Apple TV Might Not Launch Until 2014

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Apple TV Might Not Launch Until 2014

For Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) fans waiting for the next great product from the company, possibly Apple TV, they may have to wait longer than initially anticipated. Analysts are now expecting the product to launch in 2014.

The widely anticipated TV had been scheduled to debut in 2013 but now analysts are seeing the launch date pushed back a year.  According to JP Morgan Chase & Co.(NYSE:JPM) analyst Mark Moskowitz, Apple is moving toward the rollout of its television by first cutting contracts with major Hollywood studios and then releasing hardware in 2014.

But why push back two years? Economic conditions aren’t exactly favorable and research has shown that it “does not indicate any looming TV-related product launch.”

Moskowitz added that the television market isn’t exactly stable and by introducing the TV sooner than later it could prove to be a risky move for Apple unless there was a major reason to do so. He noted that the company, needs “a radical change of the user interface, integration of the TV programming and data content, and use of gesture or voice control.”

Adding to the “it may be better to wait” column, Moskowitz also doesn’t think Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) would see a decent profit from the TV. He wrote, “We are not sure that the Apple premium could prevail in the TV market.”

Overall, the current television market isn’t doing that great. Sony’s television business has been bleeding money for 10 years and has lost $10 billion from the 20 million of sets that it builds annually, according to ZDNet. The company has also undergone management changes and hopes to address their TV problems.

Japan’s three largest  television set makers including Sony, Sharp, and Panasonic saw a a combined loss of $21 billion in 2011. Seeing a little more success is Samsung as its TV business’ profit rose last year to $467 million from $70 million.

As consumers know well, Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) moves slowly with new product launches and will take their time to enter a competitive market.

You may not remember, but the iPad’s development started in the 2000’s prior to the iPhone; its development took three years.

Why would Apple change with a speedy launch for its TV?

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