Moonves: CBS likely to do deal with Apple TV

RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. — CBS CEO Leslie Moonves, who met last week with Apple executive Eddy Cue, said he will "probably" do a deal with Apple on Apple TV.

"Apple TV is trying to change the universe a little bit as did Sling, as did Sony. What Apple will offer (is) a more select group (of channels) for a lower price," Moonves said at the Code Conference here.

Eddie Cue is Apple's senior vice president for Internet software and services. There's been a lot of speculation that Apple could expand the providers for content on its Internet set-top box, and that Apple might announce new hardware—or an Apple TV app store—to enable this broader reach. Apple's developers conference is in early June.

Moonves recently declared "the days of the 500-channel universe are over." He elaborated on what that means for the future of television — and so CBS itself — in the streaming age of binge watching.

For all the changes happening, Moonves told the Code crowd, 70% of the CBS audience is still watching shows during the time period in which they air. But he admitted that number is declining. The other 30% might be catching up via DVR. Moonves says they're still going to be watching and "we're going to get paid for it."

He also said 90% of people still get content through cable or satellite.

"This is the golden age of television," Moonves said.

He went on to joke that "compared to Disney (ABC) or Comcast (NBC), we're a little guy."

These are interesting times for the network. Long-time late-night star David Letterman retired, for one, to be replaced in the fall by Stephen Colbert.

Moonves called Netflix a friend and a competitor: "They're paying me hundreds of millions of dollars a year for my content." And he said he's better off having Netflix in his life than not. He praised Netflix content like House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black.

Moonves said the rival HBO "over-the-top" launch went very well. And he says he's very pleased with the results so far of CBS' All-Access on-demand service, though he wouldn't reveal numbers. CBS-owned Showtime is readying its own over-the-top offering, sometime in the fall.

Though he had issues with people using Twitter-owned Periscope's (and Meerkat) recent free live streaming of the Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing match, Moonves said, "I don't think the intent of Periscope is piracy."

"What is happening in the digital world is a major positive," he said.

Moonves was wearing an Apple Watch, but said he doesn't envision people watching The Good Wife on Apple's timepiece.

"I hope not." he said.

Email: ebaig@usatoday.com; Follow @edbaig on Twitter