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Apple will debut its rumored television service on Monday, and ahead of the event, The Washington Post has shared some new details on the planning that has gone into Apple's TV service.

When deciding how to distribute its original television content and at what cost, Apple reportedly considered offering free television shows to customers who paid the extra fee for AppleCare for their Mac and iOS devices.

jurassic-world-2-apple-tv-image-800x515.jpg

Apple also considered an offering through the Apple TV, and recent rumors have suggested that the content Apple offers will actually be provided through the TV app on iOS devices and the company's set-top box. There's also a possibility that Apple will distribute its content outside of its own platform as well, which is something else the company has mulled.

Apple's plans are still not clear to industry insiders and Hollywood executives, and one source that provided the above info to The Washington Post said that Apple's plans have changed multiple times.
"Whatever they try to sell on Monday, it's not what they started with and they are trying to figure out what kind of engine to put in while the plane is in the air," the executive said.
Film and TV creators who are working with Apple have been left in the dark about the company's plans and do not know if content will be exclusive to Apple users or available to everyone. Creators received "obfuscation and ambiguous responses" when asking about distribution, with some speculating that Apple may not have made up its mind about the finer details of the streaming service.
"Apple is the only company in the world that can drop a couple million dollars in entertainment and get Reese Witherspoon and M. Night Shamalayan on board without any articulation of a plan in terms of marketing or distribution," said one well-connected Hollywood executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to upset Apple.
Recent reports from The Information and Recode have suggested Apple may be planning to offer its own content in the TV app at no cost as a way to lure Apple users to purchase subscriptions for other services, such as Showtime or Starz, within the TV app.

Apple plans to offer a range of different content from various content partners, and has plans to provide bundles of cable channels. These partnerships are said to be the true focus of Apple's TV service, and what will drive up the company's services revenue.

As we've previously heard, Apple has invested millions of dollars in its original television shows. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, who will star in a morning show drama tentatively called "The Morning Show," are being paid approximately $1.1 million per episode each.

While there have been mixed rumors about Apple's efforts to control the content that's released on its platform, Apple has been willing to create "edgy" shows. One person involved with Apple said Apple executives in Cupertino have stayed out of the creative process.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has, however, "passed notes" to writers on Apple shows through Apple's Hollywood team because Tim Cook, as we've heard before, is aiming to protect Apple's brand and reputation. Apple, for example, shelved "Vital Signs," a show starring Dr. Dre, as was reported earlier last year. Apple could perhaps release this show sometime later, according to sources that spoke to The Washington Post.

Apple will answer at least some of the questions about its streaming service plans on Monday, March 25, which is when its "It's Showtime" event will take place. The event will start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with MacRumors planning to offer live coverage both on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account.

Article Link: Apple Considered Offering Original TV Content Free to Customers Who Bought AppleCare
 

TVreporter

macrumors 68020
Mar 11, 2012
2,052
3,415
Near Toronto
I often wonder if these rumours of flying by the seat of their pants and last-minute decisions are really how things operate in the Mother Ship.

Difficult to fanthom a trillion dollar company would be in that much disarray and be so indecisive.

Subscription via AppleCare I could accept - but that sounds too reasonable and inexpensive for that to come to fruition.
 

az431

Suspended
Sep 13, 2008
2,131
6,122
Portland, OR
All the rumours I’ve read about this streaming service aren’t good. Apple can’t secure deals, overly regulated content... and now bundling it with AppleCare because it can’t stand on its own.

Did you read the entire article? Nowhere does it say that Apple will be bundling this with AppleCare, and it certainly does not state that, if it did, that it would be because “it can’t stand on its own.”
 

AppleFan91

macrumors 68000
Sep 11, 2012
1,813
3,827
Indy, US
I just have such a bad feeling about Monday. Idk why and I hope it’s great, but man, it just seems like a “hey, we have something like you guys (PS Vue, Hulu, YoutubeTV,etc) too! If their plan is to entice people with their own shows...good luck.

In terms of the news subscription, I feel like that’s such a niche market. Unless they bundle news, tv/movies and Apple Music together, it’s gonna be a tough sell. Only thing that would intrigue me is if they managed to include their full iTunes Store movie’s & shows for a subscription. Like Apple Music was to the iTunes Store
 

martyjmclean

Cancelled
Jan 24, 2018
712
2,557
Did you read the entire article? Nowhere does it say that Apple will be bundling this with AppleCare, and it certainly does not state that, if it did, that it would be because “it can’t stand on its own.”
Did you read my entire post? Nowhere did I say it will be bundled with Apple Care. I’m talking about the rumours... because this is MacRumours.
 

johnyslats

macrumors 68020
Mar 14, 2012
2,456
5,734
Yorkshire, UK
Free with Apple Care? Interesting. Hope that's not why they're introducing limited warranty status in iOS 12.2. I get the feeling they've moved away from that proposition however. Would like to read the article, but alas, it's behind a paywall!
 

cardfan

macrumors 601
Mar 23, 2012
4,431
5,627
I just have such a bad feeling about Monday. Idk why and I hope it’s great, but man, it just seems like a “hey, we have something like you guys (PS Vue, Hulu, YoutubeTV,etc) too! If their plan is to entice people with their own shows...good luck.

In terms of the news subscription, I feel like that’s such a niche market. Unless they bundle news, tv/movies and Apple Music together, it’s gonna be a tough sell. Only thing that would intrigue me is if they managed to include their full iTunes Store movie’s & shows for a subscription. Like Apple Music was to the iTunes Store

Not sure why you think a sub based on iTunes Store content is even a possibility. That’s a different animal altogether and would never happen.

This is apple pulling a string. They’re unsure what it is they’re trying to do. Trial and error so to speak. Of course it won’t end well. If they were actually serious and had any sort of well thought out plan they’d have acted much sooner and actually spent some real money as well as making key acquisitions.

It’s a loser. The event to draw attention to it will make it that much worse for them later when it fails. Hopefully we can get past this sideshow soon and on to better things.
 

star_nerdy

macrumors member
Feb 6, 2017
73
290
Offer it to free to anyone who buys an iPhone or iPad in the trade in program.

That gives you AppleCare and pushes people into the program.

That pushes them to upgrade more often aka every 2 years instead of 4.

You’d get equipment to recycle, which you could then resell for even more profit.

Apple would make money over money to increase iPhone sales and in turn only spend a few million dollars for content.
 

AppleFan91

macrumors 68000
Sep 11, 2012
1,813
3,827
Indy, US
Not sure why you think a sub based on iTunes Store content is even a possibility. That’s a different animal altogether and would never happen.

This is apple pulling a string. They’re unsure what it is they’re trying to do. Trial and error so to speak. Of course it won’t end well. If they were actually serious and had any sort of well thought out plan they’d have acted much sooner and actually spent some real money as well as making key acquisitions.

It’s a loser. The event to draw attention to it will make it that much worse for them later when it fails. Hopefully we can get past this sideshow soon and on to better things.

Which is why I said I’m not excited about it. The only thing that would appeal to people in masses would be a subscription method for the iTunes Store. I’m agreeing with you.
 

symphony

macrumors 68020
Aug 25, 2016
2,232
2,641
All the rumours I’ve read about this streaming service aren’t good. Apple can’t secure deals, overly regulated content... now bundled with Apple Care (Why not Apple Music?) because it can’t stand on its own.

It’s becuz aPple has standards.
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,469
26,072
I often wonder if these rumours of flying by the seat of their pants and last-minute decisions are really how things operate in the Mother Ship.

Difficult to fanthom a trillion dollar company would be in that much disarray and be so indecisive.

Subscription via AppleCare I could accept - but that sounds too reasonable and inexpensive for that to come to fruition.

Just look at Project Titan (car) and the constant reorganization associated with that project. When Apple ventures into the unknown, things often don’t work as planned.
 

Heelpir8

macrumors regular
Feb 13, 2019
247
868
I just have such a bad feeling about Monday.

Me too. I’m imagining Tim and company huddled around an Apple HQ conference room table all weekend looking a lot like I did while cramming for a next day test in college. LOL
 

az431

Suspended
Sep 13, 2008
2,131
6,122
Portland, OR
Did you read my entire post? Nowhere did I say it will be bundled with Apple Care. I’m talking about the rumours... because this is MacRumours.

Then your post makes zero sense because your conclusion depends on the premise that Apple has decided to bundle steaming with AppleCare and that it did so because it couldn’t sell streaming by itself. You remove those two things and it’s just gibberish.
 

gigapocket1

macrumors 68020
Mar 15, 2009
2,406
1,911
Wow... first off. Jennifer Aniston and co got over big time! 1.1 million per episode for a show that you don’t know if it even is going to be a hit. It takes several seasons before you put out that kind of money.
They only way Apple would do that. Is if for one. They have to exclusively make shows for Apple only. No other streaming platform.. 2. They have to be apart of a big marketing campaign..
[doublepost=1553303250][/doublepost]But once again. The more I think about it. If Apple offers iCloud space/ Apple TV content/ Apple Music / and app subscriptions for. $40 a month. I would be in.
 

shyam09

macrumors 68020
Oct 31, 2010
2,247
2,507
Wonder how many more times MR is going to recycle this same story by simply adding new unnamed sources who offer non-specific allegations about what Apple might or might not do.
This random bird once told me ... "chirp chirp chirp chirpidee chirpidee chirp."

I spoke to an expert in bird-ology (Charlie Day) and he informed that the bird said he spoke to one of his bird pals who was about to eat a worm that came out of an Apple, when the worm told him that the Apple Television service is going to be named Apple Cable.

There you go MR, your next article.
 
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