Apple Developing TV Series
13 February 2016 - 8:10AM
Dow Jones News
Apple Inc., which has long flirted with the television business,
is finally developing its first series, according to people
familiar with the matter—as a way to bolster its subscription music
service.
The six-episode "Vital Signs" is expected to be available only
on Apple Music, the $10-a-month streaming service, and star Dr.
Dre, the pioneering hip-hop producer and senior Apple executive.
Dr. Dre joined the technology giant in 2014 when it paid $3 billion
for Beats Electronics and Beats Music, both of which he
co-founded.
Several times in recent years Apple has explored—and retreated
from— plans to launch a $30 a month online TV service that
effectively would compete with cable and satellite television.
The putative new series would make Apple the latest technology
company to use original programming as a hook to draw in new
customers. Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. have found success with
series exclusive to their video services. Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo
Inc.'s efforts have yielded mixed results.
Plans for "Vital Signs" were reported earlier by the Hollywood
Reporter. The show is to be based loosely on Dr. Dre's own life
story, which took him from the streets of the impoverished Los
Angeles suburb of Compton to the upper reaches of the global
business community.
Video is emerging as a battleground for music services. Spotify
AB, Apple Music's larger rival in streaming, recently began
offering clips from outlets including ESPN, Comedy Central, the
BBC, Vice Media and Maker Studios.
Hip-hop producer DJ Khaled said in an interview this week that
he is working on a range of video projects with Apple Music,
including films and series, but declined to go into detail because
he said talks were at an early stage. A video version of his Apple
Music show "We the Best" is expected to appear shortly, according
to a person familiar with the matter, who added that Apple is
hoping to capitalize on the producer's following on Snapchat, where
he frequently posts motivational video messages.
Daisuke Wakabayashi contributed to this article.
Write to Hannah Karp at hannah.karp@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 12, 2016 15:55 ET (20:55 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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