Canadian broadcasters are awaiting news on the future of TV distribution Thursday from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) — an announcement that will come after the agency’s recent Let’s Talk TV rulings.

After last week’s CRTC changes, which include the creation of new classifications for video-on-demand streaming services, this week’s news could include details of the potential unbundling of cable TV packages.

In the U.S., however, the unbundling of cable from its roots is already taking place unabated.

Apple is once again the subject of reports that the tech giant is in talks to launch a web-based TV service later this year. Sony just launched an online TV service in three markets in the U.S. NBC is also working to launch a service.

The moves are aimed at enticing cord cutters or “cord nevers” (younger viewers who don’t expect to ever get cable television) with what are called “skinny basic” cable bundles. These offer a small selection of channels online at a low price. One example is Dish’s Sling TV, which was launched in February offering a smattering of channels including CNN and ESPN for $20 (U.S.) a month.

Sony’s PlayStation Vue looks like a more robust offering than the “skinny basic” plans. Available over the company’s PS3 and PS4 gaming consoles, it comes in three tiers: Access, for $49.99 per month, with 50 of the most popular channels; Core, for $59.99, which adds local sports channels in select markets; and Elite, for $69.99, which offers 85-plus channels.

Vue will also have a recommendation engine that will suggest shows depending on viewing habits, plus a cloud-based DVR that can record unlimited shows for up to 28 days.

The 85 channels include offerings from CBS, Discovery Communications, Fox, NBCUniversal, Scripps Networks Interactive, Turner Broadcasting, Viacom and AMC Networks, but does not have anything from ABC including ESPN.

The Wall Street Journal reported Apple is once again in negotiations to launch an online service featuring streaming TV channels through its Apple TV box, which recently had its price cut to $69. While the product has already been effective in getting iTunes content onto TVs, it has yet to become a television game changer. Rumours of Apple plans to launch similar services have been regular occurrences in recent years.

Apple’s new TV services would reportedly cost around $25 a month and include networks such as ABC, CBS and Fox. NBC and its specialty channels would not be part of the offering.

Apple would like to stream content, but also offer previous seasons of TV shows online. There are questions, however, about whether they could secure the rights to do this, as some series have already signed deals with other services.

But the latest reports build on Apple’s recent announcement that it is the exclusive launch partner of HBO Now in the U.S. This rumoured new online streaming bundle could be announced in June at the company’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference.

NBC is also reportedly looking at offering its channels in a low-cost, cable-dependent plan similar to Bell’s CraveTV.

The rights issues will be important to watch, as competing deals could preclude series from some services, and some players may begin to save content for proprietary services.

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There is also the question of whether or not any of these services will ever arrive in Canada, as many shows from American broadcasters are already divvied up between existing streaming services here, such as Shomi and Crave TV. Amazon Prime’s streaming service, for instance, has never been available in Canada, but has signed an exclusive content deal with Roger and Shaw’s joint-owned Shomi.

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