Apple could launch HDTV in 2 years

Consumer electronics giant Apple is expected to launch its own HDTV in two to four years, an analyst has said.

According to The Loop, Piper Jaffray senior research analyst Gene Munster sent a research note to clients yesterday saying that Apple is well positioned to enter the television market.

“As connected TVs proliferate the integration of hardware, software and content will become a key selling point for TVs,” he wrote. “We believe Apple is uniquely positioned to combine these elements at competitive prices ($2,000) for an Apple-branded TV.”

Although Apple’s iTunes is good at delivering content to users, it does not currently offer live TV, a problem Munster believes can be solved by Apple providing its own subscription service for between $50 and $90.

“Apple’s ability to deliver hardware, software and content that could replace an entire entertainment system with a single TV puts the company in a unique position for the emerging connected TV cycle,” said Munster. “And with a device ecosystem of over 74m iPhones and iPod touches sold (as of Dec-09), Apple could bring portability to the TV industry.”