Amazon might release an online television service before Apple does

Amazon is considering creating its own online TV service, according to Bloomberg. The company is said to have reached out to CBS and NBC Universal about including their channels. The talks are in preliminary stages, according to the report. Dan Rayburn, a principal analyst for Frost & Sullivan, first reported on Tuesday that Amazon had been talking to content owners about licensing content for a live streaming service. Amazon already has its own on-demand video service, Amazon Prime Instant Video, which offers TV shows and movies for streaming. What Bloomberg’s report is describing, however, sounds more like a TV service that could allow Amazon to compete with TV providers such as Comcast. The news comes as reports have suggested that Apple has been in talks to create its own TV service as well. Apple was initially expected to launch its service this fall, but now the launch is said to have been delayed until next year as talks with content providers are moving slowly, according to Bloomberg.