Apple TV+ streaming service: Release date, price, shows and trailers

Apple is ready take on the Netflix and Amazon Primes of this world with its own streaming service: Apple TV+.

For years, the Cupertino giant has been tinkering away on a video streaming service, with the goal of being able to showcase its own original TV shows, much like Netflix does with its Netflix Originals. And, from 1 November 2019, you'll be able to try it for yourself.

Here then is everything you need to know about TV+, including price, where to get it, the shows you can expect to see and much more.

What is Apple TV+?

Apple TV+ is Apple’s home for original films and series. Through the latest version of the Apple TV app, the company will offer a tonne of ad-free, exclusive content that was either green-lit by or produced in-house by Apple. To help ensure the success of its first foray into original content, it has partnered with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, like Steven Spielberg, Oprah, JJ Abrams and even Big Bird.

Apple TV+ will require a monthly payment and is due to arrive after the new Apple TV app rolls out to the Mac and other platforms.

How does one access Apple TV+?

Apple TV+ will be available inside the Apple TV app. Apple has been universally updating the app since spring 2019 in preparation. And, for the first time, making it on available on select smart TVs, as well as on Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices. This is critical because Apple TV was previously only available on Apple devices, like iPhone, iPad and the Apple TV box.

By expanding availability of the Apple TV app to more devices, the Apple TV+ service will be available to almost anyone who wants to subscribe.

Which devices support Apple TV+?

Apple TV+ will be available on any device that supports the Apple TV app. The initial list includes Apple devices (such as the iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Mac and Apple TV set-top-box), select smart TVs (from Sony, Samsung, LG and Vizio), as well as Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices.

Apple Originals shows and films coming to Apple TV+

Since its star-studded launch event in March 2019, the list of shows confirmed and rumoured to be coming to Apple TV+ has grown rapidly. Some will be available at launch, others are a fair way off. Here's the list so far:

Amazing Stories

In the early 80s, Steven Spielberg was responsible for creating two seasons of an anthology show based on the Amazing Stories comics he grew up reading. While it only had a short run on the silver screen, it still managed to capture five Emmy awards during it’s two-years. A reboot is coming to Apple TV+, and Spielberg has previously referenced an episode about a WWII pilot traveling through time to modern day.

Masters of the Air

Spielberg will also focus on World War II and the US Air Force with a nine-episode series announced for the platform. Masters of the Air is actually the third in his WWII trilogy that also includes the excellent Band of Brothers and The Pacific. Deadline reports that it will be based on the Donald L. Miller book Masters of the Air: America’s Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany. Tom Hanks will join Spielberg as one of the executive producers.

The Morning Show

Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carrell are all on board for a series about what goes on behind the cameras of the various morning shows that millions of Americans wake up to every day.

Sesame Street

Big Bird was on hand at the Apple TV+ launch event in March to talk about the partnership between Apple and the Sesame Street workshop to produce new educational content for kids.

See

This series is an epic world building drama set in some type of dystopian future. Jason Momoa stars in the role of Baba Voss, a warrior, leader and guardian. So, basically someone is finally giving us the Khal Drogo spin off we’ve been dying for since season one of Game of Thrones.

Little America

Kumail Nanjiani is responsible for a half-hour anthology series that delves into the stories of American immigrants and their unique experiences. The show focuses on small scale immigrant stories, with the hope of showing the true experiences of being an immigrant in modern day America.

Truth Be Told

Apple ordered 10 episodes of this drama, based on the novel Are You Sleeping by Kathleen Barber. It explores how the reopening of a murder case affects the victim's daughter. It stars Octavia Spencer, known for Hidden Figures, and Aaron Paul from Breaking Bad.

Little Voices

Little Voices is developed by JJ Abrams and stars singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles. The show is a half hour long dramedy about Bareilles' character struggling as a young singer trying to make it in New York City.

Oprah's Book Club

Oprah Winfrey will be hosting an interview programme, themed around authors and their books, as part of an extended partnership with Apple. She is also working on two upcoming documentaries that will be released on Apple TV+. The first is about sexual harassment and has a working title of Toxic Labor, while another is about mental health in collaboration with Prince Harry.

For All Mankind

Apple picked up this science fiction space saga developed by Ronald D Moore, best known for the 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica. The show explores "what would have happened if the global space race had never ended" and stars several actors, including Joel Kinnaman.

 

 

 

Home

Home is a docuseries that explores extraordinary homes in the world. It sounds like MTV's Cribs meets Architectural Digest. Apple has ordered 10 one-hour episodes of the Home docuseries, which is produced by Matt Tynauer and Corey Reese of Altimeter Films.

You Think It, I'll Say It Comedy

Apple ordered 10 episodes of a half-hour comedy show based on the You Think It, I'll Say It short story compilation by Curtis Sittenfeld, which "upends assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided."

It’s reportedly set to star Kristen Wiig.

Untitled drama series from Damien Chazelle

Apple picked up a drama series from La La Land creator Damien Chazelle. He will write and direct every episode of the series.

Swagger

Swagger is a drama series based on the life of NBA star and Golden State Warriors player Kevin Durant. Imagine Television, led by Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, will produce it, alongside Kevin Durant's Thirty Five Media. Both Durant and Grazer will serve as executive producers.

Servant

Servant is a psychological thriller written by Tony Basgallop and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, who is best known for movies like Signs and Split. The first episode of the series has been directed by Shyamalan himself. Apple has ordered 10 episodes, and each one will be a half-hour long.

Central Park

Central Park is an animated TV series developed by Loren Bouchard, well-known for the popular cartoon Bob's Burgers. It's actually a musical comedy about a family of caretakers who live in Central Park and end up saving both the park and the world. It stars Josh Gad, among others.

Isaac Asimov's Foundation

Apple is working on a TV series adaptation of the popular sci-fi series Foundation written by sci-fi author Isaac Asimov. It's a sprawling epic that spans centuries, so it’ll be interesting to see how it’ll be adapted, if it ever makes it to the streaming service.

Dickinson

Apple picked up a show about the life of famous American poet Emily Dickinson, set to be played by Hailee Steinfeld. It'll be a comedic look into Dickinson's world. Jane Krakowski, known for roles in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and 30 Rock, will also star as Emily's mother.

 

Shantaram

Apple is working on a TV adaptation of Gregory David Roberts' 2003 novel Shantaram, which focuses on a character named Lin, a convict that escapes an Australian prison. American Hustle screenwriter Eric Warren Singer will serve as showrunner and executive producer.

Hilde Lysiak

Apple ordered 10 episodes of a drama series about Hilde Lysiak, a child journalist who publishes a newspaper in her hometown in Pennsylvania. She unearths a cold case that everyone else in the town had attempted to bury. Child actress Brooklyn Price will star in the show.

Calls

Apple ordered an English-language adaptation of French series Calls. It's a short-form series that tells stories based on snippets of audio taken from real-life situations. Many episodes fall into the horror and mystery sub-genres, and will likely use minimal visuals.

Pachinko

Apple secured the rights to create a TV show based on Min Jin Lee's novel Pachinko, which follows the lives of four generations of a poor Korean immigrant family in Japan staring in 1911. It will be written and produced by Soo Hugh, who is best known for The Killing.

Snoopy in Space

Snoopy and the gang star in an all-new animated adventure that will be available on Apple TV from launch.

Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day videogame comedy

Apple has ordered a half-hour scripted comedy show created by Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, who are best known for popular comedy show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. The show is set in a video game development studio, and McElhenney will be one of the show's stars.

The Elephant Queen

A feature-length movie, The Elephant Queen is an award-winning documentary that follows the journey of a family of elephants and is narrated by Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave, The Lion King).

Losing Earth Climate Change Project

Apple purchased the rights to develop a New York Times Magazine story (Losing Earth: The Decade We Almost Stopped Climate Change). It covers the 10-year period from 1979 to 1989, when "humanity settled the science of climate change and came surprisingly close to finding a solution."

Defending Jacob drama

Apple picked up drama series Defending Jacob, which will star Chris Evans, known for his roles in Captain America and The Avengers. It's a thriller based on William Landay's bestselling novel and covers the murder of a 14-year-old boy and his friend and suspect Jacob. Chris Evans was in the crowd for the Apple TV+ launch event which might point to this being one of the series available at launch. Apple reportedly ordered 10 episodes.

Will all Apple's content be family friendly?

Apple is targeting a broad audience. It's reportedly avoiding content with nudity, raw language, and violence. It even had a dispute with Amazing Stories showrunner Bryan Fuller over its wishes to produce family-friendly content. It also shelved Vital Signs, an autobiographical show about hip hop artist Dr. Dre, as Apple CEO Tim Cook was said to be "troubled" by its use of guns, sex, and drugs.

Apple has maintained this line through apps it offers too, so makes sense that Apple will continue to be family friendly.

What about Apple TV channels?

The Apple TV app also allows you to sign up for third-party services. This is thanks to an Apple TV Channels feature that is separate from an Apple TV+ subscription. Apple partners with Showtime, HBO, CBS All Access, and more. So, you will be able to pay extra and access those add-on channels using your iTunes account for all payments and billing.

Other partners include Starz, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault, Comedy Central Now, Spectrum, DirecTV, Optimum, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, FuboTV, and more. Again, they're all accessible through the Apple TV app. As Apple puts it, you'll pay for what you want, and access it on-demand and ad-free through one app. You can even share with members in your family, too.

When will Apple TV+ be available?

Apple TV+ will be available from 1 November 2019.

Where will Apple TV+ be available?

Apple TV+ will be available in over 100 countries at launch. It's safe to say the US and UK are both included.

How much does Apple TV+ cost?

It costs just £4.99/$4.99 per month for a family subscription.

To encourage signups, Apple will offer anyone who buys an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV one year of Apple TV+ for free. You'll be able to subscribe to and watch Apple TV+ at tv.apple.com on the web via the Safari, Chrome or Firefox browser.

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