Apple’s “ambition in video is to become an alternative to cable, combining original series with shows from other networks to create a new entertainment service that can reach more than 100 markets worldwide,” Tripp Mickle reports for The Wall Street Journal. “It is the tech giant’s latest attempt to reinvent television, something it has tried to do for about a decade with limited success.”
“On Monday, the tech giant plans to unveil the first footage from some of its new original TV shows, according to people familiar with the event,” Mickle reports. “Apple hasn’t said what it will charge for the programming. People working on the projects said the company plans to charge a fee, after previously saying it would be free to Apple device owners.”
“The original series will be delivered in a new TV app that staff have been calling a Netflix killer. It will make it easier for people to subscribe with a single click to channels such as Starz, Showtime and HBO, with which Apple has been negotiating to offer their shows to users for $9.99 a month each, people familiar with the talks said,” Mickle reports. “Apple has been negotiating to bring its new TV app to multiple platforms, including Roku and smart TVs, according to people familiar with the talks — an unusual move for a company that has long preferred to limit its software and services to its own devices. Some of those distribution agreements are expected to be announced Monday.”
“At the same event, Apple plans to showcase a revamped News app that includes a premium tier with access to more than 200 magazines — including Bon Appétit, People and Glamour — as well as newspapers, including The Wall Street Journal,” Mickle reports. “It plans to charge $9.99 for the service ”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Hopefully, some sort of bundle option will also be available for us all to be able to the combine Apple services we want for a single fee, lower than the cost of subscribing to them à la carte.
Apple could make a more compelling “Prime” bundle than even Amazon can offer because their original content sounds like it will be better and Apple Music + Apple News/Texture are unmatched. If they rolled some iCloud storage deal into it, it’d be tough to resist for many, many people! — MacDailyNews, February 14, 2019
As soon as Apple launches their original content video service, an “Apple Prime” will make even more sense. — MacDailyNews, August 29, 2018
We’d really like to see a way to pay for all of the Apple services we choose for one price. Give us a bunch of tick boxes and let us choose our combination of iCloud storage, Apple Music, iTunes Match, etc. and let us pay a single price for all of our choices. — MacDailyNews, October 17, 2016
SEE ALSO:
Analyst: Apple is planning to give billions of dollars in video content away for free – March 18, 2019
Apple analysts are bullish about rumored ‘Apple Prime’ media bundle – February 14, 2019
Apple plans star-studded March 25th event to unveil video and news subscription services – February 13, 2019
Apple to hold special media event on March 25th – February 12, 2019
Imagining an Apple All Access plan: What if Apple offered iPhone, iCloud, Apple Music, and more all for a single monthly fee? – August 29, 2018
A bundled media subscription would be good news for Apple users and for Apple itself – June 29, 2018
Apple reportedly considering subscription bundle of Apple Music, News and original video content – June 28, 2018
Apple is building a media platform like we’ve never seen before – June 27, 2018
Here’s how much Apple could make from streaming – June 27, 2018
Apple’s next $10 billion frontier is content creation – June 25, 2018
Apple intends to beat Netflix on price with standalone subscription to original content – June 19, 2018
Yep, I think we need a little more than that. Cmon Apple!
I agree with John above. We need more… of less pecking us to death with 9.99 for Apple Music, 9.99 for iCloud, 9.99 for more Apple News, 29.99 per year for iTunes Match, 9.99 for streaming, 1,249 for phone, 1,349 for an iPad (1,349!) and, my favorite, 9.00 for the lighting to 3.5mm adapter. Cmon Apple
I tried Texture for a few months and enjoyed it but found that I did not read magazines enough to justify the cost. We have Netflix and Amazon Prime. I also subscribe to some newspapers. What would draw me to an Apple plan? Some sort of general content bundling that collectively covered the main forms of content – otherwise will be hard to pull us away from individual music, video and news content providers
Where’s the differentiator? Perhaps the content will answer the question, but Jennifer Anniston, et all, don’t give confidence that Apple will be taking a market factor and making it better.
I’m wondering if any of the Hollywood types have considered that it would be possible should Apple fail in this service, that could tarnish their own reputations by such close association at inception..
It’s not known whether the premium channels will be offered as part of the $9.95 bundle, or will be offered in addition to the bundle at $9.95 each.
Not so cheapo if you don’t have an ATV.
Is there more than three sports magazines?
To compare with Amazon Channels: HBO $14.99; Starz $8.99; Showtime $10.99; CBS All-Access $5.99.
Forgot to add that each Amazon Channel has a 7-day free trial before you get charged for a month’s subscription.