Rumors of an Apple-created television service have been around for almost as long as the rumors about an Apple-created television set, but a new report from the Wall Street Journal suggests we may know more soon. The WSJ claims that Apple will be launching a 25-or-so channel TV service for $30 or $40 a month that would include ABC, CBS, Fox, and various subsidiary channels like ESPN and FX.

NBC is not part of the current talks, apparently because of conflicts with parent company Comcast. Apple's plans had previously been expected to include some kind of partnership with cable companies, combining their infrastructure and content with Apple's hardware and software. The Journal says those plans have been nixed, again because of friction with Comcast.

TV was a major focus for Apple at its "spring forward" media event last week. Apple CEO Tim Cook and HBO CEO Richard Plepler announced that the companies had entered into an exclusive partnership to launch HBO Now, HBO's long-rumored standalone streaming service. These new rumors suggest that Apple is making similar inroads with other TV networks.

Apple would offer this service on the Apple TV set-top box as well as through other iDevices. Though the Apple TV hardware hasn't seen a major refresh in three years, Apple recently reduced its price from $99 to $69, slightly lower than competing hardware like the Roku 3, Nexus Player, or Amazon's Fire TV.