Apple might have kept its streaming service under wraps for the most part, but according to some reports, the Cupertino giant is expected to roll out Netflix competitor in Spring of this year.
Apple has already been in talks with various studios and networks with the intent of getting them on board so that their “offerings will be available through the service to be ready for launch by mid-April.”
Moreover, Apple also has a couple of multi-year and picture deals with impressive platforms like Oprah Winfrey Network and entertainment company A24. Considering the immense popularity of the former and huge titles produced by the latter (Moonlight, Lady Bird and Ex Machina to name a few), Apple has scored big pretty early on.
There is no information on how much this service would cost its subscribers, but it is expected to launch within the coming few months. Speaking of which, the month of April is bound to be a big one for streaming services in general, as Disney will be pitching its own streaming service, Disney+, to investors on April 11.
If both Apple and Disney launch their streaming platforms around the same time, one can expect intense competition in a field that is already saturated with the likes of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime. Consumers will have a wider range of options to choose from, which means that the onus is now on each platform to make itself stand out.
Of course, there is also the question of the content that will feature in Apple’s standalone streaming service. Aside from the multi-year deal signed with Oprah Winfrey, Apple has ordered a couple of children’s shows from the creators of Sesame Street, a series from La La Land director Damien Chazelle, an adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s science fiction hit Foundation and a drama about a morning show featuring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston.
