Apple plans to pour $1 billion into TV and movie productions, might lease a California studio

SAN FRANCISCO: As the battle for best movie scripts and television projects intensifies between tech giants in the Silicon Valley, Apple might lease the Culver Studios in California as it plans to pour $1 billion into TV and movie productions.

Apple is in discussions with the studios, where movies like "Gone With The Wind" and "The Matrix" were shot, Financial Times reported.

While Google-owned YouTube is already producing original television series, Amazon, which recently won Oscars for "Manchester by the Sea", has been linked with a move to The Culver Studios, the report said.

The iPhone maker has already hired top Hollywood talent Sony duo Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg to lead its Hollywood push.

The site has 13 soundstages up to 32,000 sq ft in size that can accommodate TV show shoots and full-length feature film work but Apple is mainly looking for office space.