Ives puts the chances of Apple targeting Viacom and CBS for an acquisition as a "medium" probability happening. But such a move might make sense. CBS has long had one of the top-watched networks. It has a vast inventory of shows, including the "CSI" franchise, while its sister company, Viacom, owns a slew of cable networks, including Comedy Central.
What's more, there's been a long-running battle over the future of CBS and Viacom as separate entities. Shari Redstone, president of National Amusements, which owns a controlling of both companies, has been trying to merge them.