Following discussions with a "major TV component supplier" last month, Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster is reiterating his take on Apple’s potential unveiling of an HD TV product. He also offers three scenarios for content distribution.
Munster
reportedly had a chat with a "major TV component supplier" last month. This supplier alleges to have been contacted by Apple "regarding various capabilities of their television display components.”
Munster added this tidbit to other intel he gained in his discussions with suppliers, such as the fact that Apple was investing in manufacturing facilities to build 50-inch LCD displays, reports
Fortune.
As a result of this, Munster believes Apple is poised to introduce its finalized full-fledged television set. The analyst’s only concern is the timing.
"We believe that Apple only enters mature markets with the goal of revolutionizing them, as it did with the smartphone," Munster wrote.
But Apple still needs to sign a lot of deals to get premium content delivered to the customer’s living room.
"Without a revamped TV content solution, we do not think Apple enters the TV market," he added.
The Wall Street analyst then proceeds to offer three ways to put content on this re-envisioned TV solution. Quoted in the Fortune report, Munster lays out these three scenarios (excerpts):
1. Apple could simply enable its television to manage a consumer's live TV service from within a unified interface much like TiVo does, partnering with MSOs
2. Apple could offer access to live TV from network channels in combination with other web-based video services
3. Apple could offer monthly subscriptions, on an a-la-carte basis, for live TV packages with content from content providers.
As many have opined before, the user interface is the easy part for Apple. The major kink is partnering with Hollywood.
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