Apple considering launching a lower cost Apple TV streaming stick

“Apple is considering launching a small dongle that could plug into TV sets, giving more users access to its new streaming service,” Matthew Field writes for The Telegraph. “The iPhone-maker already has a premium set-top streaming box – the Apple TV – but rivals Google and Amazon have both found success with their downmarket streaming sticks.”
“Apple is in the process of developing its own TV streaming service with original shows that it hopes will rival those produced by Netflix or Amazon Prime Video,” Field writes. “The service is set to be limited, however, and only available on Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad or its Apple TV box.”
MacDailyNews Take: Not “limited,” exclusive.
“A new budget streaming box would help widen its appeal, according to technology news site The Information,” Field writes. “Apple is said to be preparing to launch its streaming service as early as March 2019… Apple has around 15p percent of the streaming media player market, having first launched its Apple TV box in 2006.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: A low-cost Apple TV streaming stick with healthy margins make sense for the launch of Apple’s streaming content service, unless Apple’s main intent is to drive sales of iPhone, iPad, and Macs by offering exclusive content for free only to owners of Apple products. In that case, it might make sense to leave the Apple TV as the entry point since $149 to get Apple’s streaming content will be a low entry price compared to Apple’s other options.
To us, $99 seems like the magic entry point for non-Apple product owners for an Apple TV device capable of accessing Apple’s streaming service when it launches.
SEE ALSO:
The state of the Apple TV in 2018 – November 19, 2018
Apple plans to launch TV streaming service first in the U.S., then swiftly expand globally with free original content – October 23, 2018
Apple plans to give away original content for free to device owners as part of new digital TV strategy – October 10, 2018