Apple is moving forward with its Web TV service as talks with main networks are “rapidly gaining momentum”,  The New York Post reports. According to The Post, Apple is currently in talks with ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox and it wants to launch the “as-yet-unnamed” service as soon as the late fall.

“The platform is ready and it rocks,” said one source.

Sources say that Apple wants to offer on the service local live TV feeds streamed on any Apple device.

Cable channels, including Discovery, will likely be part of the package as well — “as will ESPN, if Apple gets its way, sources said.”

The price of the service has not yet been decided. According to the “industry sources” it may range from $10 to $40 a month. The Wall Street Journal reported back in March that it will cost $30-$40 a month.

Apple is also expected to launch the next Apple TV model in the fall, with a slimmer profile, new operating system and interface, support for Siri and its own App Store.

Yesterday, Comcast unveiled its live Web TV streaming service called Stream.

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It’s not over, people! Yet another channel made it to Apple TV screens in the form of CBS News. It is really overwhelming to find that the channel appeared on Apple TV just hours after it was unveiled, and even before it hit the App Store and Google Play store.

The CBSN service is supposedly a direct competitor to the HuffPost Live, as it brings the hottest news for streaming in real time. You can keep up with the latest happenings, on all weekdays from 9 am to 12 night, right on your Apple TV. In addition, it brings VOD contents of previous programs like CBS This Morning, CBS Evening News, 60 Minutes, 48 Hours, Sunday Morning and Face the Nation.

Besides the CBSN service, the channel also provides access to other CBS affiliated streams like those from CBS Sports and Entertainment Tonight.

The best part is that you can access all of these contents for free. Yes, there is no subscription charges or the need to login via cable operator accounts. However, the catch is that you’ll have to bear with some ads in between, which might just be the deal breaker for many cord cutters.

The channel should be automatically available to all users by now or else, you can try updating your firmware or rebooting your Apple TV.

The features include

• Live, anchored coverage from 9:00 AM – midnight ET every weekday;
• Simulcasts of CBS News special reports for breaking news;
• Additional content from a range of CBS sources including CBS News, CBS affiliate stations, CNET, CBSSports.com, Entertainment Tonight and more;
• Accessibility across key connected TV devices including Amazon Fire TV, Roku players, Roku TV and others, as well as additional core CBS News digital platforms including CBSNews.com, its mobile website and the newly launched CBS News app for Windows 8/8.1 and Windows Phone 8/8.1 available through the Windows Store and Windows Phone Store. CBSN will also be available on the CBS News apps for Android and other leading platforms before the end of the year.
• Personal choice and control through DVR-like functionality that enable viewers to watch the segments they’re interested in or tune into the live programming seamlessly;
• The ability to share content from the experience via social media accounts with compatible devices;
• The opportunity for advertisers to reach engaged news consumers with custom ad integrations.

To all those who’ve been doubting the future of Apple’s set top box, it’s time to take a deep breath and wait.

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Though many of you may think that there isn’t much to say here, we think it’s an interesting move from Apple, because this is the first time Apple adds region-specific, non-US video service on Apple TV. It could mean there is more to come soon: more services and more countries. It’s also interesting from the point of view of Apple’s strategy for the next Apple TV (set-top box or standalone TV set).

We are all still waiting on Apple to make its big announcement regarding television. The fact is, Apple is being down-right HUSH-HUSH about it all. One could argue, and it might as well be me, that Apple is sitting back placing content deals all over the world so that when there offering launches it is not a US-only-device. Everything Apple does is global. They do not sell a product unless they can get in every market possible. Well, a television service that is only based on content out of the United States would be lacking on the international stage. On the other hand, a television service with international content deals – that would be interesting.

Image: Christian Krämer

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Apple TV is continuing to push its way into more and more American households, and the content distributors are slowly but surely falling in line. CBS has been ridiculously slow to embrace streaming options, only recently agreeing to allow their content to be sold on Amazon and Netflix. And according to AllThingsD, CBS’ Chief Executive Officer Les Moonves has declared publicly that he’d be willing to place their programming on Apple TV as well.

He brought it up during the company’s quarterly earnings call in response to an analyst’s question. Moonves declared that Apple TV was a part of the company’s plans, and a partnership was certainly possible. Of course, he was quick to point out that the deal would have to make sense for CBS. And as with all things in big business, that comes down to the money.

When the analyst pushed Moonves for further detail, he mentioned a lot of the same issues that traditional networks have complained about for a while now, including how syndication is handled online, how the digital distribution affects advertising revenue, and what impact the added broadcasts would make on the earning power of rebroadcasting a current show.

Moonves went on to compare the potential of Apple TV to their deals with Amazon and Netflix, which were handled to his satisfaction. It appears that the issue may be how each company views the content. According to Moonves, he doesn’t want to give a potential competitor his own programming if it helps them get stronger. And he clearly hasn’t been satisfied with Apple’s answers yet.

The fact that CBS finally reached an agreement with Hulu this week is an encouraging sign. Even though CBS has turned down Apple several times already, Moonves may simply be coming to the inevitable conclusion: people don’t want to be told when they can watch their shows anymore. On demand is the future, and they’re going to have to get in line eventually or risk losing their audience to those that beat them there.

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