In June 2017, Apple hired Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht in June 2017 from Sony, where they’d produced Breaking Bad, to lead Apple’s streaming media efforts and develop content for what would become Apple TV+, set to launch November 1st.
Lucas Shaw and Mark Gurman for Bloomberg Businessweek:
A few weeks later, Van Amburg and Erlicht met with Aniston and Witherspoon, who were pitching a new idea for a drama. Although they were meeting with a half-dozen networks, including HBO, Showtime, and Netflix, Apple had something unique to offer: an almost unlimited bankroll.
MacDailyNews Take: Yup.
Those who can wrap their heads around Apple’s massive cash mountain and the company’s unparalleled ability to generate cash can clearly see who the winner will be. The most talented producers, writers, directors, editors, actors, etc. are attracted to exactly what Apple has and makes in vast abundance: Cash. The king.
Like bears to honey, it’s happening already. – MacDailyNews, January 3, 2018
Apple has the money required to catch up and even surpass all competitors very quickly and they can accomplish it without buying a studio or even production companies. — MacDailyNews, April 3, 2018
When it debuts in November, Apple TV+ will offer the new shows and a handful of original movies for $4.99 a month, but it will be free for a year to anyone who buys a new iPhone or an Apple TV set-top box.
MacDailyNews Note: For the sake of accuracy, eligible products carrying one year of free Apple TV+ access include far more than just iPhones or Apple TVs: Customers who purchase any new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch starting September 10, 2019, can enjoy one year of Apple TV+ for free. Beginning November 1, customers can initiate the one-year free offer in the Apple TV app on the device running the latest software.
Apple sells about 200 million iPhones annually, which means 200 million potential trial users in the first year. If even a quarter of those people keep Apple TV+ after their yearlong freebie, Apple will have one of the most-watched TV networks in the world and an additional $3 billion in annual revenue.
MacDailyNews Take: Lock us up, we just broke Betteridge’s law of headlines!
Apple TV+ will be a massive success and, at $4.99/month, if Apple just leaves the price alone for three years, the company will have 100+ million paying subscribers with 36 months from launch.
No.
“Will Apple TV+ keep users coming back for more?”
Nope!
Sorry MDN.
I don’t say this because the service is coming from Apple and I am not trying to slam their efforts. As a stockholder, I wish them success and if they have a run like Steve Jobs had with iTunes, iPods and 99 cent songs, good for them.
But at the time Steve introduced iTunes, iPods and 99 cent music, I no longer had any interest in music. I did not listen to songs on the radio, I never ever had an iPod and I never purchased a song from iTunes.
Fast forward to today, I am now going on two years plus after cutting the cord from cable. So therefore, it is not Apple. I do not miss TV. Apple TV’s free year with qualifying purchase of an Apple product will not induce me to necessarily check it out, let alone pay for a subscription after the free year is over with.
The only thing I see in the articles of MDN, Macrumors, Appleinsider, 9 to 5 Mac, et el of posts about Apple TV+ regarding the crop of actors and the shows they are in, all I see is the next crop of overrated, overhyped, and overpaid people who will be gushed over by the “Entertainment Tonight” type shows, the late night talk shows with Jimmy Kimmel, et el other nincompoops of late night, and the self indulgent career Federal politicians holding hearings and inviting these people from Hollywood because they think they have an actual point to make.
I find it incredulous of an industry that tries to make their morales the national norm while impugning mine, by people who routinely insult my ideology and then expect me to pay for their silver screen garbage and watch their foul mouth self flagellating awards shows. Not happening. Like I said, been without cable/TV for over two years now and do not miss it.
This will just be added to the music industry I don’t listen to and the sports industry I don’t partake.
“…watch their foul mouth self flagellating awards shows.”
I don’t think that word means what you think it means.
But I concur, the number of free subscriptions they give away in the next 3 months is not likely to translate to paid subscriptions UNLESS they add a significant licensed content library. They certainly could do that but not without affecting their pricing.
Time will tell. The headline law isn’t broken until/unless Apple is shown to retain… let’s say 50% of their free subscription tier.
“I don’t think that word means what you think it means.”
Flatulent… Self-Flatulent. Stupid Spell Catcher app.
I agree, there’s nothing there that grabs me. The science fiction program with Jason Momoa is a no-goer for me because he just can’t act. The latest addition to the Band of Brothers franchise is of interest but I can’t justify a subscription based on one show. As for the rest they’re either a bunch of talking heads, sitcoms or bland family friendly programs.
Look, at the moment I’m hooked on Carnival Row which has graphic sex and and violence but it deals with adult issues such as immigration, discrimination and bigotry. The Expanse deals with colonialism and crooked politicians and as Apple is concerned they won’t even allow an app on the iPhone which ruffles the feather of Xi’s China. Unless Apple really lifts their game I really think it’s a waste of money, time and effort.
If anything, Apple+ will have one year to convince new device purchasers to stay and balance whether the price at that time is worth what they saw during that year. Hopefully Apple doesn’t mistake their initial popularity with free service as sustained interest and ‘rest’ on their laurels.