Long Rumored Apple TV Streaming Service Release Tipped For Early 2019

A report today suggests Apple is preparing to launch its long-rumored subscription TV service globally in the first half of 2019. This service would go to war with major TV show and movie streaming services that not only serve their own subscription content, but that of associated and 3rd-party brands. This service would work on Apple TV devices and – MAYBE – elsewhere.

Three people familiar with the company's plans told The Information that Apple's plan is to launch their TV subscription service in more than 100 countries. Apple is apparently working to get their service launched inside the first half of the year 2019, with an app for the service released globally within months of the announcement. This service would serve subscriptions to TV networks owned by 3rd-party companies in addition to streaming Apple's own original content.

If launched, this service would run on the Apple TV device and would possibly run on the iPhone and iPad as well. Subscription costs would run through the Apple TV app where the previous model would send users outside the app to play video and/or download additional apps.

If Apple works with a strategy similar to that of Apple Music, this TV subscription service might well be a runaway hit. Now that Apple Music is doing pretty well, Apple's next play could take a similar road to user devices. Then again, Apple's been trying to do something similar since it first launched its original Apple TV app back in December of 2016.

In September it was suggested that Apple's collection of original content was in trouble. In January of this year there was a rumor that Apple was acquiring Netflix. Things are heating up in streaming and subscription TV content, and Apple's quite likely next up to the plate. With no rumors of new Apple TV hardware, might we be getting ahead of ourselves already?