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Apple: Hey TV people, wanna be in the same place Samsung phones are these days?

Do you wanna make telly shows with us – or with the losers?

Apple is reportedly in talks with television studios to develop original shows for its planned internet video-streaming service.

A report from Hollywood business mag Variety cites sources who claim that Apple internet software and services boss Eddy Cue has been meeting studio executives to open up negotiations for original content.

Cue oversees most of Apple's media services, including iTunes, the App Store, and iCloud. His unit would presumably be the one to handle the rollout of a streaming video service. Cue has previously handled negotiations with record labels and musicians over iTunes streaming.

The report claims the studios would potentially produce content for an Apple-branded service that would offer streaming video, similar to that of Netflix or Hulu.

The report notes that among those Apple has sought out was the former Top Gear hosting trio of Jeremy Clarkson, James May, and Richard Hammond, who ultimately signed on with Amazon.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment on the report. The company has had a policy against commenting on rumors.

Tuesday's Variety report is not the first to speak of negotiations between Apple and studio honchos over the rights to stream content. The Cupertino giant has for months been said to be in talks with major US studios in a bid to secure content for a streaming Apple service. Compensation reportedly remains a sticking point.

The service, along with the fabled Apple-branded TV set, have long been rumored to be in development, but so far Apple has given no official word on either device. ®

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