Apple Reportedly Wants to Create Original Content Like Netflix

Could Apple be the creator of your favourite TV show or movie one day? That’s what sources believe are in the works, reports Variety:

Sources indicate the Cupertino, Calif., colossus has held preliminary conversations in recent weeks with executives in Hollywood to suss out their interest in spearheading efforts to produce entertainment content.

Sources claim Apple’s goal is to create original long-form streaming content to compete with Netflix, reportedly looking to hire production divisions this fall, with a goal to start operations next year on TV, movies or possibly both.

But other sources tell Variety Apple’s possible foray into the business is more of an investigation than something serious at the moment. But, Apple reportedly “made an unprecedented bid” to land the stars of “Top Gear” after they left the BBC earlier in 2015, but only were outbid by Amazon.

The report has a sense Apple is only exploring the arena of original content as a possibility, and the idea could be an extension of the company’s recent jump into Apple Music, where it assisted some top artists to create music videos.

Could this be part of the long term Apple TV strategy, to become the pure entertainment hub in your living room? If major TV networks and movie studios don’t want to play ball with content deals, Apple has massive amounts of cash it could lay down and forge its own way, but that would be a massive undertaking. But, let’s not forget Apple’s incredibly close relationship with Disney, which could play a major part for original content.

Apple is expected to announce a new Apple TV at its upcoming September 9 special event, pegged to include a new motion-sensitive touchscreen remote powered by Siri, plus support for Bluetooth gaming controllers.