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Video may represent next big Apple push, say execs

updated 01:40 pm EDT, Fri October 30, 2009

Tablet to preference movies, TV over books?

Video is likely to be the next big focus of a lot of Apple's digital content, reports RBC Capital's Mike Abramsky. The analyst recently spoke to three Apple executives, including CFO Peter Oppenheimer; the VP for iTunes and Internet services, Eddy Cue; and finally David Moody, the VP for worldwide Mac marketing. The executives note that video is seen as the next "exploding" opportunity after music, but that it is currently being hampered by several obstacles.

These include the industry's complicated rights system, which often places sharp restrictions on how and where video can be sold or used. Apple must also compete with companies offering subsidized video and hardware, the executives add, and discover what the right "offer" is for the consuming public. The Apple TV is still considered a marginal product, though it may be poised to do well given market trends.

A notable claim is that Apple is not enthusiastic about online books and newspapers, as a result of the structure of the publishing industry. Such a statement conflicts with media reports, suggesting that the company has been actively courting publishers with the aim of putting e-books on its forthcoming tablet. Fortune argues that the device may thus be more oriented towards video playback, in addition to handling music, apps and web browsing.

 
Previous Comments

really!

10/30, 01:52pm (1 reply) reply

Ya think the company that rents movies on iTunes and sells something called Apple TV and has video editing built into a freakin phone just MIGHT push into video? You're a visionary, I say!

fizzy

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2009

+10

huh?

10/30, 04:18pm reply

A notable claim is that Apple is not enthusiastic about online books and newspapers, as a result of the structure of the publishing industry.

And the movie industry is any better?

Personally, I can't see the point of having a 'big screen' ipod touch mainly for movie/video watching. If I wanted to watch videos, I'd watch on a real screen. And if I wanted to watch them 'on-the-go', I'd watch them on something more portable.

testudo

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

Let Walmart be your barometer

11/02, 12:13pm reply

My wife works at Walmart. One of the regional 'big whigs' [so much as said] that Walmart is getting out of the music and movie sales business. What are they putting in, instead?... "There is this really cool device called an Apple TV..."

wooky

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

+1

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