Separate reports reveal more details about Apple TV+, the coming video streaming service, ahead of its November launch.
First up, pricing, which comes courtesy of Bloomberg. The publication reports that Apple TV+ will cost $9.99 per month after a free trial. Bloomberg also notes that the service will start small, with just a selection of shows, and then expand more dramatically throughout 2020.
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Interestingly, Apple will apparently experiment with different release strategies with different shows as well.
“The company is considering offering the first three episodes of some programs, followed by weekly installments, people familiar with the matter said,” the Bloomberg report notes. “Netflix tends to release whole seasons at once for bingeing, while AT&T’s HBO and Disney’s Hulu often release episodes weekly. The [Apple TV+] service will launch globally in over 150 countries.”
Separately, The Financial Times reported that Apple has earmarked $6 billion for original shows and other content. That’s a big change from Apple’s originally-stated $1 billion. By comparison, Netflix will spend about $15 billion this year on original content.
“The company has spent hundreds of millions of dollars alone on a star-studded series featuring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell called The Morning Show, the publication reports. “According to people familiar with the matter, that amounts to a higher price per episode than Game of Thrones, which reportedly cost $15 million for each episode of its final season.”
The Financial Times also reports that Apple will now release Apple TV+ earlier than expected in order to “pre-empt” Disney’s Disney Plus service. Disney Plus is expected to debut in the US on November 12.