Given what we have seen, it was a matter of time before we got to tell this news. Apple TV+ has acknowledged defeat on its path to becoming one of the leading streaming platforms. At this point, they are already planning to license their films so that they can obtain an added source of income with which to make their million-dollar budgets profitable.
It has been five years since Apple TV+ arrived in our homes. Or at least try. Because the streaming service has had a difficult path and has encountered serious complications to achieve significance. And it cannot be said that Apple has not put in the effort, given that it has invested without limits in producing series and movies that can captivate the audience. The problem is that the plans have not gone as expected.
An announced destination
Apple has been trying for years to continue pushing with Apple TV+, but the world has made it clear on several occasions that the platform does not seem to be on its way to entering the Netflix, Prime Video or Disney+ club. Apple lacks hook. It is managing to produce great series and successful films, including many productions with the greatest actors and directors of the moment. But that, as has been proven, has not been enough to get subscribers.
They have exclusively had new works by Scorsese, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro and many other famous names in Hollywood. But, as we say, this has not been enough to increase user registrations. Nor has it been enough that many of his films have become highly awarded premieres and receive recognition from around the world.
Apple movies will fly high
Due to this situation, Apple recognizes that they are looking for alternatives so that their movies can be seen in more places. Until recently, they had taken their films to theaters as a way to help their productions be candidates for major awards. This was an additional source of income, but it was not enough either. Now they are focusing on the distribution of their films. As a first step, what they want is for their films to be available in digital stores where users can rent and buy them. On the other hand, they have also mentioned that they will negotiate with television networks outside the United States so that their films can be seen on different channels.
And, not only that, since they have also said that they are willing to take their films to any other destination. Therefore, they will join a trend that Max is already putting into practice, since many of his great films end up appearing on other services as well. Of course, Apple is clear that its original series will continue to be exclusive to Apple TV+.
With this decision, Apple agrees to lose one of its strengths to try to protect the other, which makes a lot of sense knowing how famous its series are. Productions like Ted Lasso have won a large number of awards and have always been a very popular resource for Apple TV+ to attract the attention of users. Therefore, it makes sense that the platform will maintain its exclusivity, at least for the moment.
Recently, Tim Cook let the Apple TV+ team know that they had to cut costs and start generating more revenue one way or another. As a result of this, they launched their presence on Prime Video and now reveal their plan to bring their films to other platforms and services. Another consequence of the situation is that the number of original films they produce and, above all, their budget, could be reduced. At the end of the day, Apple TV+ has to reduce costs and ensure that the service can survive even if it does not reach the fame of its main rivals.