Samuel Gibbs 

Apple working on another set-top TV box, documents suggest

Comcast-Time Warner Cable planned merger pitch to US government states Apple working on set top box that is not Apple TV. By Samuel Gibbs
  
  

apple tv
Apple is developing a set top TV box, according a filing by two American cable companies. Photograph: Jamie Mann/Alamy Photograph: Jamie Mann / Alamy/Alamy

Apple is working on a new set-top box besides its existing Apple TV, new documents reveal.

A regulatory filing made by Comcast and Time Warner Cable to the US Federal Communications Commission pitching their planned merger specifically mentions that Apple is exploring the "development of an Apple set-top box".

Apple tablets are viewing platforms for cable services even while Apple offers an online video service, Apple TV, and explores development of an Apple set-top box.

The rumour that will never die

Apple has long been rumoured to be about to update to its Apple TV streaming television box to add the ability to stream broadcast television and channels through specific apps.

A report by the Wall Street Journal this year indicated that Apple was working on a set-top box in partnership with American cable companies to offer streaming TV – but that lack of agreement on content licensing was holding up its release.

The planned merger of Comcast and Time Warner Cable in the US may have delayed Apple’s new offering, as content deals will be crucial to the its success.

Apple is also expected to add a gaming feature to a new set top box, competing with rivals from Roku, Google and the recently released Amazon Fire TV, which streams content from Amazon’s extensive on-demand video library as well as games via the Amazon app store.

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