Apple needs to get serious about video. Here are 3 Hollywood studios it could buy to boost its new streaming service.

A venerable player in the independent film market, Lionsgate hit it big in recent years with some popular franchise films, most notably "The Hunger Games" series. The company also owns the rights to the "Divergent" and "Twilight" series.

The company also has a significant television arm. Among its more notable productions are "Nashville" and Netflix hit "Orange is the New Black."

An Apple acquisition of Sony Pictures would be an interesting turn of events. The studio was formed in the late 1980s when that era's dominant electronics firm — Sony — decided it needed to get into the content business and purchased Columbia Pictures from Coca-Cola.

Purchasing Sony Pictures would be among the biggest moves Apple could feasibly make; Sony Pictures is considered to be one of the Big Six Hollywood studios. In addition to films such as the "Spider-Man" series, Sony Pictures has a major television arm, which has produced shows such as "Shark Tank" and "Masters of Sex."

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.

Ives similarly rates an Apple purchase of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer as a "medium" probability move. But, like a purchase of Sony Pictures or Viacom, it could be a significant deal for the company.

MGM is considered to be another one of the minor-major Hollywood studios, with extensive film and television holdings. Among its movies are "The Hobbit" series and the original "Wizard of Oz."