Apple TV+ poised to overthrow Netflix and HBO at an affordable price

After making some significant moves, Apple TV+ is poised to offer its subscribers content on the same level of HBO and Netflix for a much cheaper price.

After a lackluster debut entering the crowded streaming wars, Apple TV+ has quickly become a lot of people’s last choice well behind the likes of Disney+, Amazon Prime and Hulu.

There could be several reasons to attribute to these-less-than-stellar results. The service doesn’t offer an extensive library of licensed content that their competitors have. Netflix has a large number of various programs while HBO provides a much smaller selection at a much higher quality.

The content Apple TV+ does offer at the moment isn’t bad by any means. The Morning Show, Dickinson, See and For All Mankind have unique premises, great casts and large budgets. They also offer a handful of fun children’s shows like Helpsters and the Ghostwriter reboot as well as a Snoopy in Space movie.

Rounding out the quaint lineup is Oprah’s Book Club, Sundance standout Hala, and a compelling Queen Elephant documentary. So despite its lack of abundance in selection, there really is something for everyone on the Apple service.

While these aren’t the game-changers Apple was hoping for, the content they currently have available is an exceptional start to their campaign in the streaming wars and paves the way for the service to become a heavy hitter down the road. This is only the beginning for the elite rookie contender.

Consumers shouldn’t sleep on Apple TV+ just because their debut wasn’t an explosive affair. Apple has spent billions and made significant moves that could very well set them up to become the affordable, better-than-both HBO and Netflix streaming choice propelling them to the top of the must subscribe list.

The $5 monthly service has been steadily making deals with high-profile writers, directors, producers and stars in order to create its own library of engrossing originals for their subscribers rather than spend boatloads of cash on licensed titles.

One significant addition Apple is making is that of former HBO CEO Richard Plepler who has developed several award-winning series for the premium cable provider in his three-decade-long tenure from Game of Thrones to The Sopranos, indicating the man knows what will get millions of viewers to subscribe.

Having dominated the field in premium cable game for so long, it only makes sense for Plepler to continue his run at Apple in the streaming platform race for dominance. The tech giant’s platform seems like an excellent place for him to set up shop, and he will hopefully yield the same results as he did for HBO.

Netflix and HBO have a vast array of critically acclaimed content that consists of a variety of choices, both fiction and non-fiction, featuring some serious talent. In response to this, Apple ordered over 20 properties comprised of television series, anthology series, mini-series and docuseries from high-profile players in the entertainment industry.

These include big names like Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson, La La Land director Damien Chazelle, The Leftovers’ Justin Theroux, The Dark Knight writer David Goyer, and a comedy series from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia duo Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney.

Some of the standouts of this ambitious list of upcoming content includes a comedy series from Jason Sudeikis reprising his NBC Sports character Ted Lasso, Steven Spielberg’s rebooted anthology series Amazing Stories, a Tom Hanks World War II limited series, and two J.J. Abrams projects — one reuniting with Alias star Jennifer Garner and the other with horror master Stephen King.

If the fiction lineup looks to be on the same level if not better than the competitors, then its non-fiction endeavors better be up to par as well. HBO and Netflix have dominated the documentary game, and Apple plans to take an aggressive shot at their title.

In order to make this bold move, a first-look deal has been made with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s production company Imagine Documentaries. The first of which is from Howard’s daughter and fellow director Bryce Dallas Howard. Her documentary Dads will look at fatherhood around the world with celebrities weighing in like Will Smith, Jimmy Fallon and Neil Patrick Harris.

When it comes to the motion picture side of things, in order to contend with Netflix and Amazon’s massive awards-caliber library of original movies, Apple has signed a multi-year film production deal with everyone’s favorite indie outfit A24. The studio behind the Oscar-winning film Moonlight is one of the most respected names in the industry.

The first film in this deal will see Lost in Translation director Sofia Coppola and actor Bill Murray reunite for On The Rocks. The second film slated is an adaption of The Sky is Everywhere. Apple TV+ could quickly become the place to be for prestige arthouse films.

Rome was not built in a day, and nobody starts at the top. Apple TV+ is clearly playing the long game like they always have and seem poised to become one of the top choices among consumers rivaling that of Netflix and HBO.

First impressions are very important, and Apple’s streaming war debut should not be seen as a failure. The company’s reserved and disciplined strategy showcases a distinct dedication to quality over quantity, ensuring viewers spend less time scrolling and more time getting lost in grand narratives.

The impressive list of high profile individuals brought in along with an exciting lineup of titles on the way should absolutely convince subscribers down the road that the best choice will be to take a bite out of Apple’s affordable streaming platform.