Apple Inks Deal With Steven Spielberg for 'Amazing Stories' Sci-Fi Series

[ipedro]

I’m not one to invoke Steve but I don’t remember under Steve people questioning why Apple is doing something. Even if you didn’t agree you knew why. I have yet to hear from Tim Cook or Eddy Cue why Apple wants to start bankrolling original content. We can make guesses but they’re all financial; Apple wants more Apple Music subs to boost services revenue, Apple is bowing to Wall Street’s appetite for predictable recurring revenue streams. But from a cultural/mission stand point is there really a clear why there? I get the feeing there isn’t a good, well thought out reason other than Apple has more money than it knows what to do with.

https://www.recode.net/platform/amp...teven-spielberg-amazing-stories-streaming-nbc

If you don’t know why Apple is doing this, then you’re not thinking ahead. You’re boxing your perspective in with how Apple has done things lately and forgetting that Apple has always set the chess game far in advance of moving in.

Apple has been successful because they control the entire experience and optimize each part of that experience to work perfectly as a whole. They make the hardware and also make the software. With computers increasingly becoming entertainment devices — video viewing devices — a new component is becoming critical: content.

Just as Apple makes its own apps and invites others to participate, it needs to do the same with content. Creating its own content sets the bar for other content producers to meet and exceed. It also gives Apple a bargaining chip in a component critical to its success.

If Netflix, Hulu and Amazon control all the primary content, then they control the game and Apple has to play by their rules. If Apple has valuable content, it gains leverage.

An Apple TV service analogous to Apple Music is coming. You’ll pay a membership and gain access to Apple’s exclusive content as well as licensed TV shows and movies. If Apple doesn’t have its own content, it’s at the mercy of the licensees making demands to keep Apple’s service alive. If Apple has desirable content that people will subscribe for, then the licensees have more to gain by jumping on that bandwagon.

 

[69650]

I still don't see Apple's strategy here. Where do these shows live? Apple Music? Is there a dedicated TV service coming soon? All you can eat shows and movies from iTunes, plus original content. I'd pay $40 a month for that.

Amazon Prime and Netflix cost just £8/month so Apple would need to be competitive with that to attract subscribers.
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Apple has been successful because they control the entire experience and optimize each part of that experience to work perfectly as a whole. They make the hardware and also make the software.

90% of the software on my Apple devices is not made by Apple. Under Cook’s leadership Apple has been running down their own software development.

 

[LethalWolfe]

Will people buy into content exclusivity? I’m not so sure anymore.

YouTube, the UFC, Hulu (ABC, FOX, NBC, TW), Netflix, Amazon, the WWE, HBO, Showtime, Starz, CBS, Disney, etc., are all making original content because it drives consumers to those services. Original content also gives it's creators more control over it's catalog. Sure, Disney can take it's toys and go home, but Netflix still has a lot of top tier original content to keep people signed up. Imagine if Netflix had little to no original content and the Disney properties were a big reason people signed w/Netflix. That would be a disaster for Netflix. Something similar happen in 2010/2011 when Starz (IIRC) didn't renew their contract w/Netflix so a lot of huge movies disappeared from the service. I think that was a big reason Netflix got back into the original content game (they dabbled w/it when they were still just doing DVDs but nothing much came from it).

 

[Kabeyun]

I honestly believe that the trend to relive the 80's and 90's is popular because things were less stressful. The constant stream of anger, shock, and hate that social media brings makes us nostalgic for the past. I suspect there is a certain level of this feeling with each and every generation embracing changes in culture.

Interesting theory, but I’ll tell you the 80s weren’t exactly a picnic (terrorism was becoming a thing, and we were still having nuclear bomb drills). And the 60s were madness but we still got Austin Powers in the 90s. I think the reason we’re seeing 80s and 90s stuff now is that the people who grew up watching it are now entertainment company leaders who are nostalgic for it and are in a position to produce it.

 

[Macaholic868]

If Apple wants to be Netflix then buy Netflix. It’s pretty clear since they can’t cut deals to launch their own video streaming service that original content is where they are going to have to try and compete. Buy a company that’s already there and stop mixing original video content with an Apple Music subscription. It’s stupid.

 

[ActionableMango]

if you want the actual intro complete with John Williams' original music, here it is:

Thanks for that.

I thought there was a CGI bit where two poker cards are having a sword fight, but that wasn't in there. Not sure if I'm thinking of a different show's intro or maybe I'm just senile.

 

[DCIFRTHS]

Apple is teaming up with Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television and Comcast's NBC Universal TV production unit to create new episodes of sci-fi series "Amazing Stories," reports The Wall Street Journal.

"Amazing Stories" is a science fiction and horror series created by Spielberg that originally ran on NBC from 1985 to 1987. During its two-year tenure, the show won five Emmy Awards. It focused on a new topic each episode, in the vein of "Tales From the Crypt," "Twilight Zone," and "Black Mirror."

Apple plans to create 10 new episodes of "Amazing Stories" alongside Amblin and NBC Universal, with plans to spend more than $5 million per episode. Spielberg is likely to be an executive producer for the new version of the show, according to The Wall Street Journal's sources.

"Amazing Stories" is the first series that Apple has taken on since the hiring of Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht back in June. Van Amburg and Erlicht, who helped produce shows like "Breaking Bad," "The Crown," and "Better Call Saul," are running Apple's video programming efforts on a worldwide scale under iTunes chief Eddy Cue.

The new show will join Apple's existing shows "Planet of the Apps" and "Carpool Karaoke: The Series." It marks the first show that is able to more directly compete with content from Netflix and Amazon.

Rumors suggest Apple is aiming to pursue high-profile deals with A-list talent to create shows on par with offerings like Netflix's "Stranger Things" or Hulu's "The Handmaid's Tale."

Article Link: Apple Inks Deal With Steven Spielberg for 'Amazing Stories' Sci-Fi Series

This sounds cool. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

 

[RobNYC]

One of the best episodes ever made.......

I think my favorite was the one with Christopher Lloyd and Mary Stuart Masterson

 

[dan110]

To me, this screams of desperation.

 

[oldwatery]

Hollywood is running out of ideas

Apple ran out of ideas years ago.
Yet another lame attempt to copy someone else.
This really is pathetic.

 

[Rogifan]

If you don’t know why Apple is doing this, then you’re not thinking ahead. You’re boxing your perspective in with how Apple has done things lately and forgetting that Apple has always set the chess game far in advance of moving in.

Apple has been successful because they control the entire experience and optimize each part of that experience to work perfectly as a whole. They make the hardware and also make the software. With computers increasingly becoming entertainment devices — video viewing devices — a new component is becoming critical: content.

Just as Apple makes its own apps and invites others to participate, it needs to do the same with content. Creating its own content sets the bar for other content producers to meet and exceed. It also gives Apple a bargaining chip in a component critical to its success.

If Netflix, Hulu and Amazon control all the primary content, then they control the game and Apple has to play by their rules. If Apple has valuable content, it gains leverage.

An Apple TV service analogous to Apple Music is coming. You’ll pay a membership and gain access to Apple’s exclusive content as well as licensed TV shows and movies. If Apple doesn’t have its own content, it’s at the mercy of the licensees making demands to keep Apple’s service alive. If Apple has desirable content that people will subscribe for, then the licensees have more to gain by jumping on that bandwagon.

I don’t see people subscribing to a proprietary service which means Apple would need to make it available across a wide range of platforms. Also it’s laughable to to think Apple under the leadership of Eddy Cue will be setting the bar for streaming video content. I still think this is mostly about hardware sales slowing and Apple bowing to Wall Street pressure to increase the dollars it extracts from existing users.
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YouTube, the UFC, Hulu (ABC, FOX, NBC, TW), Netflix, Amazon, the WWE, HBO, Showtime, Starz, CBS, Disney, etc., are all making original content because it drives consumers to those services. Original content also gives it's creators more control over it's catalog. Sure, Disney can take it's toys and go home, but Netflix still has a lot of top tier original content to keep people signed up. Imagine if Netflix had little to no original content and the Disney properties were a big reason people signed w/Netflix. That would be a disaster for Netflix. Something similar happen in 2010/2011 when Starz (IIRC) didn't renew their contract w/Netflix so a lot of huge movies disappeared from the service. I think that was a big reason Netflix got back into the original content game (they dabbled w/it when they were still just doing DVDs but nothing much came from it).

I guess what I meant was platform exclusivity. If Apple goes down the route of becoming a mini Netflix I think it will need to be available on other platforms to be successful.

 

[LethalWolfe]

I guess what I meant was platform exclusivity. If Apple goes down the route of becoming a mini Netflix I think it will need to be available on other platforms to be successful.

Ah, I follow you now. I agree. I think what Apple will do is make the content available to Android and Windows users, but if you want to watch it on your TV you'll need an TV. I can't see Apple making an app for a Roku or Xbox as that would really kill the incentive to get an TV.

 

[ipedro]

Also it’s laughable to to think Apple under the leadership of Eddy Cue will be setting the bar for streaming video content.

Eddy Cue is no longer directly in charge of this project. Hollywood heavyweights Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht are now at Apple and leading it. They’re the ones behind Breaking Bad. Yes, with Apple’s resources, they will set the bar.

 

[Gasu E.]

Apple sure does love remakes: Carpool Karaoke was a remake of the recurring segment from The Late Late Show, Planet of the Apps was a remake of Shark Tank, and Amazing Stories will be remake of the 1980s show. If Apple wants to be successful in this space, they will need to come up with some original ideas. This "me too" streaming strategy isn't going to get them any where.

"Remake"

You keep using that word-- I do not think it means what you think it means.
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I loved that show as a kid too, but Spielberg was on his way up at that point. He hasn't made a relevant movie in years. Remaking something for the sake of nostalgia with a director, as great as he was, now seemingly past his prime seems questionable.

Nearly every word after "point" is completely off-base. Although arguably, when you are the greatest film maker in history, you can be both still great and past one's prime. But go look Spielberg up, on Wikipedia or something-- he is so far from irrelevant that his current level of relevancy is far greater than the peak point for 99.99% of successful film directors over history.

 

[mceolsen]

The first show Apple will create that I might actually watch--though this is far from the quality of HBO and Netflix. I guess you gotta start somewhere.

Yeah, I mean Netflix's first series, House of Cards, wasn't any good...

 

[iPadCary]

So Bryan Fuller & Spielberg are attachrd, eh ...?
A guy who got kicked-off that piece of dog crap "Star Trek: Discovery"
and a hack director who's done nothing relevant within memory.
Brilliant, Apple. Just brilliant ....
The Apple event where they have Spielberg intro the pilot should be a hoot!

 

[Bacillus]

Eddy Cue is no longer directly in charge of this project. Hollywood heavyweights Zack Van Amburg and Jamie Erlicht are now at Apple and leading it. They’re the ones behind Breaking Bad. Yes, with Apple’s resources, they will set the bar.

And guess who Zack & Jamie report to...