, watches shows on his desktop while sitting in an office chair (a very nice office chair).

However, I also wouldn't be interested. Most of what I want to see is available without a subscription fee.

TV subscription - depends on what channels and whether it's live or click to watch service.
Click to watch is nice but sometimes you just want some live TV.
If it is click to watch and unlimited TV shows without commericals and they include some movies.
That might convince me to cancel cable TV...
Also it would NEED to include certain shows if it's click to watch.
Otherwise if it's live I would need certain channels. But I think $30 a month is cheaper than my wife and I pay...

Services like this offer options to people who live certain ways. I, for example, do not own a TV and do not plan to own a TV anytime soon. Any "news" I want to catch up on I can through a paper or through online new sites. Any shows I want to see can generally be found between the show's parent website or hulu or Netflix. Almost everything can be found without the need to dump massive sums of money into a full cable package bill (Although I can understand people who do).

A service like this from apple would add yet another option to watch/download shows in a quick manner. Hopefully the service would be open to any amount of shows you want for $30, but I tend to doubt it. If they offer the right kind of shows that I want to watch and enough of them, then I would consider it worth the cost. But if it at any point gets cheaper for me to buy a crappy TV and the local cable package, then it isnt worth my time.

They have this already, it's called YouTube, and its free.

This is Apple we are talking about. Have they ever done ANYTHING without some sort of restriction?

Anyway, This wouldn't interest me in the least. I'm trying my best to rid my computer of iTunes as it is.

hmm.... if $30/month will let me watch all TV shows (on itune) on my computers and itouch anytime I want (w/ HD quality will be even better).....

I will think about it...

Other than that.... hmmm.....

Roku and Netflix is only $9.00 (USD) a month and I can watch the shows on my Big Screen TV in HD. What is Apple offering to me for an additional $21.00 (USD) a month? They don’t have a lock on content. Roku also includes the Amazon Channel which includes all the latest Movie Releases on Demand. I don’t see it. And Netflix is adding new content all the time. Apple has some competition on this one

Ture.....

but.... "thanks" to the Google.... they took most of the "copyrighted" video clips off the YouTube. Beside that.. I am not really in favor of taking a break every 5-10min (most of the shows in youtube are broke down to 5-10min clips which can annoying)...

But anyway... just like I said before... if is going to be an all you can eat video fest... I will think about it.. other than that...

I am not sure... guess I will just have to wait and see....
since this sounds like just another Apple rumor....

If is a rumor... specially an Apple rumor..... you just never know.

Here's what they would have to offer:

1. Full HD Content, as in 1080p. Without broadcast constraints, there's no reason that a computer-based TV service should not have 1080p content as an option.

2. Premium content at no extra charges. That means HBO, Cinemax, etc. No additional fees. Should all be included in subscription cost and should be accessable without restriction.

3. Sports. If you're asking to replace cable television as an option, you MUST MUST MUST have sports options. Again, this should be inclusive.

4. Access to live as well as "on-demand" content. No one will adopt a cable replacement unless they can access things like 24 hour news networks, etc. There is no use for this content unless it's live.

5. Local content. Again, if you're replacing cable as well as making your computer the media centerpiece of a household, you need to provide live access to local/regional content.

6. Exclusive content. If you want to set yourself apart from cable you have to offer something it DOESN'T offer. That means exclusive content to the iTunes service. Webcasts, behind the scenes, digital shorts, commentaries and even eventually original programming. Otherwise people will... not... switch.

7. Adult content. The adult entertainment industry has decided much in the way of economic entertainment infrastructure, such as formats (VHS/Beta) and the like. Capture this market and people will come (quietly) in droves.

If Apple can bring all that to the table, they may have a chance.

...interesting that apple is trying to pitch an internet tv subscription around the same time one of the Hulu guys was talking about making Hulu a paid subscription with more premium content.
All the while most (if not all) of our ISPs are freaking out, wondering how much more they can blame pirates for the increase in network usage, when it's really just people streaming their tv and movie subscription through the internet.
I guess this begs the question for those who have it. Verizon FIOS or U-verse customers, isn't your basic cable (really it's IPTV) subscription around $30, with free DVR, etc? Yeah with apple streaming you could purportedly put it on your iphone, but apple doesn't even have anyone on board yet. I won't buy it... I sunk $30 bucks into one of their tv series offered for their 'season pass' it lasted 13 episodes...

You made a big mistake. You can't say anything positive about Apple products here in the comments section. "Good idea" juxtapose to "27 inch iMac" is a major no-no.

ryanegeiger -

Could you point out a single cable or satellite company that offers everything you said for a reasonable price? It doesn't exist so I don't know why you would expect Apple (or anyone) to be able to deliver all of those features at $30. This is designed to replace high-end cable. You get your rabbit ears out for the local crap and iTunes TV service for all of your shows and movies.

If you're talking about replacing ANY type of cable service, then you're asking families to make the computer the entertainment focus of the house. Unless you can talk families into watching Local TV and sports in their living room, then gathering around the office or whipping out the laptop for the "premium" content, then you're asking people to subscribe to an EXTRA service that won't give them the access that their basic service does. People gravitate toward services like Hulu and Fancast when they're bored, in the office, out and about... and the reason they do it is because it's FREE and there's really no reason NOT to. If Apple, Hulu or anyone wants people to pay for an additional service, they have to be able to replace a service we're already paying for or expect a loss leader product. With the amount of services going to a monthly-subscription based model, eventually people's residual incomes will be tapped out and people will start cutting out the unnecessary/underused services, and companies need to take this into account when developing a product.

... except WoW... for some god-awful reason people will still pay for that every month.

Actually I have had a positive experience with Dish Network as they offer everything Ryangeiger mentioned. I am sure Direct TV is similar.

For a little over $40 a month I get a DVR (VIP 722, with remote DVR capability) and everything Ryangeiger mentioned:

1) HD programming
2) Free Cinemax since I am enrolled in autopay, although HBO I would have to pay for
3) Sports
4) If I wanted to I could pay for on demand stuff
5) Local channels.
6) Dish Network does have exclusive stuff (i.e. Dish Earth and HD movies)
7) Adult content

However, there is a contract. If Apple could offer all that at a lower price ($30 would be awesome) I would probably use that service!

Not that I intend to do it, but new 27" iMac comes ready to hang on the wall. It seems Apple already expects some people to buy it for use in front of the couch. Also, the Apple TV can stream anything from iTunes. It may not be required, but ATV would go hand in hand with the new service.

It's a novel idea, but like many have said, the quality of the TV involved will be sub par, even in comparison to 480p. Even if they offered shows and such in high definition, one would have to have a monster connection to handle it. If the networks agree to it, I have a feeling the service will flounder out in no time flat.

This could be interesting, though I don't think it will catch on.
There are a lot of people out there (myself included) that don't have cable or satellite.
And, while there's not much TV I think I'm missing out on, being able to watch a show...whenever I wanted...would be quite nice. Though I don't think I'd pay $30 a month for that access.
Apple does let you "rent" HD movies over itunes, so I think it would possibly be HD; we'd have to see.
And, many people also do actually have their PC's / Macs, whatever, hooked up to their main TV/theater (as I do) for sound and visuals.
I do, however, think this would be a niche market.
People on the road might benefit a lot from this though, since they could catch their favorite shows at anytime on their laptops, etc...
This could be interesting to watch develop, as I'm sure Apple wouldn't consider [if this is indeed legit & being pursued] doing something unless survey data/market research warranted it.

Hooray, it seems Microsoft is going to be offering a TV Service now.