Apple Looking to Establish a Large Production Campus in Los Angeles for Apple TV+

[Gasu E.]

It seems to me to be part of Apple's push to further their all in one entertainment/home automation/computer product ecosystem by pushing furtehr into content and being able to control the content and build a catalogue they can use to get people into their ecosystem. I would not be surprised to see them make some acquistions just to get a large collection of content; much like Ted Turner did in the '70s. If Jobs were still alive it would not have surprised me to see a Disney/Apple merger or at least a major content deal.

I agree with your first statement. but, most existing filler content is getting sucked up by the competition right now. Unfortunately, Apple's timing isn't right to participate. I think their strategy has been to follow HBO's model by building strong core content and then supplementing with filler later. Getting into a bidding war for libraries at this point would suck up tons of capital to acquire assets that would not be useful at this point; at least, that seems to be Apple's thinking. Maybe Apple is waiting for some second wave, where some current competitors get in over their head and buy them out? As far as Disney is concerned, never was going to happen; Disney believes they have the most valuable IP in the industry, and always has seen themselves as the industry leader. So they were never going to give anyone else rights to their top IP, except on very short term deals.

 

[incoherent_1]

I genuinely hope Apple succeeds here. I really do!

I just don’t understand all of these companies intend to be profitable here. Netflix, Apple, Disney, HBO, etc. are throwing around billions like it’s spare change… Is there really enough of a market to support that?

 

[m4mario]

I don't see that at all. Apple seems to be very selective about what they acquire... not even close to the Netflix model.

Not in terms of content. But like many in this forum, I thought Apple TV+ is just an attempt by Apple in this area and it would eventually give up. But this post shows otherwise.

 

[cable]

How this is not anti-trust worthy is insane to me.

 

[LonestarOne]

I'm surprised they haven't tried Atlanta. Land is a lot cheaper and there is already an infrastructure in place to support the industry. Overall the costs of production would be lower; and given Apple's relentless pursuit of lower production costs you'd think they would do that for TV production as well.

A lot of LA-based studios now shoot here in Dallas (mostly commercials) because it’s cheaper to fly cast and crew out here and put them up in hotels than to shoot in LA and pay union rates for everything. Dallas is said to be the third-largest city in the US for productions. (At least, it was before the pandemic when people stopped traveling.)

 

[LonestarOne]

How this is not anti-trust worthy is insane to me.

Right, because there’s no one else in Los Angeles with a movie studio. Clearly a monopoly.

Eyeballs roll.

 

[slide_to_unlock]

canceled my free AppleTV+. Only liked 1% of their content. Very unrealistic shows. Everybody in every shows uses iPhone and Mac. In real world some people uses Windows and other phones too LOL.

 

[cjboffoli97]

Apple should just buy Sony. Then they get a studio in Culver City AND a library.

 

[erthquake]

I’m surprised of all the investments that Apple is putting on Apple TV+. I suscribe to the service and I love many of their shows, but on a business perspective, I highly doubt that this service will be profitable in the near future because of all the huge investments in production and low paying subscribers. I’d love Apple to keep developing this service but I’m wondering what is the point for them to make TV shows, it’s not keeping furthermore anybody in the Apple ecosystem

This is a really smart use of their cash horde. Remember that Netflix funds their original content with debt. Building a strong content library with cash will have a much better long-term return than just letting it sit in a bank collecting near-zero interest. It's also less risky than venturing out with a new hardware product that might flop <cough> Apple Car </cough>.

Someone else I know made an interesting point that it would be a good way to use their overseas cash if they eventually do global production.

 

[Attirex]

Everyone who replied to this thread is either "working on a screenplay" or "knows someone in the industry."

 

[bobtem]

The “plus” moniker… they couldn’t think of anything better? Especially for a content offering, not a hardware device? And especially since they already have a hardware device named the same thing, minus the plus?

How bout, Appletainemet? K, that’s pretty bad, but I’m sure you could come with a better name.

 

[erthquake]

I genuinely hope Apple succeeds here. I really do!

I just don’t understand all of these companies intend to be profitable here. Netflix, Apple, Disney, HBO, etc. are throwing around billions like it’s spare change… Is there really enough of a market to support that?

The main advantage Apple has is their opportunity to be vertically integrated. They are the only name you mention that also sells hardware/software on with the content is consumed. Amazon does as well to some extent because they can leverage AWS for their content. Probably only a matter of time before Google joins in.

 

[Geronimo]

The “plus” moniker… they couldn’t think of anything better? Especially for a content offering, not a hardware device? And especially since they already have a hardware device named the same thing, minus the plus?

How bout, Appletainemet? K, that’s pretty bad, but I’m sure you could come with a better name.

I would've gone with Vision.

 

[jlc1978]

Can you go into more detail of why you think he would have bought Disney and what year would he have bought them if he where still alive? This doesn’t sound at all like Steve Jobs.

As far as Disney is concerned, never was going to happen; Disney believes they have the most valuable IP in the industry, and always has seen themselves as the industry leader. So they were never going to give anyone else rights to their top IP, except on very short term deals.

I admit the Disney comment was a bit of a wild idea; but as Disney's largest shareholder at the time and a board member he had the clout to have a discussion about a merger or deeper ties. A lot would have depended on his vision for Apple on the entertainement side; I could see him strike a deal with Dsiney to create a streaming Disney channel based on Apple technology and Disney content. Apple deevlops devices and expands into being the home entertainment hub with Disney driving people due to exclusive content. Disney also fits in with Apple's more family friendly approach overall in entertainment.

To me, a merger would have made sense but who would be in charge of the result? Lots of egos and differing viewpoints that it would take someone like Jobs to make it work; but it would have been a technology and entertainment powerhouse.

And AppleWorld would have return as a Disney ride...

Would he have done it? Probably not? Could he? With his ability to sell people on his vision no doubt.

 

[BigSmurf]

If you read the list of the many shows in production, they are indeed catching up with content. And I do find most of the Apple tv content worth watching, while only a minority on netflix. I keep the netflix subscription mainly for the kids for all those cartoons. For myself I could happily have only Apple TV. Then again we only watch TV 2 evenings per week or so.