Apple TV+ is also set to launch later this year
with the company spending up to $15
million per episode for new big-budget
shows. Whilst most indie studios won’t benefit
from Apple’s streaming service, the company
will require a significant amount of content if
it wants to compete with the likes of Disney+,
which launches on November 12 for $6.99 and
will come with hundreds of iconic shows and
movies. Amazon and Netflix are also upping
their game with new content, whilst AT&T will
also launch a streaming service in Q4 2019,
Viacom is pushing free-to-watch Pluto TV, the
BBC and Discover are launching a product in
2020, NBCUniversal is readying a rival to Netflix
and in the UK, the BBC and ITV will join forces
next year to launch BritBox. Apple has made
no secret of the fact it has money to spend on
content, so as the streaming battle heats up,
independent studios, actors, and directors may
find work.
Apple News+ is also another avenue for revenue
and job creation in the United States and around
the world. Although Apple has carefully selected
a set number of partners for the initial launch,
the service has performed disappointingly
so far, and tweaks are expected. One of those
tweaks could be to introduce more publishers
to the arena, and with companies such as
Zinio partnering with top publishers for the
platform, it’s surely only a matter of time before
anyone can submit their own news sites and be
paid per read, further monetizing journalism.
Finally, a quick word on Apple Podcasts. Though
currently a free platform, companies such as
Spotify have been investing in exclusive podcast
content to encourage customers to switch to
Image: Apple Inc.
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