Including Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade

Apple TV+

Apple TV+, the company’s new, all-original streaming TV service, will launch on November 1 in over 100 countries and regions. For $4.99 a month, after a seven-day free trial, subscribers can access original programs, movies and documentaries via the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch, Mac and online at tv.apple.com. Customers who purchase an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, iPod touch or Mac will get one year of Apple TV+ at no cost. With Family Sharing, up to six members in a household can use Apple TV+.

“With Apple TV+, we are presenting all-original stories from the best, brightest and most creative minds, and we know viewers will find their new favorite show or movie on our service,” said Zack Van Amburg, Apple’s head of Worldwide Video. “Each Apple TV+ original offers its own unique story, fresh perspective and powerful message — all meant to entertain, connect and inspire cultural conversations.”

Programs available exclusively to Apple that will available at launch include The Morning Show, Dickinson, See, For All Mankind, Snoopy in Space, Ghostwriter, Helpsters, Oprah Winfrey and The Elephant Queen. Apple plans to release additional titles each month. Shows will be ad-free, available online, offline and on demand. Most shows will premiere with three episodes at once, followed by one new episode per week. Other shows will be released a season at a time. Watch trailers here.

Apple Arcade

Another announcement made at yesterday’s event was the launch of Apple Arcade. Starting September 19, gamers can download Apple Arcade from the App Store. For $4.99 a month, after a one-month free trial, subscribers get unlimited access to more than 100 new, exclusive games, playable across iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac and Apple TV devices with iOS 13. All games can be played offline and a single subscription includes Family Sharing for up to six family members. Games include Ballistic Baseball, ChuChu! Rocket Universe, Exit the Dungeon, Skate City, Rayman Mini and Overland.

“We are so excited to launch Apple Arcade on the App Store. A curated selection of over 100 new and exclusive games from many of the most innovative game developers in the world is the perfect complement to the App Store’s existing massive catalog of games,” said Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We think customers of all ages are going to be delighted that a single subscription gives the whole family unlimited access to the full catalog of amazing Apple Arcade games, all without any ads or additional purchases, while knowing every game must meet Apple’s high privacy standards.”

Apple says the App Store has earned $120 billion for developers worldwide, and it has more than half a billion people visiting each week.

Other Apple Subscription Services

In addition to Apple TV+ and Apple Arcade, Apple offers subscription services for Apple Music and Apple News+. Apple Music offers subscribers more than 50 million songs, thousands of playlists and a curated selection of songs for monthly rates of $4.99 (college students), $9.99 (individuals) and $14.99 (families). Apple News+ is the paid version of the Apple News app. It stems from Apple’s acquisition of Texture last year. Apple News+ brings together content from more than 300 digital news and magazine outlets.

Insider Take:

During yesterday’s event, Apple also released details of new product launches including iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max and a new iPad starting at $329. Apple will continue to produce popular electronics, including smartphones and smart watches, but it is shifting its focus to sustainable services like subscriptions. These services will provide the company with recurring revenue which will make their balance sheet and income statement more reliable. They will need to differentiate their subscription services from their competitors, but Apple has the talent and innovation to make that happen.

Dana Neuts is Subscription Insider's Senior Staff Writer, covering our daily subscription news as well as member features, case studies, and reports.  

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