Word has it Apple will launch its new streaming service Apple TV+ in November and that the price point will be $9.99 a month. (Apple has not officially confirmed this.) The tech giant is spending $6 billion on original content– a massive boost from the previously announced $1 billion– although it was not revealed over how much time this $6 billion will be spread. It is said that original offerings will be “light” when it first launches, so there are some speculating that Apple TV+ will be free to begin with, in order to drum up demand.
The $9.99 price point matches what Apple already charges for its Apple Music plan, or its Apple News Plus service. Apple also has the Apple Arcade gaming service in the works. This is more expensive than the upcoming Disney+, which will be offering a massive library from its launch, although its original programming will be rolled out over time. But Apple TV+ will be cheaper than ad-free Hulu ($11.99), Amazon Prime Video ($12.99), Netflix ($12.99), and the upcoming HBO Max ($16.99).
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Reportedly, Apple TV+ will not drop entire seasons at once to binge, like Netflix does, but will rather release three episodes to begin with, and dole the rest out one per week. In the works are: Ronald D. Moore’s ‘For All Mankind’, an alternative-history drama series about the space race; a reboot of Steven Spielberg’s ‘Amazing Stories’ anthology series; ‘See’ starring Jason Momoa, set win a world where all surviving humans have lost their sight; ‘Lisey’s Story’ from J.J. Abrams, based on Stephen King’s bool, boasting Julianne Moore as both star and executive producer; an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s ‘The Foundation’ from David S. Goyer; a series based on the 1980s movie ‘Time Bandits’ from Taika Waititi; as well as an unnamed project from M. Night Shyamalan; and other (mostly non-genre) projects.
Perhaps the most high-profile (and expensive) program coming from Apple TV+– and one that is expected to be offered when the service launches– is ‘The Morning Show’ which stars Jennifer Anniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell, which will cost about $15 million per episode, which is roughly what HBO paid for each episode of the last season of ‘Game of Thrones’! Apple TV+ is already committed to two seasons, comprised of ten episodes each, so about $300 million.
How does Apple TV+ seem to stack up to the other streaming services out there or on their way?
Source: Variety
