Late to the premium video streaming game, Apple has unveiled its video streaming platform called Apple TV+.
Apple CEO Tim Cook announced yesterday that the service will feature Apple Original content, along with a redesigned Apple TV app that integrates major TV streaming platforms like Hulu and HBO directly into the Apple TV app.
In maintaining the company’s premium image, Cook claims the service will be the “destination for the highest-quality originals”. He backed the statement by handing over to multi-Oscar winning director Steven Speilberg who led the company’s “The Storyteller’s Behind” video. The video below shows off big Hollywood names, including J.J. Abrams, Jennifer Aniston, M. Night Shyamalan, Octavia Spencer, Reese Witherspoon, endorsing TV Plus.
Speilberg announced he would be bringing the 93-year-old Amazing Stories book series to TV on Apple’s streaming service. Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carrell discussed their involvement in a predominantly women-hosted Morning Show that deals with “issues that are spoken about behind closed doors”. The stage was filled with major TV personalities, including Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones), Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley), Big Bird (Sesame Street), and even Oprah.
Apple still has some catching up to do, because Netflix has already spent billions on acquiring and creating new content in 2019 alone.
In a move to remain competitive, subscribers to the service will have access to Apple TV+ through the new Apple TV app on iOS, Mac, Roku, Fire TV, and smart TVs from Samsung and LG, among other.
But will this service be sustainable for Apple in an already saturated market? Mark Skilton, professor of practice at Warwick Business School, said: “Apple TV is not just about seeking a new growth market, it is about a technical shift to “connected smart services” of the future that offer everything online.
“But is Apple going to beat Netflix? Even if they roll out the red carpet for movie stars, it will be a challenge for Apple to provide a compelling new TV experience.”
The service is set to launch in over 100 countries by the end of the year.
Click here to read about Apple News+.
Apple also announced Apple News+, a new subscription service that brings together over 300 magazines, newspapers and digital publishers within the Apple News app. Available in the US and Canada, Apple News+ includes articles from publications like Vogue, National Geographic Magazine, People, ELLE, The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.
However, the service will not be available in South Africa or markets like India and Nigeria for the forseeable future. However, all Apple News users in the US, Canada, UK and Australia will continue to have access to free news in the app on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
“We’re committed to supporting quality journalism, and with Apple News+, we want to celebrate the great work being done by magazines and news outlets,” said Lauren Kern, editor-in-chief of Apple News. “We think the breadth and quality of publications within Apple News+ will encourage more people to discover stories and titles they may never have come across before.”
Apple News+ is available in the US for $9.99 a month and in Canada for $12.99 a month. Users in other countries can use VPN software to sign up for a free one-month trial. To access it, users must update to iOS 12.2 or macOS 10.14.4. Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share one Apple News+ subscription.
Apple News+ will be available in the UK and Australia later this year.