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Apple Reportedly Considering Extending Apple TV+ Free Trial

I don't understand their rationale for extending the free trial. As a customer, I would love getting something free for a longer period of time. However, from a business point of view, if a year is insufficient to convince someone to subscribe to Apple TV+, I don't see how a couple extra months would make a difference.
 
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Not sure if the strategy of luring in long-term subscribers will work. I personally will be happy subscribing for single months one or two times a year.

However, extending the free membership could definitely be a nice perk when upgrading hardware (at very low cost to Apple).
 
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I got a free trial with my iPhone (and probably my iPad Pro). Not watched a thing yet. Between terrestrial TV channels, Sky (sport and movies), Netflix and YouTube, I just don't have time. Sorry Apple… but I did buy a Mac Pro!

EDIT: Make something awesome like the Mandalorian and I might.
 
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cmaier said:
Not true. I’ve surveyed everyone. Most want to pay for it.
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I surveyed everyone else. None of them had to pay for it. :D

On topic: When our sub ends in November it ain't gonna be renewed. Both my girls have their iPhones and aren't getting new ones. Our iPads are fine so nothing there. Beyond the first couple of weeks, the service hasn't been used. I am subscription overloaded. HBO Max, ATV+, Disney+ -Hulu- ESPN+, Prime Video... all free and a paid Netflix. ATV+ just gets squeezed out due to lack of content. May be interesting when the catalog has more in it. 'til then...
 
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Perhaps they could give you access to all that content on iTunes, instead of trying to launch a streaming service with 1-2 shows per interest.
 
Makes sense, because let’s be honest.. The subscription numbers will drastically drop once that trial goes away. I wouldn’t be surprised if the service or shows are sold to another streaming company within the next few years. It’s way too niche and no one outside of the diehard Apple ecosystem cares or even knows about it.
 
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Was a little perturbed at the prospect of having to pay because of a delay, who knows if intended for this purpose or not, from Apple. I was willing to pay but I’ll take it if this happens.
 
PhaserFuzz said:
Makes sense, because let’s be honest.. The subscription numbers will drastically drop once that trial goes away. I wouldn’t be surprised if the service or shows are sold to another streaming company within the next few years.
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I would be shocked. They have plenty of money, and it will long term be very complementary to their hardware business.
 
Apple TV should be included as part of your Apple Music subscription. Google does it with You Tube Premium and You Tube (Google Play) Music.
 
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Treq said:
"The first trial accounts will expire just weeks after the next iPhones are set to debut in October."

Weeks after the phones debut in Oct is November.
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That is what the direct quote says, but in the paragraph above the quote, MacRumors says "As the first free trials will come to an end next month, Apple is apparently considering an extension of the free trial program." I can see their confusion.
 
ruka.snow said:
I have a 12 month trial waiting there after buying a iPhone... still won't make me sign up for it. Apple TV+ is a waste of resources, just shut it down and team up with Netflix.
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Exactly, they should team up with either Netflix or Disney+, that would be unbeatable.

I am not a hater, I just really do not find that much great to watch on ATV+ right now. I liked The Morning Show and For All Mankind, detested See, I think it is the worst show in the library. Edit: Mystic quest is also a commendable show.

Apple needs to break through with a must-watch TV show and acquire some back catalogue. If they cannot do this then teaming up is an option.


cmaier said:
Not true. I’ve surveyed everyone. Most want to pay for it.
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I wonder what is the age group of your survey. I would say 95% of my friends have iPhone and many have other Apple products... During the pandemic we have a group where we recommend content to watch, most of them warn against ATV+ shows and probably all but one said they will cancel as soon as the trial expires.


nattK said:
I don't understand their rationale for extending the free trial. As a customer, I would love getting something free for a longer period of time. However, from a business point of view, if a year is insufficient to convince someone to subscribe to Apple TV+, I don't see how a couple extra months would make a difference.
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They know the ship they are sailing and they are doing what they can to keep it afloat.
 
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GeoStructural said:
Exactly, they should team up with either Netflix or Disney+, that would be unbeatable.

I am not a hater, I just really do not find that much great to watch on ATV+ right now. I liked The Morning Show and For All Mankind, detested See, I think it is the worst show in the library.

Apple needs to break through with a must-watch TV show and acquire some back catalogue. If they cannot do this then teaming up is an option.
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Mythic quest is fantastic.
 
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Apple should teach their top tier consumer customers that they should purchase a $1000 apple device every year to keep them in the "Apple club". Apple TV+ is a nice loyalty benefit for those customers.

That said, they need to produce purchase worthy devices with a cadence that justifies yearly device purchase.

From personal experience: My purchase cadence has been declining from > 1 device / year to < 1 device / year. This is mostly because they have not had a steady stream of devices with significant updates. I am eagerly waiting for the launch A14 based Macs (will purchase several, haven been holding any purchases for years for this), iPads (may purchase one, but hesitant because A12X is still great) and iPhones (will not purchase, A13 is solid).

If TV+ comes free for a year with next device, I applaud Apple for the loyalty benefit. It not, I won't be paying for it.
 
calstanford said:
LOL hahahahaha. Good luck getting me to pay every month for that one show with a handful or two of episodes I might watch and that one single Tom Hanks movie. Please. This isn't HBO or even CBS All Access. Sorry Apple, but really you're not.
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They are aware.
By now they intended to have much more programming, but they couldn’t make those shows during the pandemic.
Patience, people.
 
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I have a feeling what happens with App Store will drive what Apple does with some of these other services. Right now App Store is a big revenue generator so these other services don’t have to be. But if Apple has to reduce IAP fees or allow 3rd party options they may not be able to rely on App Store to drive services growth.
 
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I'm sadly cancelling the second my 1 year trial is due. There just isn't the content to watch. I've loved many of the shows, but that it. I've watched them all now. I'll subscribe for one month in about 6 months time to watch a series and will cancel straight away. It's a pointless service at this stage.
 
nattK said:
I don't understand their rationale for extending the free trial. As a customer, I would love getting something free for a longer period of time. However, from a business point of view, if a year is insufficient to convince someone to subscribe to Apple TV+, I don't see how a couple extra months would make a difference.
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I imagine that the pandemic has slowed down a lot of their releases to convince us of subscribing, and interrupted the total amount of content on their road map by November. For example, For All Mankind shut down filming due to the pandemic with just two episodes to go. I personally enjoyed the first season, and a season 2 would have me on board to at least extend another month. The shows that I've seen I've enjoyed. But I'm definitely on the fence, leaning toward canceling. While they're still putting some content out, it's probably not at the pace they had hoped pre-pandemic.
 
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