Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has ruled out the company’s participation in Apple’s eagerly anticipated new streaming service.
At a press conference at Netflix’s Hollywood offices, Hastings said Netflix had chosen not to integrate with their service and prefers to let customers watch Netflix content on its own platform, according to multiple reports.
Apple is expected to launch its much-rumoured TV and video service on March 25, after it sent out invites last week for an ‘Apple special event’ at the Steve Jobs Theatre in Cupertino with the tag-line “it’s showtime”.
Apple’s streaming offering is expected to combine its own original content with subscriptions from partners like Starz, CBS, Lionsgate and HBO.
Apple hired Sony Pictures Television’s co-presidents Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg to lead its move into original programming in 2017. Since then has appointed TV talent like former Channel 4 content chief Jay Hunt and has also struck a multiyear deal with Oprah Winfrey.
Speaking on the company’s Q4 2018 earnings call in November, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that the breakdown of the cable bundle will take place at a much faster pace in 2019 and predicted Apple would participate in this in a variety of ways – including by offering original content and third-party video subscriptions.
