Apple eyes Premier League TV rights

Computer giant, Apple is showing interest in joining the billion-pound battle for the next set of live Premier League TV rights when the tender goes out before the end of the season, the Daily Mail reports.

The Premier League is seen as the type of premium content that will help establish Apple TV in the UK and boost iPad sales, while the iTunes subscription service infrastructure is already in place.

According to City A.M., the Cupertino-based firm is said to be examining whether a bid for the rights could be a driving force for its long-rumoured Apple TV, which is expected in the first half of this year.

The next three seasons of the world's most lucrative football league are set to go to tender in the second quarter, with BSkyB, ESPN and Al Jazeera all expected to bid.

The company could certainly afford to bid for the Premier League rights, The Telegraph notes.

The last round of UK TV rights, for 2010 to 2013, sold for £1.7 billion. Apple has almost $10 billion (£6.4 billion) in cash and around another $70 billion (£45 billion) in cash alternatives and marketable securities.