Is Apple’s new video streaming service to be announced this month?

Speculation is growing that a media event called by Apple at its Cupertino complex in California on the morning of March 25 is to announce its TV streaming service.

The subscription service is expected to launch in April or May – rolled out globally in 100 countries including Australia – with original content to take on Netflix, Amazon and Hulu.

The event announcement was accompanied by a countdown with the Apple logo and the tagline “It’s showtime.”

In 2006, the tech giant used that tagline when it unveiled iTV (renamed Apple TV) and its new service of offering movies on YouTube.

To set up for the TV streaming service, Apple spent US$2 billion to put about 25 shows into development.

These were from high profile film directors as Damien Chazelle, JJ Abrams, and M. Night Shyamalan.

There is also a reboot of the 1981 classic Time Bandits, as well as Planet of The Apps (celebs review pitches by app developers), Carpool Karaoke: The Series, and series based around the Peanuts characters as Charlie Brown and Snoopy, and a CIA drama series.

Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Garner and Steve Carrell are among those expected to join Apple CEO Tim Cook on stage.

It is speculated that the Apple news service and latest models of iPad Mini, the AirPower charging mate and the AirPods 2 could see the light of day at the event.

The much talked about Apple gaming streaming service is still in the pipeline.