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Apple TV+ Reportedly Heading Toward 'Breaking Point' Amid Staffing Problems and Frustrated Content Partners
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I thought I was alone in this. I don’t have 1GB, but I do have 500Mbps and never have a problem with other apps, but Apple TV+ is always blurry for the first couple of minutes and will buffer once or twice again before finishing the show/movie.
I find I both agree and disagree with this statement, and I think it points to the fundamental difference between Apple and the other streaming services, and what this means for Apple moving forward.
I see the logic behind the argument that there is little pride in Apple winning an award for a movie that they did not produce themselves. However, one could also look at it another way - if it was so easy to just "buy" your way into the oscars, why hasn't Netflix or Amazon Prime done it, despite having had a multi-year head start?
The reason, I feel, boils down to the difference in their respective video strategies. Apple is betting on quality over quantity. In a sense, the content we see on TV+ have already been curated and green lighted by Apple management. Compared to Netflix flooding their services with a boatload of content, and either relying on the algorithm to surface relevant content for the consumer, or for the consumer to locate it themselves.
So while Apple had its eye on quality content worthy of winning an Oscar, Netflix was instead content to just keep blowing billions of dollars on forgettable popcorn movies like Red Notice. It also properly contextualises Apple's decision to not purchase a back catalogue of licensed content to serve as filler (contrast this with Amazon recently purchasing MGM for 8.5 billion). What Apple is gunning for in the long run is a platform that prioritises storytelling above simply grabbing subscriber time and attention with fluff and nonsense.
At the end of the day, what Apple has won here is legitimacy. A badge of honour which I hope will translate into an improved ability to attract better talent to work for them, which should mean even better quality content in the future. If I were the video executives working at Netflix, I would be freaking out and calling for all-nighter meetings right now, trying to figure out how it is that with 220 million paid subscribers, $30 billion in revenue, and despite throwing everything against the wall to see what sticks, nothing has stuck, and whether Netflix's existing video strategy ought to be re-assessed or not (it very likely will).
There is another corollary point about how this possibly also means better privacy and security in TV+ (as it implies that my content consumption behaviour isn't being tracked and monitored), and this has received fairly little attention in the video streaming industry thus far, but I feel it's also something to watch out for. As with Facebook, I won't be surprised if something that was once considered the norm today suddenly becomes unacceptable in the future (perhaps with a little prodding by Apple). But that is perhaps another discussion for another day.
Netflix has a pretty good international catalog as well as a number of entertaining lean back shows. Some here call it trash, but I think it fulfills its purpose for the majority of its subscribers.
or just hire people who know what theyre doing.
this project has brought Ted Lasso, among other things.
it’s hardly a bad idea
I read through all the posts and these are my thoughts:
- Netflix has a ton of content but most of it is mediocre. I like Netflix content but I don't know why people are pretending most of the content isn't forgettable.
- AppleTV+ is still young but they're getting better every week and it's only $5 a month. AppleTV+ is great because it's just AppleTV+ content. This isn't 2013 anymore where back catalogs of movies and shows were only available on Netflix or Prime Video. Now we HBO Max, Paramount+, Peacock, Hulu, etc. In fact, Netflix should launch a Netflix Originals only subscription tier at a more affordable price because that's the only reason I have Netflix now.
- Trying to lessen Apple's win of CODA because they purchased it, is incredibly ignorant. A lot of content was made at a different production company that another network/streaming service bought. AMC didn't make Breaking Bad, Sony did. Black Mirror was a Channel 4 show in the UK before Netflix bought them. The point is, Apple saw CODA and purchased the rights so that it was their movie. Any of the other guys could've also bought CODA at Sundance and gotten that best picture Oscar but they didn't.
- It's really not that hard to understand the difference between AppleTV and AppleTV+. AppleTV is like a curated hub of all the content you're watching through all of the other apps like Hulu and HBO Max. AppleTV+ is content made by Apple like Ted Lasso, Severance and Slow Horses. You find AppleTV+ content by going to the AppleTV+ section in the AppleTV app.
Pretty unrelated point, but am I the only one finding a certain elegance in watching Apple-created content on Apple software running on Apple hardware?
Like streaming Apple Music on my iphone, or watching TV+ content in the TV app via AirPods? That sort of thing?
Whatever you think of content from other streaming services like Disney+ or HBO Go, their apps somehow just don’t seem to look or work right for iOS (and it’s even more jarring on the Apple TV) for me.
Like streaming Apple Music on my iphone, or watching TV+ content in the TV app via AirPods? That sort of thing?
Whatever you think of content from other streaming services like Disney+ or HBO Go, their apps somehow just don’t seem to look or work right for iOS (and it’s even more jarring on the Apple TV) for me.
Netflix looks to be increasingly more of a liability these days.
This isn't just an Apple TV+ problem, it's Apple as a whole. These same issues plague a lot of the other departments. I've worked with them as a 3rd party vendor and all of the issues about getting information, getting invoices paid and just bad communication and infrastructure are all consistent with my experience. The Department I worked with is probably one of the worst managed teams I've ever seen in my entire career. I was blown away with how incompetent people were.
I've done work for Google, Microsoft, Facebook & Amazon. Apple has been the worst experience of them all. I love the hardware and ATV+ but I will likely not work on another project with them ever again.
I really do like their content a lot. I'm definitely in their demo audience but that content can go anywhere. If they don't get their process straight, all their content partners will go elsewhere. And for those saying they should buy Netflix their infrastructure is better but there are a lot of internal issues.
Apple needs to follow Amazon's lead and buy an actual studio if they want to keep up.
I've done work for Google, Microsoft, Facebook & Amazon. Apple has been the worst experience of them all. I love the hardware and ATV+ but I will likely not work on another project with them ever again.
I really do like their content a lot. I'm definitely in their demo audience but that content can go anywhere. If they don't get their process straight, all their content partners will go elsewhere. And for those saying they should buy Netflix their infrastructure is better but there are a lot of internal issues.
Apple needs to follow Amazon's lead and buy an actual studio if they want to keep up.
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Interesting, because I don't think their catalogue has been stronger than it is right now.
Did anyone else get that weird marketing email promising a month of free Apple TV + if you use Apple Pay to order DoorDash? That seemed so random and not at all "Apple-like".
My question exactly. And maybe add to that a second question: have you set up HomePod(s) as default audio for the Apple TV? I have my Apple TV 4K v. 2 hardwired to the fiber optic ONT and am NOT experiencing buffering or other issues with Apple TV+.
And this is true even though I'm using stereo pair of OG HomePods as default audio. I mention the HomePods because I have found default audio from an ATV to HomePods tends to be a WiFi killer.
Regardless of whether WiFi or Ethernet, the point is that the issues are only happening with the AppleTV+ app but not with any of the other streaming apps. If it was a connection issue it would affect all of the apps. My AppleTV 4K is connected via Ethernet with 500 Mbps service and there are no issues with youtubetv, prime, Netflix, Hulu, Disney or HBO Max. The only issues are with AppleTV+. Audio and video not synced, stuttering and freezing video, low resolution issues.
Watching the Mets game tonight was maddening. Had to keep exiting and restarting the app to get audio and video to sync, fix the resolution issues, etc. At times it felt like I was watching video on a computer from the 90s.
Wifi ... I don't think that should be an issue, though, as I don't have issues with any other apps.
Wifi and yes, I have two HomePods set as the default audio. Again, though, I don't have an issue with any other apps. It's just the Apple TV+ app. Usually if I use my TV's (Samsung) Apple TV+ app, there isn't a problem ... it's only on the Apple TV box.
Well, I do know that using HomePods as default audio puts a major strain on WiFi throughput. I had major problems with my audio from ATV 4K to stereo pair of OG HomePods via default audio when I had the ATV 4K running off WiFi, not to mention crappy speedtest results on the ATV. I ran an Ethernet cable from the fiber-optic ONT directly to the ATV and my speed tests out at a solid 475/475 down/up and my audio problems are gone. You might try seeing what happens if you connect your ATV directly to your router or modem/ONT.
For sure, I do see slower Speedtest results on my ATV 4K with original HomePods as default audio than on my other devices (Samsung smart tv, Sony smart tv and Chromecast with Google TV). Unfortunately, my Smart DNS won't work with a wired connection (at least I don't think it will ... hmmm ...). Anyway, the ATV+ app generally works itself out after a couple of minutes so it's not very serious for me. I just find it strange that that would be the only app I have the issue with.