This is going to be the way forward. I bet in a few years even the highest-paid tiers on all streaming services will have ads. Because why wouldn't they? People don't unsubscribe when prices are raised, when account sharing is removed, and they aren't going to unsubscribe over ads.
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Apple in Talks to Bring Ads to Apple TV+
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I'm just glad I still get the Go Big plan from DirecTV Stream for $40 a month with over 105 HD channels including local, 3 simultaneous streams anywhere with an internet connection, and 20 hours of DVR included. The current comparable plan is now $110 per month, but I'm locked in at $40 and it never changes. It is the best deal in streaming by far. Cheers to that!
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What I disliked about DVDs were the mandatory FBI anti-piracy warnings that you couldn't skip through so you're forced to endure intrusive government threats with every DVD you watched.
Thank goodness those days are long gone.
(Oops, I mistook DVR for DVD ☺️)
Bye Bye Apple TV.
Apple is working on the introduction of advertisements on Apple TV+ in the United Kingdom, according to The Telegraph.
Apple has apparently been in discussions with the UK's Broadcaster's Audience Research Board (BARB) to explore the necessary data collection techniques for monitoring advertising results. Currently, BARB provides viewing statistics for major UK networks including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Sky, as well as Apple TV+ programming. These new discussions suggest that Apple is preparing to implement an ad-supported tier on its streaming service, similar to moves made by competitors such as Netflix, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.
While BARB already monitors viewing time for Apple TV+ content, additional techniques are required to track advertising metrics accurately. This data is vital for advertisers to assess the reach and impact of their campaigns on the platform. In addition to the UK, Apple has also reportedly held similar discussions with ratings organizations in the United States.
Apple has already included limited advertising in its live sports events, such as last year's Major League Soccer coverage, where ads were incorporated even for Season Pass holders. It is also notable that in March Apple hired Joseph Cady, a former advertising executive from NBCUniversal, to bolster its video advertising team.
Competitors like Netflix and Disney+ have successfully launched lower-cost, ad-supported tiers, which have helped them attract additional subscribers and increase revenue. For instance, Netflix recently reported record revenues, partly due to a 34% increase in subscribers to its ad-supported tier. The push towards an ad-supported tier comes at a time when Apple is reportedly reducing its spending on Apple TV+ content after investing over $20 billion in original programming.
Article Link: Apple in Talks to Bring Ads to Apple TV+
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as 'enough money.' They are going to squeeze every penny they can get, because why wouldn't they.
Back in the dark days of the 1960s-70s you watched an hour program on television and got four commercial breaks of 1-2 minutes long leaving us about 50 minutes of the actual show you were watching. And we complained then not knowing how good we had it.
Commercial television today has long become unbearable with at least six commercial breaks up to five minutes long. You’re lucky if an hour program gives you 40-42 minutes run time. Specialty channels fare somewhat better.
If it were just television maybe we could bear it, but ads infest everything. Professional sports teams have uniforms plastered with ads and logos. Long ago we used to get cartoons before seeing a film at the theatre. That hasn’t been true for ages as it’s non-stop ads (besides upcoming film previews) before the film starts.
You innocently look up something of interest online and before you know your Facebook feed is throwing ads from businesses you’ve never heard of related in some way to whatever it was you were looking up earlier online.
It’s a never ending nightmare that no one wants. Yet here we are.
Commercial television today has long become unbearable with at least six commercial breaks up to five minutes long. You’re lucky if an hour program gives you 40-42 minutes run time. Specialty channels fare somewhat better.
If it were just television maybe we could bear it, but ads infest everything. Professional sports teams have uniforms plastered with ads and logos. Long ago we used to get cartoons before seeing a film at the theatre. That hasn’t been true for ages as it’s non-stop ads (besides upcoming film previews) before the film starts.
You innocently look up something of interest online and before you know your Facebook feed is throwing ads from businesses you’ve never heard of related in some way to whatever it was you were looking up earlier online.
It’s a never ending nightmare that no one wants. Yet here we are.
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I’m not surprised, there is no way that Apple TV+ is profitable right now
Subs down, piracy up. No think different going on here.
Why do you assume you have a right to a pleasant experience at what you consider to be a reasonable price? Isn’t that just an opinion you can easily exercise by simply not signing on to a service? Do you advocate complete government regulation of price and experience so you are happy? If enough like-minded people don’t subscribe wouldn’t that cause an action on the providers part?
I am glad I have not bought Apple One or payed for ATV+ (always on free trials from codes). Only iCloud.
I can’t really understand why a trillion dollar company wants more revenue (as if it’s not enough) worsening their services?! It doesn’t make any sense.
This didn't happen to netflix, did it? Most people don't seem to mind it. I bet they know what torrent is either.
What’s new? This has been around for decades. Before streaming it was just called cable.
1. There’s no free lunch. Whoever is making the content you see has to be compensated somehow. I think we all believe this is fair.
2. Whoever owns the channel (Apple, Netflix, Fox etc) is expected to deliver higher profit to shareholders every year. That will eventually lead to either higher prices, more ads or less/cheaper content for the same price. Or they will take some of the compensation in (1).
So (2) will push price/value up until more people resort to piracy leaving even less for those making the content.
Edit: what’s ironic is that the people in (2) can claim that not paying for the content is piracy and is hurting people in (1), but them self taking money from (1) is perfectly fine 🤷♂️
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It’s called capitalism. They need to be a 1.1 trillion company next year.
Exactly. The only way for people to influence the pricing and structure of these services is to not subscribe. This is also why the ad supported subscriptions exist as a response to higher ad-free subscriptions. Supply and demand at its best. These services are not critical to the public, they are entertainment requiring disposable income to purchase. There is no human right to these services. Those raging on on about price gouging and greed are free to continue raging on but their only weapon his their pocketbook. And thats not working is it. Every time there’s an article about this posters rage about canceling their subscriptions in protest, switching to piracy, etc. Then Netflix, one of the most expensive streamers, reports that it gained 8 million new subscribers.
I would recommend basing the economy on something else than capitalism then 🤷♂️
I disagree with this. If the money paid so far has any link with the top tier content Apple TV+ has produced, then it probably needs to be maintained to keep that wonderful content coming.
The piracy option is practiced by a tiny minority, insignificant these days in terms of its effect on profit. Add to that the prospect of getting caught and prosecuted, or being pwned by malware inserted into the pirated content, and the average person is deterred. Tech blog denizens like to pontificate about their prowess in stealing software and content but that’s mostly chest pounding narcissism.
And after that we'll have multi-month commitments with early termination fees. These services absolutely hate the churners who binge for a month once or twice per year and cancel. They'll likely either force multi-month agreements or price the "pay month to month" rates so high that it makes sense for most people to sign up for a year at once.
Why should it be surprising? A subscription pay/ad hybrid model has been the norm for content delivery for ages including television, newspapers, and magazines. At least with various streaming services, they offer subscribers the CHOICE of going with ads or ad-free. Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Hulu, Max, Netflix, etc. all offer ad and ad-free plan options.
If you don't want a plan with ads then go with an ad-free plan. No one is saying ad-free is going away. There is still a meaningful segment of the streaming public that prefers ad-free.
The UK is getting ads on Apple TV? Too bad they can't get access to torrenting apps like people in the EU. 😩
Forgive my ignorance (not using them nor cable TV), but what's the point of streaming services if they are no different than old school cable TV?
Not necessarily. Ad-free will continue to have appeal to some customers and streaming services will still want to attract/keep those customers.