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Apple said to halt talks with Imagine Entertainment

Apple was discussing large content deals with Ron Howard's production studio, but those talks "fizzled," according to the Financial Times.

Andrew Gebhart Former senior producer
planetoftheapps.jpg

A shot from Apple's upcoming "Planet of the Apps."

Apple

I keep waiting for Apple to make a splash with original video content a la Netflix or Amazon. Sure, the tech giant has a couple of upcoming programs, but Apple was reportedly close to something much bigger.

Apple's talks with Ron Howard's Imagine Entertainment have stalled, reported the the Financial Times (subscription) on Thursday.

Imagine Studios is well known for films like "Apollo 13" and TV shows like "Empire." The deal could have included the right to distribute original content first on Apple's platforms, said the Financial Times, or Apple could have been making a play to fully acquire Imagine Entertainment.

Apple has been making moves toward creating original shows, following in the footsteps of Netflix and Amazon. The company showed off a first look at their upcoming reality show "Planet of the Apps" earlier this week. The show features real iOS app developers pitching their wares to a panel of celebrity judges who then tell them why their idea rocks or reeks (think "American Idol" or "Shark Tank"). Apple also announced a spin-off of James Corden's late night segment "Carpool Karaoke."

Apple didn't immediately responded to a request for comment.