The latest Apple Event extravaganza went off as planned on Monday from Cupertino. Whispers of Oprah Winfrey in attendance turned out to be connected to her multi-year content deal that was undoubtedly engineered to be a counterpunch to Netflix, which boasts TV deals for almost everyone (including David Letterman and the Obamas) these days. The planned shows revealed by Apple run into the double digits, but what everyone really wants to know is how much the new streaming service will cost?
The streaming wars are real, guys, but Apple dragged feet on revealing prices. Still, there was no doubt Apple would come out swinging against Netflix with their new streaming service after announcing Apple Arcade, Apple Card, and a new version of Apple News. They did so with the help of noted (and very vocal) Netflix foe Steven Spielberg, who came onstage to explain the power of stories while talking about Apple TV+, which will be the name of their original content streaming service. People definitely noticed Apple’s shade against Netflix while using Spielberg to advocate for a non-Netflix streaming service.
"Take this, Netflix!" #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/MT5gfFQTuT
— Michael Schneider (@franklinavenue) March 25, 2019
Steven Spielberg, who has openly argued that movies that are just on a TV aren't real movies and shouldn't be considered the same kind of art, is being paid to tell you why Apple TV+ is good.
— Imran Khan (@imranzomg) March 25, 2019
We’re introducing ‘ tv channels’
Look at all these logos we have! Ignore the fact that Netflix isn’t there…. it’s fine. #AppleEvent
— jon prosser (@jon_prosser) March 25, 2019
https://twitter.com/Skoldborg/status/1110241253801803776
Did we know Steven Spielberg was shilling for Apple during the kerfuffle with Netflix? Seems relevant! #AppleEvent pic.twitter.com/Qnah8Nbq4Y
— Kate Aurthur (@KateAurthur) March 25, 2019
Apple is so anti-Netflix they got Steven Spielberg #AppleEvent
— Erik Anderson (@awards_watch) March 25, 2019
Steven Spielberg – the guy who doesn’t want Netflix to be able to win awards – is making content for Apple. The audacity… #AppleEvent
— Dustin (@DMAdust) March 25, 2019
A few other notes from the event:
– Apple TV Channels: Viewers will pay for only the channels you want within the new Apple TV app. There will be no ads, online or offline viewing is possible, and family sharing is available for no additional cost. Netflix will apparently be iced out as far as integration of apps goes. However, Hulu and Amazon Prime will be included along with premium cable channels like HBO and Starz.
– Original content will feature A listers. Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston introduced The Morning Show, which will examine the complex relationships between the sexes in the workplace. Steve Carell will be on the show to “provide the manliness.” Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard popped out to briefly discuss their series, See, which happens in a world where people lose sight. We’ll also see an Octavia Spencer drama and a comedy from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia duo Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day.
– See an extensive list of Apple TV+ series and movies here.
Whether or not Apple’s price tiers makes them competitive enough, we’ll have to wait and see — because they haven’t announced any prices yet! Nor do we have a premiere window for the aforementioned original content, but we can probably expect a slow trickle to come.
