Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple TV+ Announces Free Weekend [Updated]

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,157
38,932


Apple TV+ is set to be available to stream for free from Friday, January 3 to Sunday, January 5, providing its full catalog with no subscription fee.

Apple-TV-Plus-Black-Banner.jpg

Following a series of teasers, Apple confirmed the free weekend on social media, building anticipation for new releases early in 2025 such as the second season of "Severance." Simply open the Apple TV app to watch for free.

Apple has never done a free all-you-can-watch ‌Apple TV‌+ event before, but it does offer free trials for new subscribers and it provides the first episodes of some shows so that potential customers can get a preview before choosing to subscribe. The promotion will be available worldwide on all devices where Apple TV+ is available. All that's needed to watch Apple TV+ content is an Apple ID.

‌Apple TV‌+ is priced at $9.99 per month, and up to six members of a Family Sharing group are able to watch content at that price point. It is also available in the various Apple One subscription bundles, starting at $19.95 per month.

Update: Information shared on Apple TV+ social media accounts initially said that the promotion would run from January 4 to January 5, but in a press release, Apple says that the free weekend will start on Friday, January 3 and will end on Sunday, January 5.

Article Link: Apple TV+ Announces Free Weekend [Updated]
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/30/apple-tv-announces-free-weekend/
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Locke Cole and SFjohn
Occasionally Apple seem to offer free subs to stuff like Apple Arcade and AppleTV+ occasionally when I top up my apple account balance with a gift card.
 
I tried really hard to like Apple TV+. I subscribed for over a year and watched over a dozen series, including all the usual suspects. I concluded that it's just not for me - the production values are high, but the writing and storytelling are consistently weak, bland and safe. I struggle to get through almost any show they put out. After cancelling about a year ago, I've now been given yet another free 3-month trial and honestly can't find anything worth watching - Shrinking, Silo, Bad Monkey - it's all just meh. Their original films, on the other hand, are truly awful. I wish Apple the best in making TV+ a mainstream streaming platform, as it seems that viewership has plateaued at a small niche, but I will not be one of those viewers. As a huge Apple fan and supporter, I can confidently say that their content just doesn't appeal to me at all.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Disagree
  • Love
Reactions: bobone, Tim Apple’s Glasses, Astrohunter and 23 others
Time to make our "must see" lists for friends or family we tell about the freebie. "Yes, I know you don't want any more services, but trust me, you will love [title], and there's enough time to binge season one for free."

"No, you don't need to buy an Apple TV to watch it."
 
  • Like
Reactions: nikon1
Simmias said:
I tried really hard to like Apple TV+. I subscribed for over a year and watched over a dozen series, including all the usual suspects. I concluded that it's just not for me - the product values are high, but the writing and storytelling are consistently weak, bland and safe. I struggle to get through almost any show they put out. After cancelling about a year ago, I've now been given yet another free 3-month trial and honestly can't find anything worth watching - Shrinking, Silo, Bad Monkey - it's all just meh. Their original films, on the other hand, are truly awful. I wish Apple the best in making TV+ a mainstream streaming platform, as it seems that viewership has plateaued at a small niche, but I will not be one of those viewers. As a huge Apple fan and supporter, I can confidently say that their content just doesn't appeal to me at all.
Click to expand...

Barricade your doors Simmias. Fans with pitchforks & torches will soon be trying to plunder your castle. Recant, lest thee be destroyed. They probably are digging the hole for the stake and gathering the firewood now. ;)
 
  • Haha
  • Like
Reactions: bobone, RMSR, lpc2 and 2 others
Simmias said:
I tried really hard to like Apple TV+. I subscribed for over a year and watched over a dozen series, including all the usual suspects. I concluded that it's just not for me - the product values are high, but the writing and storytelling are consistently weak, bland and safe. I struggle to get through almost any show they put out. After cancelling about a year ago, I've now been given yet another free 3-month trial and honestly can't find anything worth watching - Shrinking, Silo, Bad Monkey - it's all just meh. Their original films, on the other hand, are truly awful. I wish Apple the best in making TV+ a mainstream streaming platform, as it seems that viewership has plateaued at a small niche, but I will not be one of those viewers. As a huge Apple fan and supporter, I can confidently say that their content just doesn't appeal to me at all.
Click to expand...

A lot of their shows have the feel of watching what could've been a 2-3 hour movie stretched out over ten episodes with lots of filler and very slow pacing. That said I think a lot of the streaming services do that, got to keep you subbed.
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: Astrohunter, I7guy, Simmias and 3 others
Jason2000 said:
In what way does this make Apple desperate ? They are offering a free trial. Most companies do from time to time. Its a great way to get new users. I believe you are the desperate one looking for attention to which I am giving you. Now go away.
Click to expand...

To be fair I have had so many free trials of TVplus. I redeemed a gift card recently and they emailed me with two months free.
 
Is this a global free weekend or just US/North America?

Been recommending For All Mankind to a work colleague here in UK. A free trial could be just the opportunity for him, particularly if it doesn’t require a cream it card to sign up and then have to cancel (he already has an Apple ID/account for his iPhone & iPad).
 
Interesting strategy. Get people hooked on a show over the free weekend. Wonder what it would do for subscription numbers.
 
Jason2000 said:
In what way does this make Apple desperate ? They are offering a free trial. Most companies do from time to time. Its a great way to get new users. I believe you are the desperate one looking for attention to which I am giving you. Now go away.
Click to expand...
This isn't a free trial. This is 2 free days. From the wording, all you have to do is launch the Apple TV+ app to watch anything you want. No having to enter a form of payment because after the 2 days are up, you're locked out. You don't have to go into your account to cancel anything unlike with a free trial where the provider is hoping you forget to cancel so they can auto bill you.
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: bobone, Oblivious.Robot, eifelbube and 4 others
Back when Apple TV+ launched, I remember them giving away a 1 year subscription with a new Mac purchase. I honestly thought that this was going to be something that would carry on. Like if you kept buying a new Mac or iPhone every year you kept your free Apple TV subscription. A nice value-add for being locked into the walled garden.

A bit like Amazon Prime gives you a video service alongside the free shipping.
 
  • Like
Reactions: drrich2
Simmias said:
I tried really hard to like Apple TV+. I subscribed for over a year and watched over a dozen series, including all the usual suspects. I concluded that it's just not for me - the product values are high, but the writing and storytelling are consistently weak, bland and safe. I struggle to get through almost any show they put out. After cancelling about a year ago, I've now been given yet another free 3-month trial and honestly can't find anything worth watching - Shrinking, Silo, Bad Monkey - it's all just meh. Their original films, on the other hand, are truly awful. I wish Apple the best in making TV+ a mainstream streaming platform, as it seems that viewership has plateaued at a small niche, but I will not be one of those viewers. As a huge Apple fan and supporter, I can confidently say that their content just doesn't appeal to me at all.
Click to expand...

Exact same. Some great IP to work with. But all the shows have a sameness to them somehow.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Astrohunter, komuh, Sherry Livingston and 1 other person
Xavier said:
Interesting strategy. Get people hooked on a show over the free weekend. Wonder what it would do for subscription numbers.
Click to expand...
Probably not much considering Apple already offers a 7 day free trial

trial.png



(not to mention the free 3 month trials) and Apple TV+ subscriber numbers aren't that great relative to the other streaming service providers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Xavier
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back