Apple Developing TV Series

Apple Inc., which has long flirted with the television business, is finally developing its first series, according to people familiar with the matter—as a way to bolster its subscription music service.

The six-episode "Vital Signs" is expected to be available only on Apple Music, the $10-a-month streaming service, and star Dr. Dre, the pioneering hip-hop producer and senior Apple executive. Dr. Dre joined the technology giant in 2014 when it paid $3 billion for Beats Electronics and Beats Music, both of which he co-founded.

Several times in recent years Apple has explored—and retreated from— plans to launch a $30 a month online TV service that effectively would compete with cable and satellite television.

The putative new series would make Apple the latest technology company to use original programming as a hook to draw in new customers. Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. have found success with series exclusive to their video services. Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc.'s efforts have yielded mixed results.

Plans for "Vital Signs" were reported earlier by the Hollywood Reporter. The show is to be based loosely on Dr. Dre's own life story, which took him from the streets of the impoverished Los Angeles suburb of Compton to the upper reaches of the global business community.

Video is emerging as a battleground for music services. Spotify AB, Apple Music's larger rival in streaming, recently began offering clips from outlets including ESPN, Comedy Central, the BBC, Vice Media and Maker Studios.

Hip-hop producer DJ Khaled said in an interview this week that he is working on a range of video projects with Apple Music, including films and series, but declined to go into detail because he said talks were at an early stage. A video version of his Apple Music show "We the Best" is expected to appear shortly, according to a person familiar with the matter, who added that Apple is hoping to capitalize on the producer's following on Snapchat, where he frequently posts motivational video messages.

Daisuke Wakabayashi contributed to this article.

Write to Hannah Karp at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 12, 2016 15:55 ET (20:55 GMT)

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