Apple, Facebook and Netflix are all having discussions with CBS for the rights to broadcast both TV shows and live events, CBS CEO Les Moonves told Bloomberg. Further, Moonves said that CBS "probably" will reach an agreement with Apple for the iPhone vendor's rumored live TV service.
Moonves' candid comments potentially shed additional light on the desire by technology and Internet companies for additional TV content on their respective platforms.
"Apple is having conversations with everyone about doing their own streaming services," Moonves told Bloomberg. "We have had those conversations, as have the other networks. Do I think something will happen? Probably, but I do not know when." Moonves added that CBS is having similar discussions with Facebook and Netflix.
This isn't the first time Moonves has publicly discussed CBS' negotiations with Apple. In May, Moonves said that CBS would "probably" ink a deal with Apple "We're very excited about it," he told Re/code, adding that he had recently met with Apple's Eddy Cue as part of an "ongoing conversation."
Apple has been widely rumored to be developing a streaming video service featuring content from the likes of CBS, NBC, ABC and others. Indeed, the company had been widely expected to announce the service in conjunction with the introduction of its new Apple TV gadget last month, However, according to various reports, the launch of the company's streaming service was pushed back until sometime next year due to ongoing negotiations over licensing content for the service.
However, Moonves' comments about Facebook are equally as interesting as those about Apple. Facebook is testing a new section of its web and mobile sites that will provide a dedicated location for users to find, view or share videos with their Facebook friends. The addition lays a direct challenge at the feet of YouTube and puts other social media sites on notice. It also potentially hints at Facebook's further ambitions to build more and more video into its feeds for customers.
And of course, CBS has a long relationship with Netflix -- Moonves recently told CNBC that CBS has earned $2 billion from licensing its content to Netflix and Hulu. But Moonves' comments about Netflix's potential interest in licensing live broadcasts could hint at the streaming video provider's interesting in expanding beyond its on-demand roots.
Beyond licensing its content, CBS is also taking its offerings directly to consumers through its CBS All Access streaming video service. In his comments to Bloomberg, Moonves declined to provide subscriber figures for the service but said the company is pleased with sales so far.
CBS recently expanded its All Access service to Roku, the nation's most popular streaming video device.
For more:
- see this Bloomberg article
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