It’s an interesting idea, if it pans out. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that CBS and Disney are in discussions with Apple about participating in Apple’s future plans to offer subscription TV through iTunes. If the deal consummates, shows from CBS’s parent network and CW, and Disney’s ABC, Disney Channel, and ABC Family networks would be available.

The deal, according to the Journal, involves Apple paying content providers $2 to $4 per subscriber per month for a broadcast network, and $1 to $2 per month per subscriber per month for a basic-cable network. The monthly cost for a subscriber is estimated at $30 to $40, and access would be to all available network content.

Apple’s concept could morph into something wanted by many cable subscribers: the chance to choose the networks they want, rather than having to buy a fixed bundle (which includes a lot of networks they don’t want). Such flexibility would certainly be welcome.

This aspect of the deal, however, might serve to limit its potential. CBS has a cozy relationship with Viacom, and NBC was just purchased by Comcast. It’s unlikely they’d be willing to enter into a venture that might undermine these concerns. (Disney’s another matter, as Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, is Disney’s largest single shareholder.)

If all the ducks fall into a row, Apple’s new service should be available sometime in 2010.

 

Image Credit: Apple, CBS, Disney

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