Apple TV+ Expected to Reach 36 Million Subscribers By 2026, Far Short of Rivals

[radus]

They need to work on their content.
Many people want fresh faces, not the old "stars" everywhere seen and new interesting films - not he old "family awere" ones.

 

[LiquidJay]

No doubt about this, but they will have to demonstrate to the board and the investors than the plan is working. Throwing away money is somewhat frowned upon in some circles.

no need.... it is working. Anytime you get nominated for the most Emmy's EVER for a freshman comedy -- you know its working. Now they proceed as planned.

 

[Phil77354]

Agree. Although it might not take as long as expected. Simple fact -- content. If Apple TV + gets a movie/show that is must see ( ever more than say Ted Lasso) it changes the dynamic.

Some of this is just luck. Stranger Things, Queens Gambit, Lupin ... no one thought they would be hits, at least not to their degree. Ted Lasso is another perfect example and supports the saying "Content is King". Get the content, rule the kingdom. NO ONE has exclusive rights to the next diamond --- they have to find it.

Good points. I'd forgotten about Queens Gambit, another great example of original programming on one of the streaming services. I'd have signed up for Netflix for that alone, if I didn't have it already (but maintaining the subscription month after month would take more than a single great show).

 

[anthogag]

Hit shows attract subscribers.

 

[LiquidJay]

They need to work on their content.
Many people want fresh faces, not the old "stars" everywhere seen an new interesting films - not he old "family awere" ones.

Check out their future slate ... good stuff ahead (especially in animation). Like I said in a previous reply, NO ONE owns the next big hit. Apple has just as good of a chance to find it as Netflix/HULU or HBO.

 

[one more]

tv+ has two big problems - it launched quite late and, despite its subscription, it still asks you to pay to “rent” a movie or sends you to another streaming platform, like Hulu. This is ridiculous. Video-streaming is also extremely fragmented at the moment with its different contents catalogues, so people do not rush to subscribe yet to another one of 10. I mean, if we compare it with audio streaming, we can subscribe to any of the services - like Amazon, Apple, Deezer, Google Music, Spotify, Tidal, etc. and still find the same tracks. Not quite the same with video titles.

 

[eicarr]

For me, Apple TV+ is synonymous with dull slow paced series with emotionless acting. I really wanted to make it through “See”, but found myself doing other things while watching it, eventually not knowing what happened and reluctantly giving up during season 2. “Foundation” looks amazing, but again, the slow pacing and all the characters seemingly medicated makes it another hard-to-watch show on Apple+ . I think Apple is wanting to go the highbrow Masterpiece Theater route, but that is not a draw for the mass audience they’re seeking.

 

[darkcompass]

With its nanny, run-of-the-mill, politically correct content who is surprised by this. The only reason there is content at all is because Apple is spending the big bucks.

Me, I want explosive, edgy content that challenges the status quo.

you've seen SEE, right? The Queen "talking to God" and helping someone talk to them too in season 2?

 

[cardfan]

With its nanny, run-of-the-mill, politically correct content who is surprised by this. The only reason there is content at all is because Apple is spending the big bucks.

Me, I want explosive, edgy content that challenges the status quo.

Compared to the others apple isn’t exactly spending the big bucks. Netflix adds more in a month than apple will all year. This is still very much a hobby. One in which no one but apple has any clue of how success is measured. It’s lunacy to compare it with anything else given the unknowns.

 

[cardfan]

A bit of math.
36,000,000 subscribers at $5 (and I am being generous as many use the free 1 year trial).
That's $180,000,000 monthly, or $2,160,000,000 annually.

Not really sustainable.

It never was. But it’s not all the revenue apple makes off tv app when you throw in the subs to other channels it take 30% of.

 

[iSayuSay]

Who are they rivaling? I don’t know any other streaming network with all original content. It’s not Netflix or Hulu, it’s more like a channel to me. And I love all the content so far. It’s rich.

Oh, you can strip Netflix bare to stream only its own originals, and it's still much much richer than ATV+. The phenomenal Squid Game? The new Midnight Mass series? How can Apple compete with that, be in 2026, or beyond?

I never see any TV+ original worth the buzz. Foundation? See? Nothing to see really (pun intended). Unless Ted Lasso is all you watch.

 

[cardfan]

We don't want Apple TV+ to be another Netflix. NF has enough 3 and a half star content to numb you for years.
Be better. TV quality has nothing to do with stats.

That’s cute. But apple has just one hit show. Much of the content is low quality like the rest of them.

 

[orbital~debris]

They will not gain many subscribers if they keep having only original content, no matter how good it is.

But at some point, all the 'archive' content that the other streamers hawk was original content!

 

[orbital~debris]

Apple TV has two big problems - it launched quite late and, despite its subscription, it still asks you to pay to “rent” a movie or sends you to another streaming platform, like Hulu. This is ridiculous. Video-streaming is also extremely fragmented at the moment with its different contents catalogues, so people do not rush to subscribe yet to another one of 10.

That's nice and all, but this is about tv+, not 'Apple TV' as a platform.

 

[Orange Bat]

I keep seeing comments about how this isn’t competition with Netflix or other streaming services. Huh? Of course it is. Apple wants to make big bucks with Apple TV+ and get big viewer numbers. Otherwise, why put their app on streaming devices like Roku or Fire TV. The problem is they’re trying to play the long game rather than coming out swinging. Their slow build-up is a detriment at the moment. They’d be better to license some content form other studios, or buy a studio outright (They could probably obtain Sony Pictures). Streaming services have all gotten good at making their own content, but most people stay because of the amount of other content they offer. Apple TV+ is too easy to join, watch what you want, and then quit. If they had some older movies and TV shows, then people may stick around for more. They also have the problem of needing to run their streaming shows through multiple seasons to tell complete storylines. If they cancel too many shows early, few would join to watch half-stories Of older shows. That means they’ll have to sink money into shows that aren’t working or aren’t being watched just to increase their content.

 

[cowme]

HBO had 41 million subscribers at the start of 2020

you guys are out of your minds if you think Apple wouldn’t be thrilled with 36 million despite starting with a blank slate

 

[cardfan]

Oh, you can strip Netflix bare to stream only its own originals, and it's still much much richer than ATV+. The phenomenal Squid Game? The new Midnight Mass series? How can Apple compete with that, be in 2026, or beyond?

I never see any TV+ original worth the buzz. Foundation? See? Nothing to see really (pun intended). Unless Ted Lasso is all you watch.

Not when you have over 200m subs, the countries, the studios, the influence, the billions more spent in content each year. Comparing apple with Netflix is just nuts. Netflix is a juggernaut.

Apple is very small time here. A few purchases here and there. Pulling a string or two as apple would say. It’s amazing Ted lasso did happen given how little presence atv has. But a Netflix can make much more happen on a regular basis.

Can apple be this in several years? The others won’t stand pat for several years either. What will Netflix be in several years? That’s where apple has to skate to. And apple isn’t doing nearly enough to get there and likely never will.

So as I said it’s unclear what apple is doing or how it measures success. I’d say it’s just to have a tv app to put on its own and other platforms and sell channels making 30% off them. Because you know it has over a billion iTunes accounts with credit cards to leverage. Unlike Netflix, HBO, etc.

And that’s apple. They quietly rule categories like gaming revenue. Apple isn’t known for gaming and yet is easily top 3 in world in gaming revenue. It’d be interesting to see streaming revenue comparisons because I’m sure apple does better than one might think and that’s all apple cares about. It’d be interesting to see how streamers compare in revenues but be sure to include what apple gets from App Store selling other streamers.

 

[Orange Bat]

We don't want Apple TV+ to be another Netflix. NF has enough 3 and a half star content to numb you for years.
Be better. TV quality has nothing to do with stats.

What you say about Netflix is generally true, but yet I always seem to find something to watch on Netflix. I keep talking about cancelling Netflix once I finish what I’m watching, but I always find something else that interests me. Honestly, Netflix is hard to quit, which is part of their success. There is always something to watch.

Apple TV+? I’ll sign-up this winter, watch their limited content for a month or two, then cancel for another year. I imagine most people are like me on this, if they ever sign up for Apple TV+. So, yeah, Apple TV+ won’t become another Netflix. Instead, it will languish in the background, forgotten by most consumers, while the other streamers grow and thrive.

 

[sviato]

My friend, an Android user, tried to sign up for AppleTV+ this week and it was a major pain. He created an AppleID but needed to confirm it via login through iTunes. However, there was an apparently known bug that has been around for months that was preventing him from accepting the iTunes terms of service. I had to log in to his account on my computer to confirm his ID so that he could then log in to AppleTV+.

There really should be no iTunes involvement in this process. Ease of access should be a priority for this service and new users should be able to sign up with just an email without having to make an AppleID.

 

[cowme]

iTunes is a lot of the reason Apple TV+ Exists at all though

Apple gets a decent cut each time someone rents or buys a digital movie through the TV app. I have to imagine they’re willing to take a loss on their original content if it adds people to their ecosystem for VOD cuts

 

[jicon]

My year free trial ends in February, and won't be renewing at this rate, much like Fitness +, I'm not getting much out of it.

1971 was compelling. At least, the first episode so far. I need to get back in to that one.

Ted Lasso was alright for a few episodes (Bar Apple product cameos every few minutes)... -Given there's lots of character exploration yet to do, maybe that'll stick around for a few more seasons, but the acting isn't great, the premise far out there, and as time progresses, it will jump the shark.

Jon Stewart's new show works.

That said, more drawn to HBO and their back catalog if I'm paying for one service right now though.

 

[yaxomoxay]

What you say about Netflix is generally true, but yet I always seem to find something to watch on Netflix. I keep talking about cancelling Netflix once I finish what I’m watching, but I always find something else that interests me. Honestly, Netflix is hard to quit, which is part of their success. There is always something to watch.

Agreed, I am in your same boat. I'd love to cancel Netflix, but I always find myself on it. I finish Midnight Mass and tell myself "this is the last one", then I go to Squid Game... and next is You S3, which will then be followed by Cobra Kai S4 and Stranger Things S4. And many documentaries fill the holes...

 

[cardfan]

My friend, an Android user, tried to sign up for AppleTV+ this week and it was a major pain. He created an AppleID but needed to confirm it via login through iTunes. However, there was an apparently known bug that has been around for months that was preventing him from accepting the iTunes terms of service. I had to log in to his account on my computer to confirm his ID so that he could then log in to AppleTV+.

There really should be no iTunes involvement in this process. Ease of access should be a priority for this service and new users should be able to sign up with just an email without having to make an AppleID.

Heh. If I’m apple they definitely need an iTunes account. That’s the whole point of doing this for apple.

 

[yaxomoxay]

They’d be better to license some content form other studios, or buy a studio outright (They could probably obtain Sony Pictures).

I wish they could purchase Criterion streaming rights. Considering how appleTV+ wants to be high quality, it would fit the model and it would provide a unique back catalog.

 

[derekamoss]

How is Apple TV+ competition toward Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime or HBO Max? These places offer other content not original to the service. You could say Disney+ may be a competitor, but even that is stretching it.

Apple's video service stands apart as a service strictly for original content. They're not expecting people to drop other services for their own. Why do you think a lot of us are on extended trials? Or it's practically given away with $29.99 per year Apple One?

The service could garner millions more in the future, but it's going to take a very long time before we see it. So far, they offer some unique content and really higher quality series/movies.

You can spin it any way you want to but people are OK spending money when there is a backlog of content. People are not going to spend money on Apple TV+ when there isn't a solid back catalog of content when their money could go some place that does. Don't worry though, Apple TV+ will be around forever even if they only have 100 subscribers because no way in hell will Apple admit it was a bad decision.

You can polish a turd all you want, but it's still a turd.