74 | MACFORMAT | DECEMBER 2019T
he media streaming
market has been
growing steadily in
recent years. With
faster internet connections and
ubiquitous wireless making it a
feasible proposition in just about
any situation, streaming has
completely changed the way we
consume media, and it’s only going
to get bigger.
But is that really a good thing?
The first wave of streaming
services, with Netflix sitting proudly
on top and services like Amazon
Prime and Hulu chasing close
behind, offered subscribers a huge
amount of highly varied content for
a nominal fee. Now, everyone wants
a slice of the streaming market,
from Disney to NBC to CBS and
beyond – and Apple is no different,
with its Apple TV+ service going live
on 1 November 2019. From one big
streaming service we’ve arrived atsix or seven, with countless niche
streamers sitting on the borders.
Subscribing to them all (particularly
with the quality and quantity of
original series demanding ever-
higher subscription fees) will be
unfeasible for all but the most
cash- and time-flush. You will
need to make a choice.Playing its own game
Apple is naturally hoping that its
own service will be high on that
list. It has invested in the region
of $6 billion (£4.67 billion) in the
first wave of programming for
Apple TV+, and that’s all original;
thus far the company has followed
its usual pattern of independence,
and shown no interest in licensing
existing series or movies for its
service. Where other launches
mean a fight for content – with
Netflix losing the rights to shows
like The Office and Disney’s moviecatalogue, for example, to NBC’s
Peacock and Disney+ respectively- Apple will play its own game.
The initial launch lineup (see
p75) isn’t massive, consisting only
of a few series and movies, and it
seems Apple is confident in letting
its programming line-up grow
slowly, with new titles being added
on a monthly basis rather than a
weekly or daily schedule. That said,
newly added series will launch with
a planned three episodes, with
further episodes released on a
weekly basis, ensuring a level of
freshness. If, that is, you’ve caught
the bug of Apple’s shows. If you’re
not worried about Oprah’s book
club or your kids aren’t excited by
the monsters of Helpsters, the lack
of other options will likely be a
turn-off until the catalogue grows.
Apple TV+’s library size isn’t,
at least initially, the major driver.
Strategically, it doesn’t have to be.
Apple TV+ will quickly become the
second largest streaming platform
in terms of subscriber numbers,
behind only Netflix, and Apple will
have a solid year in which to build
the service up. How? The power
of free. Every iPhone, iPad, iPod
Touch, Mac and Apple TV sold on
or after 10 September includes a
year’s subscription, gratis, which
can be triggered up to three months
after device activation. This will load
the service up with eyes, and Family
Sharing means that’s six potential
viewers for every subscription.
Even if you’re not lucky enough
to bag a free year, Apple is pricing
APPLE HOME Apple TV+
Image credit (opposite page): LGApple TV+
Everything you need to know
The Apple TV app brings a host of streaming
services under one roof, and moves iTunes
sales and rentals in too.Apple’s new streaming service is finally here