Apple TV+ Will License Its Movies To Other Services To Reduce Billions In Losses

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple plans to license some of its Apple TV+ content to competing services in an effort to save money and spread its reach. From the report: Apple has hired an executive to license its original productions to other companies, a strategy designed to increase sales from its film business and improve the visibility of its content. [...] Apple is focused on licensing its movies to other companies, such as foreign TV networks and stores, where viewers can rent or buy them, according to a person familiar with the plans. The company isn't planning to license its original TV shows to third parties. (At least not yet.)"

Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook and services boss Eddy Cue have pushed the team overseeing Apple TV+ to lower costs, improve the financial performance of the service and deliver more hits. The company has spent billions of dollars on original films and TV shows and has received strong reviews and praise from critics. Yet few of its titles have attracted a large audience and its streaming service doesn't make money. Apple has already started selling TV+ via Amazon in a bid to increase the audience for the service. Licensing to third parties will generate additional revenue and introduce Apple movies to people who don't yet pay for TV+. Since Apple TV+ launched in 2019, Apple has spent over $20 billion to build a library of original content. Yet, the streaming service only garnered 0.3 percent of U.S. screen viewing time in June 2024, according to Nielsen. "Apple TV+ generates less viewing in one month than Netflix does in one day," wrote Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw in July.

Ars Technica notes that Apple is estimated to have 25 million subscribers, making it "one of the smallest mainstream streaming services."

"Jack of all trades..."

[Sebby]

"... master of none."

Seems like Apple is trying too hard to be everything to everyone (silos, walled garden) and failing at a lot of it, instead of being excellent (which it's not, at least yet) in the few things it's truly good at.

I Wonder Why

[StormReaver]

Apple TV+ generates less viewing in one month than Netflix does in one day,

I wonder why that is? Could it be:

1) Apple is notorious for irrationally high prices? They probably can't get away with higher than market prices for a streaming service like they do for their computing devices, but that is in the back of the mind of every potential customer. Apple is screwing itself with its own reputation.

2) An Apple device is necessary to use the service? Technically no, but they make it incredibly inconvenient to do otherwise. Plus, Apple has a reputation for not playing well with non-A

Re:

[crow]

We use a Roku TV and had no issues with Apple TV+ when we did a free preview. We were getting it for one specific movie (Wolfwalkers), and I also watched the first two seasons of "For All Mankind" (the fist was better), which was all that was out at the time. I saw the first episode of "Silo" on a recent plane flight, and really loved it.

My impression is that Apple TV+ is full of high-quality programming that is a bit on the intellectual side. That's not likely to be a recipe for huge mainstream success

Finally

[locater16]

Apple TV has many of the best shows on streaming, on a service no one subscribes too because they've no idea how to market it nor do they have the junk filler many like drool out to in between better shows.

That actually makes sense.

[az-saguaro]

In the 1990's and 200's, I never quite understood some of the practices between Apple and Microsoft. They seemed like two pouty children hell bent on proving their own point of view, and refusing to share anything. That may be human nature when you are kids, but it shouldn't be for businesses.

For instance, Apple built its reputation on being the preferred GUI and user interface for certain segments, like graphic arts and publishing. If what they offered was truly superior - and I am not arguing that it w

Re:

[Sebby]

remain narcissists and sociopaths from cradle to grave.

Sometimes to their own detriment - Jobs was convinced he could cure his cancer with some hogwash diet alone.

The Doom Spin is ridiculous! Content, then License

[nadass]

Reading the other comments has me scratching my head because Apple TV+ (Production Company) is doing what any sensible production company should do: Start with building a catalog of original content which includes more than buzz-worthy movies but also developing a reputation and optimized production methods (persons and products alike). Then license out the original content which is premature to focus before the original content is built.

Companies following a model like Quibi (hahaha remember them? asset