TV+27 Mar 2019 23:25
What TV+ means for ITV (and Broadcasters in general)
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Target price 240p | Published price 125p
On Monday, Apple announced its plans to launch its own TV streaming service Apple TV+, giving consumers access to original shows, movies and documentaries. For ITV and other broadcasters, there are implications from both the TV+ part of the announcement and what Apple said on Apple TV. In general, for someone like ITV which has significant content assets, the benefits probably outweigh the negatives, since Apple is a strong candidate to buy its content. However, TV+ does mark the entry of another SVOD service into the market.
What Apple announced
Apple TV+ is a premium content streaming service accessed via the Apple TV app, available on Apple TV set-top boxes (fourth-generation and Apple TV 4K), iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. At yesterdays events, Apple announced that the Apple TV app will be offered on the Mac this Autumn, and additionally to Samsung smart TVs this spring and TVs from Vizio, Sony, LG, and others in the future.
Initially, the Apple TV+ service will feature only Apple original content, that will be exclusive and unavailable to view on any other platform. This is contrast to the likes of Netflix & Amazon prime that provide a mixture of original, and back cataloged library content.
Separately, starting in May, the Apple TV app (which is already up and running and which is free) will offer additional premium add-on subscription services from partners such as HBO, Britbox & Showtime collating multiple streaming services available to view on one platform. Although the Apple TV app is free to use, Apple TV+ will operate as an ad-free premium service, and that details on pricing will be disclosed in the coming months.