Apple is working on an original television show with Dr. Dre, the co-founder of Beats Music and an Apple executive, according to a person with knowledge of the project.
The show, currently titled “Vital Signs,” will be an Apple Music project offered through Apple TV, the company’s streaming video device, said the person, who was not authorized to discuss the plans because they are private.
The show, which was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter, could be Apple’s first big television venture. The person said it was not clear when the show would be available.
Creating a show with Dr. Dre, whose real name is Andre Young, would help Apple overcome some of its content difficulties. Dr. Dre joined Apple after it acquired his Beats Music for $3 billion in 2014. In addition to working with Apple Music, he produced the 2015 film “Straight Outta Compton,” which is based on his musical career. The television show is Dr. Dre’s project and Apple is backing it.
Apple has been trying to make inroads into the living room, where viewers still watch tremendous amounts of content and advertisers still jockey for screen time. But the company trails competitors. The streaming device category is dominated by smart TVs, the Roku box and Google’s Chromecast, data from the research firm eMarketer shows.