Adam Scott Cast as Lead in Upcoming Apple TV+ Thriller 'Severance'

[triton100]

That's not what I am talking about. Of course they have enough money to make movies/TV series and give them away for free or at a low cost. The question is the sustainability because if they use the amount of money on a total, certain loss on entertainment instead of redirecting it to other types of losses (research for example) or something that actually makes sense (hire more SQA engineers? reduce prices?) then something in their judgment is wrong.

I hear where you’re coming from, but look at it laterally too. Sometimes when you have too many cooks in the pot things take even longer to finish. You must have come across that in your own experience. So throwing more engineers at an issue may not always be the answer. But they are certainly on the ball with relatively fast turn around in fixes. Re. R and D, fairly certain I read somewhere their spending has increased dramatically over the last few years to the point where they spend an obscene amount more than any other leading tech company.

 

[bobtem]

Let's say what's really bugging us all... the naming of the new Apple streaming service:

"Hi, could you tell me the difference between 'Apple TV Plus' and the regular 'Apple TV'?"
"Well, 'Apple TV Plus' is not a device, it is our new streaming service!"
"So it's the new Apple TV?"
"Well, no, it's shows that we produce, and we just added the 'plus' moniker."
"Ok, so it's a bigger Apple TV?"
"No, it's not a physical product, it's tv shows that you watch on your Apple TV."
"Okay, can I load all the same apps on the Apple TV Plus?"
"Um, well, again, Apple TV Plus is a service, that runs through the Apple TV App, on your Apple TV."
"Wait, what?"

 

[yaxomoxay]

I hear where you’re coming from, but look at it laterally too. Sometimes when you have too many cooks in the pot things take even longer to finish. You must have come across that in your own experience. So throwing more engineers at an issue may not always be the answer. But they are certainly on the ball with relatively fast turn around in fixes. Re. R and D, fairly certain I read somewhere their spending has increased dramatically over the last few years to the point where they spend an obscene amount more than any other leading tech company.

I guess time will tell, but my prediction is that this will reveal itself as a mistake. Certainly not an "Apple is doomed" thing, but an investment mistake. It happens.

 

[archer75]

I’m not an idiot that thinks they have pinched iOS developers to do video editing. That wasn’t my point. Apples focus is now on services and less on what made them the great hardware/software company that they are, or were anyway. It is my belief that it is no coincidence that there have been many hardware issues and a record number of iOS software updates in quick succession. Sure, good luck to them if they pull it off but, like I said, I’m sceptical that they will.

The market changed. People aren't buying/owning personal computers like they once did. Cell phone sales peaked. Growth in hardware/software isn't what it used to be and is declining in areas. You have to expand and adapt to survive. This is the push in services which is working quite well for them as it grows every quarter. The old business no longer works.

ATV+ may end up being a bad investment. No company nails 100% of the things they try. Time will tell.

 

[yaxomoxay]

The market changed. People aren't buying/owning personal computers like they once did. Cell phone sales peaked. Growth in hardware/software isn't what it used to be and is declining in areas. You have to expand and adapt to survive. This is the push in services which is working quite well for them as it grows every quarter. The old business no longer works.

This service is way too costly for them to even make sense as a diversification item. They're paying $1,000,000 (=20,000 yearly paid subscriptions) per episode to well-known actors, and this to multiple actors, on top of production and service expenses. It truly doesn't make any sense.

 

[triton100]

I guess time will tell, but my prediction is that this will reveal itself as a mistake. Certainly not an "Apple is doomed" thing, but an investment mistake. It happens.

You may be right and I too did question this myself and still do. However I know that for the most part Apple have made more correct footings than wrong ones. For example Apple Music which was also frowned upon in terms of the initial 6 billion acquisition of beats, which now years later in terms of subscription revenue return has pailed into insignificance in face of the resulting profit.

 

[SDJim]

Apple TV+ has been available for a week, hasn't it? Is anyone watching it? Is anyone enjoying it and thinking they should pay for it?

I would gladly be paying for it if I weren't getting it for free. Very enjoyable, and I haven't even started For All Mankind yet.

 

[triton100]

This service is way too costly for them to even make sense as a diversification item. They're paying $1,000,000 (=20,000 yearly paid subscriptions) per episode to well-known actors, and this to multiple actors, on top of production and service expenses. It truly doesn't make any sense.

You do realise that Netflix does the same. And have accrued huge debt in order to sustain their business model of original content. Yet their stock share is still stable and growing for the most part. The difference is Apple does not any debt.

 

[mejsric]

I really can't get my head around the negativity for Apple TV+, what exactly is the issue here?
If you don't enjoy what's available, then simply don't watch it, it really is that straight forward.

There will be plenty of people who do enjoy the shows and I'm sure it will be very successful for Apple. Good luck to them. People are so quick to put others down...it's pretty sad.

seems like you’re new to this site, its machater site, they hate everything what Apple do, even iPhones.

 

[archer75]

This service is way too costly for them to even make sense as a diversification item. They're paying $1,000,000 (=20,000 yearly paid subscriptions) per episode to well-known actors, and this to multiple actors, on top of production and service expenses. It truly doesn't make any sense.

Well it makes sense to someone there. I'm sure they have a plan and a goal for it. They know full well they'll lose money on this for a long time. Maybe it works, maybe it won't. I really don't care. In the meantime I'm going to enjoy it and not worry. The video and audio quality is the best for any streaming service. It's just beautiful to watch!

 

[yaxomoxay]

You may be right and I too did question this myself and still do. However I know that for the most part Apple have made more correct footings than wrong ones. For example Apple Music which was also frowned upon in terms of the initial 6 billion acquisition of beats, which now years later in terms of subscription revenue return has pailed into insignificance in face of the resulting profit.

True, but with Apple Music they don't have to produce anything, as with iTunes, or the App Store. They simply provide a method of delivery - a very effective one - for a fee. This service is different as its entirely their own (for now limited) productions, with all expenses up front. And they are very high expenses that are supposed to be recovered by a low price streaming service? I also don't see anything that goes in the direction of licensing (action figures, posters, etc.) although it might be early for this, which is where studios make lots of money. It's also one thing to go vs Spotify, another thing is going vs. Disney, HBO, DirecTV, Showtime, Netflix... I don't know, I am seriously puzzled.
[I might add, I think that Apple lost the chance to have not so-well known actors rise to fame and glory with great shows. I can understand one show with a well known cast, but here we have hi-dollar Hollywood actors all across the board]

 

[archer75]

[I might add, I think that Apple lost the chance to have not so-well known actors rise to fame and glory with great shows. I can understand one show with a well known cast, but here we have hi-dollar Hollywood actors all across the board]

well they don't have loads of content so they have to rely on the big names to bring people in. Makes sense. At least initially. Netflix did that with House of Cards as their first original.

Netflix got lucky as they were able to make money off of other companies content for a long time. And use that to finance their own content. Now those companies are pulling their shows back and launching their own stream services and Netflix has a large library of their own. This scenario won't happen again.
Amazon just added an entire tv business and didn't charge anything for it. Just included it with prime for no additional fee. Must be working for them.

 

[SDJim]

I feel like some on the forum aren't remembering the importance of aggregate margin and that if Apple can simply minimize losses on ATV+ at first, it will provide strength to the brand and promote hardware sales. Hardware that has excellent margin. The highest in the industry.
Do you also think Google is stupid for giving away its file management software (Sheets, Pages, Docs, etc.)? No. Because it adds fuel to their data mining fire. This is where free trials come from, people.

Also, by diversifying availability of the service to include non-Apple devices, they are touching customers that would normally be on the other side of the Oreo curtain. You're now interacting with (read "paying") a company you otherwise could ignore. Maybe buying something else from them isn't such a strange departure after all?

This division of Apple does not operate in a silo. It is not a business unto itself. It is, like every other department or product, a tool of the company, meant to further its agenda. And I think it is an excellent tool.

 

[triton100]

True, but with Apple Music they don't have to produce anything, as with iTunes, or the App Store. They simply provide a method of delivery - a very effective one - for a fee. This service is different as its entirely their own (for now limited) productions, with all expenses up front. And they are very high expenses that are supposed to be recovered by a low price streaming service? I also don't see anything that goes in the direction of licensing (action figures, posters, etc.) although it might be early for this, which is where studios make lots of money. It's also one thing to go vs Spotify, another thing is going vs. Disney, HBO, DirecTV, Showtime, Netflix... I don't know, I am seriously puzzled.
[I might add, I think that Apple lost the chance to have not so-well known actors rise to fame and glory with great shows. I can understand one show with a well known cast, but here we have hi-dollar Hollywood actors all across the board]

Absolutely they Could have hired Unknown and created new stars but the thinking behind making a splash with Anniston etc is understandable. re having to make their own content as opposed to not with Apple Music, the thing is they don’t. Theyre simply hiring in the cream of the crop directors and creators, just like Netflix et al.

So far I don’t believe they’ve made the best choices in content sign off, but it’s potentially only a matter of time before they stumble across the next hbo westworld or walking dead or Star Wars. And they have the money to do so. Once they have that franchise that’s when they start garnering bigger returns through increased brand association.

Content will sell hardware until hardware eventually becomes borderline obsolete and everything is AI AR. And by that point they will have grown dramatically in delivering best in class services. They are playing the long game. They know hardware tech eventually provides a diminishing returns and times are changing. Once we become a society that no longer needs to work, due to AI and robotics, it will all be about entertainment and services. And they will be at the top of that game.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

This service is way too costly for them to even make sense as a diversification item. They're paying $1,000,000 (=20,000 yearly paid subscriptions) per episode to well-known actors, and this to multiple actors, on top of production and service expenses. It truly doesn't make any sense.

Did it ever occur to you that you might not have the research and business resources Cook has at his disposal and it is most likely you that isn't making sense?

 

[yaxomoxay]

Did it ever occur to you that you might not have the research and business resources Cook has at his disposal and it is most likely you that isn't making sense?

What a useless reply.
He might have whatever he wants at his disposal, this doesn't change the bottom line of the question. He wouldn't be the first one, and he's certainly not the last one, with big bucks and resources that end up being wasted on futile projects. The questions about ATV+ still stand.

 

[ryanwarsaw]

What a useless reply.
He might have whatever he wants at his disposal, this doesn't change the bottom line of the question. He wouldn't be the first one, and he's certainly not the last one, with big bucks and resources that end up being wasted on futile projects. The questions about ATV+ still stand.

He hits enough winners to make the duds not matter. Cook has a track record that speaks for itself. Even if something is a dud they still get use of some of the research. I guess many of your questions might stand forever as it would be a tremendous waste of resources and effort to answer them.

The fact that in a year Apple will have guaranteed minimum installed user base of over 100 million Apple TV users alone should be a clue to what is going on. Now I could further explain into you but am incapable of understanding it for you. TV+ is most likely the rumored TV project which would be the last of Jobs' creations.

 

[yaxomoxay]

He hits enough winners to make the duds not matter.

I am talking about AppleTV+. A specific project, with a specific topic in mind. I am not talking about the overall health of Apple.

The fact that in a year Apple will have guaranteed minimum installed user base of over 100 million Apple TV users alone should be a clue to what is going on. Now I could further explain into you but am incapable of understanding it for you. TV+ is most likely the rumored TV project which would be the last of Jobs' creations.

There is a huge difference between having 100M users and having paid users that pay enough to justify a costly service. I laugh at the idea that TV+ (Apple created content) is the latest rumored project by Jobs, the idea is so silly I can't even imagine how anyone would come up with such a theory.

 

[archer75]

I am talking about AppleTV+. A specific project, with a specific topic in mind. I am not talking about the overall health of Apple.



There is a huge difference between having 100M users and having paid users that pay enough to justify a costly service. I laugh at the idea that TV+ (Apple created content) is the latest rumored project by Jobs, the idea is so silly I can't even imagine how anyone would come up with such a theory.

they don't look at it as a singular project. They look at it as ok to lose money for itself as it brings in money for other hardware/software/services sales in other areas. By itself it doesn't have to turn a profit if it manages to achieve that as the money comes in via the other areas.
Which is what happened for amazon as they continued to add services to prime without ever charging more(at least initially). The content can lose money if more people sign up for prime and then as a result, buy from amazon.
Not each and every individual project has to stand on its own. It just needs to contribute to the whole in some way.

Jobs was working on a TV project of some sort. At the end he said he finally cracked it. Whatever it was.
But he couldn't have forseen how the streaming market would develop. It's VERY different now than it was 8 years ago.
He may have thought that apple and Disney would have worked on this together. Seeing as he owned Pixar and had a relationship with Disney. Iger said that if Jobs was alive he thinks that apple or Disney would have merged(or bought one another). Speculation on my part but it makes sense knowing Jobs ownership and involvement.

 

[BaltimoreMediaBlog]

I dislike Jeff Bezos more than Tim Cook, but for now, I'm staying with just Amazon Prime, which gets no actor signing notices here, but a better overall value.

 

[Bandaman]

Some people believe Apple should cater exclusively to them, and anything aimed at people who are not them is considered a personal insult and a waste of time and resources.

That seems spot on in here.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Absolutely they Could have hired Unknown and created new stars but the thinking behind making a splash with Anniston etc is understandable. re having to make their own content as opposed to not with Apple Music, the thing is they don’t. Theyre simply hiring in the cream of the crop directors and creators, just like Netflix et al.

So far I don’t believe they’ve made the best choices in content sign off, but it’s potentially only a matter of time before they stumble across the next hbo westworld or walking dead or Star Wars. And they have the money to do so. Once they have that franchise that’s when they start garnering bigger returns through increased brand association.
<snip>

Agreed, and I have no doubt Apple will have those breakout hits that everyone wants to watch. No doubt at all.

Here’s a list of some pretty good shows:

• Better Call Saul
• The Blacklist
• Bloodline
• Breaking Bad
• The Crown
• Damages
• The Goldbergs
• Justified
• Preacher
• Rescue Me
• The Shield
• Sneaky Pete

These are some of the shows that Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg green-lighted while they were presidents of Sony Pictures Television for 12 years, before Cook took them out.

As Apple puts it, “They have extensive expertise producing television for global audiences and creating programming for a wide range of services including shows for Amazon, Hulu and Netflix.”

These guys know great content when they see it, and they’ve hired a bunch of talented folks to bring it to ATV+. That’s what Cook does: hires great people to execute on Apple’s strategic plans, and then stays the hell out of their way.

Any armchair CEO or studio programmer who is “concerned” about a potential misstep by Apple better have quite a resume to back them up if they expect anyone to take their “concerns” seriously.

 

[triton100]

Agreed, and I have no doubt Apple will have those breakout hits that everyone wants to watch. No doubt at all.

Here’s a list of some pretty good shows:

• Better Call Saul
• The Blacklist
• Bloodline
• Breaking Bad
• The Crown
• Damages
• The Goldbergs
• Justified
• Preacher
• Rescue Me
• The Shield
• Sneaky Pete

These are some of the shows that Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg green-lighted while they were presidents of Sony Pictures Television for 12 years, before Cook took them out.

As Apple puts it, “They have extensive expertise producing television for global audiences and creating programming for a wide range of services including shows for Amazon, Hulu and Netflix.”

These guys know great content when they see it, and they’ve hired a bunch of talented folks to bring it to ATV+. That’s what Cook does: hires great people to execute on Apple’s strategic plans, and then stays the hell out of their way.

Any armchair CEO or studio programmer who is “concerned” about a potential misstep by Apple better have quite a resume to back them up if they expect anyone to take their “concerns” seriously.

Well I haven’t heard of most of those shows but if apple get a breaking bad out of those guys then it would have been job done. Though they will need several big hitters like that. I dare say it’s a matter of time.

 

[Art Mark]

It's MARKETING. It's just another marketing element. It's not a TV Network. The 'number' of eyes does not matter. Entertainment production has changed. The thing Apple shouldn't do is deals with Endeavor Content. But that aside, it's not a dumb move or a bad one.

 

[matrix07]

Apple TV+ has been available for a week, hasn't it? Is anyone watching it? Is anyone enjoying it and thinking they should pay for it?

Plenty of people are.
[automerge]1573266308[/automerge]

I hear ya... Would be like Apple entering the crowded music player market. Or the mobile phone market; with a screen keyboard no less.

PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.