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Tag: HBO

  • HBO Go Bids Farewell to Vietnam, Makes Way for HBO Max Arrival

    HBO Go Bids Farewell to Vietnam, Makes Way for HBO Max Arrival

    HBO Go, the previously ubiquitous streaming service, will officially withdraw its operations from Vietnam as of June 15. Its absence will pave the way for the introduction of HBO Max, a formidable competitor to streaming giant Netflix.

    The HBO Go service was first introduced to the Vietnamese market in 2019, targeting cable, satellite, and live TV streaming subscribers who were already receiving HBO channels as part of their television package. However, the service was discontinued in multiple markets in 2020, and replaced by HBO Max. This new platform allows users to access the full range of HBO content without a cable TV connection.

    In Vietnam, the termination of HBO Go also implies the end of collaborations with local streaming platforms such as TV360 and VieON. A noticeable change is already apparent on TV360, which now presents a “Failed” notification upon attempts to subscribe to a new HBO package. However, users can continue to view HBO content through traditional television channels via cable and satellite services.

    An anonymous industry analyst suggests that this strategic move is most likely intended to enable American film studio Warner Bros. to introduce HBO Max in direct competition with Netflix. The HBO Max homepage now displays a Vietnamese language notice teasing its launch on June 16.

    The HBO Go platform had gained traction among Vietnamese viewers with popular original series such as Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, and films produced by Warner Bros.

    Questions & Answers

    What is happening to HBO Go in Vietnam?
    HBO Go will cease operations in Vietnam as of June 15, and be replaced by HBO Max.

    What changes are expected with the introduction of HBO Max?
    HBO Max will allow users to access a broad range of HBO content without the need for a cable TV connection. The service is seen as a strong competitor to Netflix.

    Will users still be able to view HBO content via traditional channels?
    Yes, HBO content can still be accessed through traditional television channels on cable and satellite services.

  • HBO Max rebrands itself and relaunches on May 23

    HBO Max rebrands itself and relaunches on May 23

    As expected, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed its plans regarding the HBO Max streaming service. The company announced earlier today that the service will be relaunched on May 23 under a different name: Max.

    According to Warner Bros. Discovery, Max is an enhanced version of the current streaming service, and will include a massive library HBO Originals, Warner Bros. movies, Max Originals, the DC universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, lots of kids-friendly content, as well as popular programming across food, home, reality, lifestyle, and documentaries from brands like HGTV, Food Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, ID, and more.

    Once Max launches on May 23, three new pricing options will be available for customers, which seem to be tailored for just about every scenario. Here is how much you’ll have to pay if you want to join Max:

    • Max Ad-Lite ($9.99/month or $99.99/year): 2 concurrent streams, 1080p resolution, no offline downloads, 5.1 surround sound quality
    • Max Ad Free ($15.99/month or $149.99/year): 2 concurrent streams, 1080 resolution, 30 offline downloads, 5.1 surround sound quality
    • Max Ultimate Ad Free ($19.99/month or $199.99/year): 4 concurrent streams, up to 4K UHD resolution, 100 offline downloads, Dolby Atmos sound quality

    As far as existing HBO Max subscribers go, they will be given a minimum of a six-month grace period during which they will be able to continue to use their current plan. Eventually, they will have to switch to one of the newer Max plans, where they will find that their profiles, settings, watch history, “Continue Watching,” and “My List” items will be automatically migrated.

    In related news, Max provided first looks at additional upcoming titles, including Max Originals The Penguin, HBO Original drama series The Sympathizer, HBO Original limited series True Detective: Night Country, HBO Original limited series The Regime, Max Original six-part docuseries SmartLess: On The Road, Max Original kids’ series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai, and a first look at HGTV’s four-part Barbie Dreamhouse Challenge.

    Max will only be launched in the United States on May 23, but Warner Bros. Discovery plans to expand the availability of the streaming service to other countries in 2024.

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  • HBO Max is getting pricier with no ads effective immediately

    HBO Max is getting pricier with no ads effective immediately

    Are you excited for the impending arrival of HBO’s hugely anticipated “The Last of Us” series based on the massively popular video game of the same name? Did you miss the glorious second season of Mike White’s “The White Lotus” and want to see what all that hype (and those awards) are about… eventually?

    Your excitement and/or eagerness to check out new HBO Max content is likely to take a (small) hit, as the streaming service just got its first-ever price hike. This is reportedly coming into effect immediately as far as new subscriptions go, with existing users also looking at paying an extra buck a month starting from their next billing cycle (but no earlier than February 11).
    Since its debut under this name was released in May 2020 for $14.99 a month with no ads, HBO Max is jumping to $15.99, which doesn’t sound like a big deal… by itself. But if you’re subscribed to more than one streaming platform (and you probably are), the price increases of the last couple of years are likely to add up after a while to a pretty hefty sum.
    Netflix, for instance, revised its monthly charges for both Basic and Standard plans in early 2022… after previously pulling a similar stunt in 2019. The only HBO Max option without commercials is now 50 cents costlier than Netflix’s standard streaming tier, but at $19.99, the industry leader’s Premium plan remains unrivaled… in a bad way.
    With (almost) all the negative attention in the world pointed in Netflix’s direction after a string of inexplicable show cancellations and a very unpopular crackdown on password sharing, this was probably the best moment to bring about an HBO Max price hike that had frankly been a long time coming.
    Of course, the Warner Discovery-owned platform is not in an ideal spot from a public perception standpoint either on the heels of some unpopular content… managing decisions of its own, but at least the aforementioned “Last of Us” series is getting glowing reviews and the first season of “House of the Dragon” broke all the possible viewership records.
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  • HBO Max is set to become cheaper

    HBO Max is set to become cheaper

    The battle of the subscription services is on. This time around, it is time for HBO Max to shine with an exclusive offer of its own. HBO Max, the television giant’s take on a video streaming service, is set to become even more accessible. The company announced that it would be offering a 30% discount on its yearly subscription price to new and returning users.

    This translates to $104.99 for the ad-free plan, or just $69.99 for the ad-supported one. For reference, this means that HBO Max would cost either $8.75 a month (for the more expensive plan), or $5.85 (for the cheaper option).

    HBO Max’s main appeal lies in its plethora of original titles that tend to enjoy immense critical and commercial success. Through the platform, users can watch (in)famous series like Game of Thrones, Succession, The Undoing, alongside all-time classics like Sex and the City and The Sopranos.

    Admittedly, the roster of HBO Max is set to become somewhat more limited in the aftermath of the messy merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. As a result of the business decision, a number of HBO Max series have already been canceled and some are rumored to be on the chopping block.

    It should be noted that HBO Max will continue to coexist with Discovery Plus for the time being. However, there are plans for the two platforms to eventually become one. But even on its own, HBO Max is worth checking out especially given the current prices.

    The service is now cheaper than all of Netflix’s current subscription options. On the other hand, the ad-supported HBO Max plan now comes in at the same price as the Hulu equivalent. And we still haven’t mentioned the best part – the discount comes just in time for the premiere of House of the Dragon.

  • HBO Max, Discovery+ to be merged into a single streaming platform

    HBO Max, Discovery+ to be merged into a single streaming platform

    It looks like Warner Bros. Discovery is determined to put the nail in the coffin for HBO Max. The giant announced plans to merge both services in the summer of 2023, but that comes with some massive budget cuts and layoffs.

    The recent news that Batgirl has been scrapped after the movie was (almost) finished, pretty much sums up the changes Warner Bros. Discovery has in store for HBO Max. As many of you probably know already, HBO Max is heavily focused on movies and TV series, while Discovery is now mostly known for its reality shows from HGTV, Food Network and Discovery Channel.

    Earlier this week, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that HBO Max and Discovery+ will be launched in the United States as a single service next year. According to JB Perrette, CEO and president of global streaming and games for Warner Bros. Discovery, the new streaming platform will combine the best elements of both services.

    According to the company’s Q2 2022 earnings report, Discovery+ will be the core of the new platform, while HBO Max’s portfolio will be limited to Originals. Although the current catalog will be carried over, no new movies or TV shows will be made outside of the Originals offering. HBO Max had major performance issues during big releases, which convinced Warner Bros. Discovery to cut deep into the streaming service’s budget.

    Warner Bros. Discovery reported a huge $3.4 billion net loss in Q2 2022, so the company is now trying to push Discovery+, its more successful service, to more customers, while cutting back on HBO Max productions or distribution deals. The new HBO Max + Discovery Plus changes will only affect customers in the United States.

    In related news, AT&T announced it has reached a new agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery for the distribution of HBO Max, after the carrier removed the offering from its wireless plans back in June.
  • Netflix is adding a cheaper plan for those who want a lower price and will watch ads

    Netflix is adding a cheaper plan for those who want a lower price and will watch ads

    During an interview at the Cannes Lion advertising festival, the CEO of Netflix Ted Sarandos gave the most direct indication that it will launch a cheaper, ad-supported subscription tier to the embattled streaming service.

    In essence, Mr. Sarandos said that the company will be “adding an ad tier; we’re not adding ads to Netflix as you know it today.” After the pandemic boost wore out, Netflix hit the skids in terms of subscriber count as people spent less time watching TV shows and movies.

    At the same time, new streaming services from juggernauts like HBO, Disney, or Apple, grew to rival Netflix, all the while it kept spending borrowed billions on content creation. Well, that crazy content spending was curtailed, a lot of shows were cancelled, and now Netflix will try and boost subscriber numbers by going downmarket.

    Currently, the Netflix plans start from the Basic one at $9.99 per month with SD (up to 480p) picture quality, followed by the Standard $15.49 a month plan that offers 1080p definition, and go up to the Premium Netflix tier at $19.99 per month which includes 4K UHD quality streaming on up to four devices.

    Besides cracking down on password sharing, Netflix will likely introduce the new ad-supported subscription tier at something close to the Apple TV+ $4.99 subscription price and will try to recuperate the difference with ad revenue. Or, as Ted Sarandos eloquently puts it:

    We’ve left a big customer segment off the table, which is people who say: ‘Hey, Netflix is too expensive for me and I don’t mind advertising,’ We adding an ad tier; we’re not adding ads to Netflix as you know

     

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  • HBO Max joins Verizon’s +play platform

    HBO Max joins Verizon’s +play platform

    Announced last month during Verizon’s Investor Day, the carrier’s +play platform offers over 20 streaming services ahead of its commercial launch and allows Verizon customers to manage their subscriptions in one place, as well as learn about exclusive deals and offering for content services.

    Starting today, HBO Max will be joining Verizon’s +play platform as partner. The streaming service from Warner Bros. Discovery offers content from HBO, Warner Bros., and DC, as well as Max Originals, blockbuster films, as well as kids and family content.

    With HBO Max, we aspire to deliver high-quality entertainment to audiences however and wherever they want to watch it, and this partnership with Verizon to feature HBO Max as a partner for its +play offering is a great, simplified way to do just that.

    Initially designed to provide Verizon customers with access to content the carrier already offers through providers like Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, discovery+ and AMC+, the new +play platform introduces new partners, including Netflix, Peloton, WW, The Athletic, Calm, Duolingo, and TelevisaUnivision’s Vix+, among many others with more to come.

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  • Amazon Music Unlimited’s monthly subscription price set to slightly increase

    Amazon Music Unlimited’s monthly subscription price set to slightly increase

    Every once in a while, major streaming services are adjusting their subscription prices, especially if they prove to be successful. Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Spotify and many other similar streaming service have had their prices increased a few times in the last couple of years.

    The latest on that list is Amazon Music Unlimited, which is expected to increase its monthly subscription price by $1. Many Amazon Music subscribers have started to receive notifications via email that confirmed the monthly Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan price will increase from $7.99 to $8.99 .

    Strangely enough, Amazon did not announce anything yet, but it’s probably just a matter of time before the move is officialized. According to the email, the new price for Amazon Music Unlimited will go live on May 5.

    On the bright side, the Amazon Music Unlimited Family Plan price has been kept the same, so anyone who currently pays the $14.99 monthly subscription will not be affected by the price hike.

    With access to more than 75 million songs in HD, as well as several important top-tier audio features, including Spatial Audio, Amazon Music Unlimited is one of the cheapest offerings on the music streaming services market. Despite the $1 price hike, Amazon Music remains a great deal for those looking for high-quality music content at a low price.

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  • Select HBO Max full pilot episodes now available on Snapchat

    Select HBO Max full pilot episodes now available on Snapchat

    It looks like HBO Max is stretching its arms to create new partnerships and reap new benefits. Today, the streaming service has teamed up with Snapchat and made it possible to watch full-length pilot episodes of select shows on the social media platform.

    Some examples include Looney Tunes, Gossip Girl, and even the all-popular Game of Thrones. The option is available through the Snap Minis feature, which debuted last year. Snapchat Minis is a way for third-party developers to showcase their product inside the social platform.

    One of the more popular channels to make use of this feature was Headspace. HBO, however, is the first of its caliber to upload full episodes.

    The main aim of this deal is obviously to attract more people to subscribe to HBO’s program, but it is more than that. The most noteworthy part of HBO Max’s Snapchat minis is having the ability to invite up to 63 people to watch the content together. What’s even better is that all participants can chat and share Bitmoji reactions during the show.

    No HBO Max subscription is required to watch any of the shows, but don’t go thinking there are no catches laid out for you. At the end of each pilot episode, users who are 18 years or older will receive a pop-up prompting an HBO Max subscription.

    The new Snapchat feature is available both on Android and iOS, and the pilot episodes on display will be refreshed in intervals yet to be announced. It would be interesting to see if competitors like Netflix and Disney+ follow in HBO’s footsteps. If so, this could prove to be a great benefit for Snapchat, maybe developing the trend into something more in the future.

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  • HBO Max cheaper ad-supported plan reportedly coming in June

    HBO Max cheaper ad-supported plan reportedly coming in June

    HBO Max is already one of the most expensive streaming services in the United States, and that gave WarnerMedia an idea. Last month, the media giant confirmed plans to introduce a cheaper ad-supported plan for those who can’t afford to pay $15 per month for the regular plan.

    However, WarnerMedia did not say when the plan will be launched and how much it will cost. CBNC claims sources close to the company say HBO Max will introduce a cheaper service in June that will cost just $9.99.

    The new ad-supported plan will be available via AT&T at first, but pay-TV distributors might be willing to accept the cheaper service too, even though they would get a lower revenue percentage per user.

    It’s also important to mention that HBO Max will not run ads during original shows, but everything else will be peppered with commercials; that’s something that WarnerMedia has already confirmed last month.

    Initially, WarnerMedia considered a much cheaper $4.99 ad-supported plan that would offer just HBO Max content, but the company decided to go for a more varied product in the end.

  • HBO Max to offer at least 6,000 hours of described content by March 2023

    HBO Max to offer at least 6,000 hours of described content by March 2023

    HBO Max has big plans for 2021, as the streaming giant is ready to implement lots of major enhancements to its service. One of the first important changes coming to HBO Max this week is aimed at visually impaired users.

    Starting this week, HBO Max will roll out newly 1,500 hours of audio described content on the web and mobile platforms including select HBO originals, Max Originals, Warner Bros movies, and some acquired content, WarnerMedia announced earlier today.

    The new feature will run as a separate audio track that offers a verbal description of visual elements on the screen. Apart from that, HBO Max will include a new Audio Description category in the navigation menu.

    HBO Max also announced that other improvements to the accessibility will be added this week to the Android and iOS apps for visually impaired users that take advantage of the screen reader software to browse the service’s digital content.

    Finally, HBO Max revealed that it will make audio descriptions available across all supported Internet-connected TVs later this year. Also, by March 2022, HBO Max users should expect to get 3,000 hours of described content and at least 6,000 hours by the end of March 2023.

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  • HBO Max already has over 4 million subscribers in the US

    HBO Max already has over 4 million subscribers in the US

    HBO Max launched in the United States at the end of May. Today, almost two months later, WarnerMedia parent company AT&T has announced that the streaming service already has over 4 million subscribers.

    Speaking on an earnings call earlier today, AT&T CEO John Stankey revealed to analysts and investors that HBO and HBO Max reached a combined total of 36.3 million subscribers by the end of June.

    Therefore, HBO Max reached its 4.1 million subscriber count in little over a month. The numbers do pale in comparison to the incredible 10 million subscriber count Disney+ achieved in only 24 hours, but the HBO Max feat is impressive nonetheless.

    Roughly 3 million were retail customers while the remaining 1.1 million came from activations through AT&T platforms such as bundle plans. The latter is surprisingly low considering the millions of customers that are eligible for the service.

    WarnerMedia already had 30 million cable customers and HBO Now subscribers that could be moved over to HBO Max at launch. But Stankey revealed the company has had trouble getting people subscribed to cable services over to the service.

    Improving that situation is now an area of focus, the CEO said. The company is also having discussions with Roku and Amazon about getting the streaming service onto their respective Roku TV and Fire TV platforms, which are the two most popular in the US.

    The negotiations aren’t going as smoothly as they could, though. Amazon, in particular, has reportedly taken an “approach of treating HBO Max and its customers differently” than competing services and their respective customers.

    WarnerMedia insists that HBO Max should be launched as an independent app on both Roku and Amazon platforms, but these company want the streaming service integrated into their Channels section like HBO and HBO Now.

    Whatever the outcome, it seems customers will enjoy the service. The amount of time spent inside the HBO Max app is up an impressive 70% compared to HBO Now thanks to the expanded content library.

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  • Here’s how you can win over 83 years of free Netflix service

    Here’s how you can win over 83 years of free Netflix service

    This year, thanks to the global pandemic, Netflix has proven to be a much-needed distraction for those stuck inside. During the second quarter, the company added more than 10 million new subscribers worldwide. And now one lucky person could end up winning 1,000 free months of Netflix service. That works out to more than 83 years of service. You read that right. Who knows? COVID-19  might be eradicated by then. Netflix calls it the “immortal account.”

    To win the contest, you need to play a Netflix original game based on its new action film “The Old Guard.” This is the motion picture version of a graphic novel written by Greg Rucka. Starring Charlize Theron, the film is about a team of “noble mercenaries” who just cannot die. And this immortality is the reason why Netflix is giving away 83 years of service. As the streamer asks, “But how long is immortality, really? Netflix can’t promise a truly eternal subscription to its service, but it can offer the closest alternative: 1,000 months of service, which comes out to a bit over 83 years.”

    The grand prize winner must ring up the highest score while playing Netflix’s “The Old Guard” video game. You must be at least 18 years of age and reside in one of the 50 U.S. states or the District of Columbia. The contest ends at 8 am PT on July 20th which means that time is a-wastin’. You can play the game as often as you’d like until the contest ends, and the top 10 scores will be posted on a leaderboard.

    The grand prize winner will receive a special code good for 1,000 months of free Netflix service covering two screens. The person who achieves the second-highest score wins the second prize consisting of a code good for one year of free Netflix service for two screens. And the entrant who manages to get the third-highest score playing the game wins a code that can be used to obtain six free months of Netflix for a pair of screens. The codes must be redeemed within one month of their activation which is expected to take place on July 20th. The ARV (Approximate Retail Value) of all of the prizes adds up to $10,169.82.

    “The Old Guard” video game mirrors the events of the movie and in the game, you play the lead character looking to fight off your enemies using a one-handed Labrys. The latter is a giant, double-bladed ax. Netflix hints that getting killed in the game slows you down, so to ring up a high score, you need to defeat enemies quickly, without getting hit.

    While Netflix is the most popular subscription streamer in the world, the company’s estimate for new subscribers during the current quarter was 2.5 million. That is less than half the 5.27 million expected on Wall Street and the company is blaming the shortfall on short-form video app TikTok. Netflix told stockholders that “TikTok’s growth is astounding, showing the fluidity of internet entertainment. Instead of worrying about all these competitors, we continue to stick to our strategy of trying to improve our service and content every quarter faster than our peers. Our continued strong growth is a testament to this approach and the size of the entertainment market.”

    If the U.S. government gets its way, TikTok will be banned in the states because it is owned by Chinese firm ByteDancer. The U.S. is concerned, as it is with all apps and products owned by a Chinese company, that ByteDancer is secretly collecting information that it sends to a server in Beijing. The company has denied this and no evidence to support the allegations has ever surfaced.

    Besides TikTok, a number of new streamers could prove to be competition for Netflix. Disney+, launched last November, is off to a strong start. HBOMax and NBCUniversal’s Peacock are also available to iOS and Android users.

  • HBO Now waves goodbye to older Apple TVs

    HBO Now waves goodbye to older Apple TVs

    The HBO Now app waves goodbye to 2nd- and 3rd-gen Apple TVs. The company has removed the app from the devices above after extending the deadline for two additional weeks. Initially, the deadline was set for the end of April, but after complaints from users, the date was pushed back to May 15.

    Third-gen Apple TVs launched eight years ago, and HBO thinks it’s time for an upgrade. However, people don’t buy set boxes as frequently as other gadgets (mobile phones, for example), and many of them are still using these older Apple TV models. The timing is not perfect either – there are rumors of a tvOS hardware refresh later this year, so don’t rush to the stores yet.

    HBO Go will have to go, too – it will be available for a couple more months and then follow HBO Now’s fate. The upcoming HBO Max streaming service will also be supported on the 4th-gen and later Apple TVs. All in all, everything points toward an upgrade, but if new hardware is in the pipeline, a little patience can be a wiser choice.

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  • Apple takes on Netflix and cable with TV+ streaming service

    Apple takes on Netflix and cable with TV+ streaming service

    Hours before the “It’s show time” event, Apple began streaming a Car Play footage of someone driving from Los Angeles to Cupertino, in a not-so-subtle hint that we are about to see a lot of Hollywood honchos arriving for the announcement of its new Apple TV+ video service against formidable competition. Existing cable packs plus original content – it marks the first time Apple is jumping into a new and established industry in, well, forever. –

    The Apple-goes-Hollywood move is just the next in a long line of reorientations of Apple as a service company, concocted a few years back when CEO Tim Cook started to prepare for the inevitable commoditization of the bread-and-butter iPhone product. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook loves to brag at conference calls with investors that the revenue and profits from its “services” business is growing leaps and bounds, far outstripping the revenue growth in the iPhone department. The App Store alone is now a Fortune 100 company by itself, raking in more than, say, the whole McDonalds franchise.

    On the hook for billions of losses, however, after streaming services like Netflix or Spotify balked or circumvented the 15%-30% cut Apple takes from subscriptions sold via the App Store, the team from Cupertino decided to futureproof its revenue stream from services by taking the fight directly to the competition. Last year, streaming subscriptions outpaced cable, and Apple just went in, announcing its own TV+ video service.

    Apple TV+ streaming and Channels service price, features, markets, and platforms

    Instead of outing an actual TV set, Apple now aims to become an alternative to cable by mixing shows from renowned names like HBO or Showtime with dozens of its own TV+ original series, all from the comfort of the new Apple TV app, online or offline. With the new Channels service there, Apple will bundle your existing subscriptions, and personalize and curate the shows you might like, gleaning from the subscriptions or preferences you already have shown by renting iTunes movies and TV shows. Those will now also be folded into the new Apple TV app, coming in May.
    The Apple TV channels will sport such juggernauts like HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade, Noggin and some new ones as MTV Hits, with more down the pipe. All of this can be accessed within one app – Apple TV – no separate logins any more.

    TV+ and Channels will be available from the new Apple TV app

    The service would be reaching 100+ global markets and will be available not only on Apple iOS devices but also coming to the Mac, Roku streamers, and even Samsung, LG, Sony or Vizio smart TVs. How much? Well, separate subscriptions for HBO or Showtime will run you $9.99/month each, and you can subscribe with a single click. The Apple TV+ release date is scheduled for some time in the fall, with an “ad-free” price yet to be announced.

    With an installed base of more than a billion potential viewers who are used to paying for media, Apple could immediately become the next big thing on the trendy “what to watch” block. Unlike Netflix, however, whose stratospheric rise is fueled by copious amounts of debt, Apple reportedly took a more measured approach, earmarking “just” a billion for testing the original content streaming waters. Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services, piled on today:

    We’re honored that the absolute best lineup of storytellers in the world — both in front of and behind the camera — are coming to Apple TV+. We’re thrilled to give viewers a sneak peek of Apple TV+ and cannot wait for them to tune in starting this fall. Apple TV+ will be home to some of the highest quality original storytelling that TV and movie lovers have seen yet.

    That’s not to say that the team from Cupertino is not ambitious, though – Eddy Cue is on record saying that they want to acquire or produce shows on the level of Game of Thrones, and, knowing Apple’s money, they could very well do so. For comparison, HBO spends two billion on original programming, and Apple could easily double or triple the amount invested if the shoe fits.

    Netflix is way ahead with $11 billion earmarked for spending on own shows and content this year, though there is a lot of fluff in it, while Apple usually takes a more targeted approach when it comes to quality, regardless of what one might think about shows like Planet of the Apps. In any case, it will have way fewer movies and TV shows than the rest of the competition at launch, though, as you can see from the stats below, having the most content doesn’t make for the most popular such service.

    Apple TV+ new original shows list at launch

    Apple has already poached plenty of entertainment industry names, too, so it finally seems bent on building a proper media empire. Here are all the shows Apple said its streaming service will be launching with:
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