“After a decade selling boxes that play other companies’ TV shows, Apple last year started developing and acquiring original TV programs — a tangible major step into content for the hardware and software maker, rumored since mid-2015,” Jeremy Horwitz writes for VentureBeat. “Consumer electronics giant Sony made the same move back in 1989 by purchasing Columbia Pictures’ TV and movie studios, instantly becoming a major Hollywood player. Buying a respected studio with existing employees, development deals, and IP is easier than building one from scratch.”
“Thinking differently, Apple decided to build a video content business itself, initially leveraging celebrity relationships bolstered by its 2014 acquisition of Beats. The result was two critically panned TV shows that heavily relied on musicians and actors: Carpool Karaoke and Planet of the Apps,” Horwitz writes. “As 2017 draws to a close, Apple appears to have changed strategies, aggressively hiring new content production executives and offering prospective showrunners slices of a $1 billion content development fund. The new plan apparently relies upon top TV creative talent to develop exclusive shows under the Apple banner. To that end, three new TV dramas have already been signed.”
“What is Apple’s end goal here?” Horwitz writes. “My best guess is that we’re seeing Apple’s first overt steps toward an open challenge to Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video…”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: We’d love to have a Netflix-style subscription option to access a library of TV shows and movies and, eventually, original content!
SEE ALSO:
Apple orders space drama series from ‘Battlestar Galactica’ producer Ronald D. Moore – December 15, 2017
Apple gives Jennifer Aniston-Reese Witherspoon series a 2-season order, confirms Spielberg’s ‘Amazing Stories’ reboot – November 9, 2017
Apple outbids Netflix for show starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon – November 8, 2017
Apple eyes iconic studio as base for Hollywood production push; vying with Netflix for high-profile Jennifer Aniston drama – September 1, 2017
The magic and misdirection of Apple’s streaming strategy – August 18, 2017
Apple wants to spend $1 billion on 10 original TV shows over the next year – August 16, 2017
Former WGN America president Matt Cherniss joins Apple in latest TV push – August 15, 2017
Rivals leaving Apple behind as Apple TV remains stuck in a test pattern – August 8, 2017
Apple’s so-called TV ‘strategy’ continues to be an embarrassing joke – June 30, 2017
Apple poaches Sony TV executives to lead major push into original content – June 16, 2017
Please bring back Planet of the Apps!
Or at least release the trailer for the upcoming sequel “Beneath the Planet of the Apps” hehe
Lol
If Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO, Starz, etc. are available on thousands of different products, how can Apple compete?
Apple can offer it to the Apple TV 3/4/5, Mac, iOS, Watch. That is it.
Perhaps they will make an app for Android or Windows to get more subscribers.
Could they ever offer it on a SmartTV, Connected Blu-Ray Player, Roku, FireTV, Nvidia Shield, Chromecast, or similar? I doubt it. While I wish the best for the service, I don’t think they will have the numbers to compete.
Tim Cook is so slow he has to speed up to stop.