Samsung TVs to offer iTunes shows in new partnership with Apple
Apple and Samsung announced a deal that only recently would have seemed unthinkable: The iPhone maker will begin offering iTunes movies and TV shows on its archrival’s TV sets.
Coming ahead of the annual CES technology show in Las Vegas, Sunday’s move demonstrates Apple’s shift toward developing into tech- and media-services company as sales of gear like the iPhone continue to wane. Gene Munster said that – It’s “further evidence that Apple is willing to change its hardware-first approach and work with third parties to boost services revenue.”
Focus Points
- Samsung Smart TVs will soon support Apple iTunes for movie and TV purchases and playback.
- Samsung and Apple have a weird history, and the two are typically rivals in most markets.
- The new TVs will also support Apple AirPlay 2.
For most of this decade, the two companies have been the top two smartphone makers in the world by market share, with Samsung usually on top. The two companies battled it out in court for years, with Apple accusing Samsung of ripping off its ideas and violating its patents. Most of those battles have been settled.
At the same time,it also provides Apple with key components, such as screens and other hardware, for devices including the iPhone and iPad.
Films from Warner Bros, Walt Disney, Universal, Sony, and Fox purchased through iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Vudu could be viewed on the respective apps and devices and TVs that support the apps.
The Samsung deal is the second time in recent months in which Apple has made a pact with another technology company to land its services on their devices. In November, it said its Apple Music streaming service would be made available on Amazon’s Echo smart speakers, despite Apple selling its own line of HomePod speakers that compete directly with Echo speakers.
