Bloomberg: Apple to Buy Older Shows for TV+ in Bid to Challenge Netflix

[MrZippyUK]

Maybe they should rethink with viewing restrictions enabled it actually HIDES the restricted content, as I have kids Apple TV+ only shows kids stuff.

I can’t browse content, not that there is much, I have to explicitly search for it by name then I can watch with my PIN.

Why does Apple hide restricted content, don’t believe that’s normal or desirable. Although Apple has done this for a long time, seem to remember the same with purchased content too.

 

[Ar40]

I don't like this idea at all. I am very happy with Apple's original-only catalog. Every series I have watched, with the exception of Truth be Told and Amazing Stories, has been incredible and my favorites in their genre. Servant is the best psychological horror TV show I've seen, The Morning Show is the best drama of its kind that I've seen, and Home Before Dark is the best family whodunnit I've seen.

I really hope this doesn't dilute the service with junk the way Netflix did.

 

[ipponrg]

I don't think Apple TV+ will try to challenge Netflix.

The writing is on the wall that Apple needs to find ways to lure people to use their service because their original content is simply not enough to get general audiences (read: not just AppleTV+ zealots) to use their service.

 

[Ar40]

"to build a back catalog of content"

Gosh... did Apple just think of this now?

They must have realized that they would be be competing with 90 years of Disney content, right?

Apple is not competing with Disney at all. Totally different services. Apple is competing with HBO, and HBO also has a back catalog.
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Just go the usual way. But intellectual property and streaming rights for some movies and create “prequel” series (Superman and others come to mind). Or use the “first look” deal with Scott Free to do pretty much the same. Like “how did blade runner become blade runner?”. Something along these lines. So you would have the movies and a TV series that expands it.
Ah, yes, DROP THE PG13 only nonsense. Thank you.

PG13 only nonsense? LOLOL. Most of their shows have been rated R. You can't use the F word and the MF word every 3 minutes in The Morning Show and have a PG-13 rating.

 

[ikramerica]

Considering you get a year free with purchase of a iOS or macOS device it is good value so far. But with the limited amount of content I would not pay a subscription.

If Apple manages to make a deal for older shows and movies I hope they will be able to ensure it being somewhat like their own production in terms of download to watch later.

It’s free and I have yet to watch anything outside of Snoopy in Space for the little kids.

TV+ is just a poorly conceived and implemented product.

 

[bbeagle]

Ah, yes, DROP THE PG13 only nonsense. Thank you.

How is Mythic Quest PG-13? With all the F-bombs, violence and some nudity and sex jokes, it's definitely R.

 

[Ar40]

I have watched The Morning Show only... Anything else recommended from Apple TV+?

Check out Servant, Mythic Quest, Home Before Dark, For All Mankind, The Banker, and Defending Jacob. Excellent shows all.

 

[raindogg]

As it stands now, I'm canceling my subscription after the free trial is over.

 

[Ar40]

Netflix are spending $15 billion a year, and they're far from the only people Apple need to compete with. So far Apple are spending less than $2 billion. If they want to catch up they need to spend very, very significantly, and it's hard to see where the revenue to justify that is going to come from.

Apple is spending $6 billion on original shows and trying to beat Disney+ to market, reports FT

Apple has spent more than $6 billion on original TV shows and movies for its forthcoming Apple TV+ service, according to a Financial Times report on Monday.

www.cnbc.com

6 Billion. And that was a year ago. Probably closer to 10 Billion now after all the new contracts and first look deals.

Where did you get the 2 Billion figure?

 

[satchmo]

I prefer the original programming strategy. It doesn’t become like every other streaming service.

But original content doesn’t happen overnight. Keep the subscription rate at $5 and don’t panic. Focus on quality, not reruns of Full House. And start building a library of original documentaries and international films.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Apple is not competing with Disney at all. Totally different services. Apple is competing with HBO, and HBO also has a back catalog.

My point was... did Apple really decide in the middle of 2020 that they needed to buy back-catalog content? Did they not know that from the beginning?

We all knew it.

I only mentioned Disney because we know they have a huge decades-long back-catalog. I could have just as easily mentioned Netflix, Hulu, and HBO who also have giant back-catalogs.

Imagine if Apple had launched Apple TV+ with their original content *AND* had a few licensed properties from the start. You know... a "Friends" or a "Seinfeld" or whatever.

That would have put them in a better position today.

It's just funny that Apple is six months into ATV+ and they're just now considering buying back-catalog stuff. Seems odd.

 

[anthorumor]

If Apple teamed up with iJustine, that would draw in a whole new user base, while making original content.

 

[archer75]

My point was... did Apple really decide in the middle of 2020 that they needed to buy back-catalog content? Did they not know that from the beginning?

We all knew it.

I only mentioned Disney because we know they have a huge decades-long back-catalog. I could have just as easily mentioned Netflix, Hulu, and HBO who also have giant back-catalogs.

Imagine if Apple had launched Apple TV+ with their original content *AND* had a few licensed properties from the start. You know... a "Friends" or a "Seinfeld" or whatever.

That would have put them in a better position today.

It's just funny that Apple is six months into ATV+ and they are just now considering buying back-catalog stuff. Seems odd.

Just because you're hearing about it now doesn't mean they just thought about it now. They've been trying to work out deals with studios for YEARS. Even back when jobs was alive this was being talked about. Thing is all the studios are pulling back their content and launching their own streaming services. It's about having quality original content now. I don't know why people think a new streaming service can launch with hundreds of original shows. It takes a very long time to build up a large catalog. This is the long game they're playing. They'll get there.

 

[imnotthewalrus]

If I didn’t have a free subscription to atv+ (which practically everyone does) I would have no problem paying $5 for one month and watch everything they offer that interests me. I’ve paid more for a single rental. I don’t understand the mindset of those that seemingly think a “subscription” locks them into anything more than a month. I really enjoy the current content and hope Apple stays the course with original programming. In time, when the pandemic is over, they can play catch-up.

 

[Michael Scrip]

Just because you're hearing about it now doesn't mean they just thought about it now.

I know, I know. That's me just thinking out loud, er, at the keyboard.

You bring up a good point... most content owners are trying to have their own streaming services full of back-catalog stuff.

So Apple did the natural thing by launching with originals... since that's all they had.

But I wonder what "old shows" Apple is buying? They obviously think they need more than just originals... per this article.

 

[matthew23]

" The Donna Reed Show" and "Mr. Ed" now, exclusively and unapologetically on Apple TV+. Coming Fall 2022.

 

[archer75]

But I wonder what "old shows" Apple is buying? They obviously think they need more than just originals... per this article.

I don't know. But content is king and they want all they can get. Personally I'd rather see them abandon this avenue and focus these resources even more on original content.

 

[jimbobb24]

Disney is ok. We will probably be using it 2 months out of the year to catch up on some shows. Netflix is still the best. And now they have Avatar the Last Airbender (although a poorly compressed version with lots of artifacts).

 

[Herrpod]

Anyone else having trouble even finding the damn Apple+ content on an Apple TV?

There's an irony that the remote has so few buttons, but it requires so many clicks and swipes to actually get to the next episode of an Apple TV+ show I'm watching.

Once I realized that you have to hit the channel for it within its own app, it started to make more sense. Go into Apple TV app, then scroll down to My Channels and click on ATV+. It's a terrible UI.
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This whole post is pure drivel.

Disney make 30% from the parks etc. Everything else is from merchandise and people sitting on their fat backsides.

What are people doing more of at this moment?

This is nonsense. Disney makes money from Theme Parks (screwed), cruises (screwed), movies in theaters (screwed), live sporting events (screwed). What people are taking part in any of that right now?
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I don't like this idea at all. I am very happy with Apple's original-only catalog. Every series I have watched, with the exception of Truth be Told and Amazing Stories, has been incredible and my favorites in their genre. Servant is the best psychological horror TV show I've seen, The Morning Show is the best drama of its kind that I've seen, and Home Before Dark is the best family whodunnit I've seen.

I really hope this doesn't dilute the service with junk the way Netflix did.

I agree. Apple TV doesn't have a ton of content, but a lot of it is really good. For All Mankind, Morning Show, Servant, Beastie Boys, Home Before Dark, Mythic Quest, and Trying have all been enjoyable to me. Mythic Quest is releasing a new episode this Friday, btw. Problem I foresee for Apple is without a back catalog, they're going to be in trouble soon when they run out of content and start feeling the months-long shutdown of studio productions due to the virus. The huge advantage ATV has right now is its streaming quality. No other service comes close to its video quality. Heck, I've started subscribing to HBO through Apple Channels because its streaming quality is amazing whereas HBO via the NOW app is terrible.

 

[nburwell]

I imagine it's going to take Apple quite a while to catch up to the likes of Netflix, Hulu, etc. Especially when their current catalog of content leaves much to be desired -- granted Servant and Defending Jacob are pretty good.

 

[ksec]

But according to our in house macrumours experts, Apple TV is going to succeed, and Disney+ is doomed to fail. And it makes no sense to include other series from outside Apple. Spending money on those are wasting money..

Oh well, I hope this Bloomberg news is wrong, if not some of these "ëxperts" will have lot of explaining to do.

 

[thelookingglass]

Apple TV+ has 29 shows and series currently. There is a lot on there, actually. I'm finding I'm watching shows on Apple TV+ more than I am on Netflix. I've watched the series Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet (very cool - a better Silicon Valley, but making video games), my daughter watched the series GhostWriter, and my son watched the Snoopy series.

List of Apple TV+ original programming - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Me too. I absolutely love Defending Jacob. Fantastic show. Netflix to me is too hit or miss and I cancelled it last week. I’ve got Disney Plus for the little ones, but not enough new content there to keep adults interested.

I think Apple is going in the right direction. The pandemic is throwing a wrench into their plans, but I hope they continue to crank out the high quality content.
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It all matters WHAT is up there. The ONLY thing we are keeping Netflix for is my wife is waiting for Fuller House to return. After she watches that, we're dropping Netflix. They have tons of crap, but nothing we want to watch.

So true. Netflix is just littered with absolute garbage and some questionable content. I’m not exactly the Morality Police, but I don’t want some of that crap polluting my mind. I cancelled Netflix last week and have Apple TV+, Disney+, and Amazon Prime Video.

 

[Tapatio]

The TV app is so confusing to use. Can't tell what I'm actually subscribed to. I keep clicking on shows that I need to buy or have to have a subscription to watch.

 

[PR1985]

For All Mankind is quite good, Servant is watchable. Not much else, at least for me. I just got an offer to get 1 year of TV+ for free few weeks ago even though I didn't buy any new device (???) and I didn't launch it since then.

Add Defending Jacob and SEE

 

[calliex]

The whole streaming thing is out of hand. Reminds me of when there many computer makers in the beginning. Commodore, Tandy, TI, Timex Sinclair, IBM,etc. Over the years most are gone. I would love to cut the cord but buying individual services adds up and moving from one to another is cumbersome. I was offered Apple TV when I bought a new phone. But without apple tv the place I could watch was on my phone.

I have Xfinity and months ago they dropped TCM from my package. I had it as part of my package for almost 30 years. They said no one watched it and they moved to a Sports Package for $10/ month. My guess is ATT owns it and they wanted more money. I can get the ATT streaming service but of course many channels I want are not there. So I have to go fish for other streaming services.

It is probably a generational thing. A grew up with ABC, CBS and NBC and they were totally free. Now a pay Xfinity close to $200/month for TV, Internet and phone and get to watch more commercials they I ever did.

Sorry for the rant