James Whitehead
Streaming services have changed the entertainment industry forever. Almost every major studio has invested incredible amounts of money to create and operate their own unique streaming platform and Apple is no different, with their ingeniously named Apple TV+.
Unlike other streaming services such as Disney+ or Netflix, Apple likes to include their service as an additional perk, listing it under their Apple services like Cloud Storage or Apple Music. But this doesn’t equate to the overall quality of the content. Apple TV+ has first-rate original programming, with top quality talent, being produced as a constant since their launch. Whilst they don’t produce the same levels of quantity as Netflix, they focus on the quality of the product, and it’s that motivation which has resulted in so many, well reviewed, shows.
Apple TV+ has already produced the following,
- For All Mankind
- Ted Lasso
- Severance
- The Morning Show
- Shrinking
- Slow Horses
- Presumed Innocent
All these shows are critically acclaimed and have captivated decent sized audiences during their time of release. But this devotion to quality comes at a significant cost. ‘The Wrap’ reported that Apple TV+ was losing over a billion dollars a year for Apple in operating costs. Despite the incredible on-screen and off-screen talent, they’re simply not producing enough content to compete with the audience numbers that Netflix is for example. A lot of people sing up for Apple TV+ to watch a specific show when it comes out, but they don’t have the vast library of a Disney+ to keep customers on a regular basis.
For any other company in the world, an arm of the business that was costing over a billion dollars a year would be on the chopping block. But is this a genuine concern for Apple?
As alluded to earlier, Apple is no ordinary company. The placement of their streaming service as an added perk is a very strategic placement to help with the perception of the costs. In the same report that stated Apple TV+ was losing over a billion a year, it was also addressed that the “services” umbrella of Apple; iCloud storage, Apple Music and of course now Apple TV+, are actually generating the company an eye-watering $26.1 Billion, a quarter.
It really helps to contextualize why Apple aren’t worried in the slightest about the losses of their streaming service. For them, it’s simply part of the operating costs that attracts so many customers to their products year on year. When you can combine all these services to conflate the profits, it’s no wonder why Apple are so committed to this goal of creating high-end level shows and series. Simply put… they can afford it.
Whilst it’s always important to look at the budgets for the content being created, this more relaxed approach from Apple has led to some fantastic original shows and with the quarterly financials looking so strong across the wider business it certainly doesn’t seem like Apple plans on slowing down or changing their approach anytime soon.
What show led you to sign up for Apple TV+? Have you ever watched anything on the Apple Streaming service? Let us know below and for more news in the world of Steaming, stay tuned right here.
