Inside documents Comcast filed with the FCC yesterday might be a hint at a potential new Apple set-top box, separate from the existing Apple TV.
Comcast’s filings of joint Applications and Public Interest Statements were an important step in the company’s proposed $45 billion acquisition of Time Warner Cable.
Here’s the part causing speculation about a potential new Apple service.
Today, Google competes as a network, video, and technology provider, and 8 out 9 of the next Google Fiber markets the company announced are in Comcast or TWC areas. 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. Microsoft just announced that it will feature ads on the Xbox One, creating a new video advertising platform. And just last week, Amazon announced its own set-top box while it continues to leverage its unequaled sales platform and family of competitive tablets to promote its burgeoning Prime Instant Video business.
Sure, this is Comcast, and not Apple, speaking about a new service, but there have been earlier reports of Apple speaking with Comcast about a potential new streaming TV service.
Speculation of another Apple streaming box comes after Amazon announced its own new set-top box, “Fire TV.”