A lot has happened since November 2019, when Apple’s streaming platform arrived. Since then, Apple TV+ has increased its price (the last one was only a few months ago). The fact is, even though they cost more than 100% of what they did that year, they still stick to their guns and we have ways to hire them more cheaply.
Personally, I have gone through several stages with the platform and although I recognize that it is not the one that I consume the most throughout the year, I managed to make it profitable and see your best part. There are no weird tricks, it’s just a matter of evaluating a collective subscription and assessing its benefits.
A catalog that hides beautiful nuggets
It has always seemed unobjective to me to rate platforms based on the quality of their series. And in fact, I do not intend here to make an objective criticism of the quality of the Apple TV+ catalog, given that in the end it is something that everyone must evaluate according to their preferences.
That said, from my point of view, Apple knows closer to HBO Max than to Netflix. And this has two connotations. The negative point is in relation to Netflix, given that its catalog is far below in terms of quantity and this is precisely what at the time turned me away from Apple TV+. The positive, in reference to HBO Max, is that managed to create his own label in terms of the quality of its films, series and documentaries.
Obviously I don’t like all the content and I doubt there is anyone who has not only seen one hundred percent of the catalog, but also liked everything. Leaving these proofs aside, Proportionally I found content much more interesting than in others. And here I obviously mention serious films like “The Morning Show”, “Separation” or the multiple award-winning “Ted Lasso”. But there is more.
I recently discovered “Bad Sisters”, translated into Spanish as “Sisters to Death” and I have to admit that going into it with low expectations, I ended up being pleasantly surprised. Also with “Unfiltered Therapy” (yes, I highly recommend them if you haven’t seen them yet). It goes without saying that its catalog of films, even less extensive than that of the series, also hides great gems like “Palmer”, “Causeway” or “Swan Song”, which offer intrigues on which to reflect.
It’s strange, but I like to wait a week for a new chapter
If “The Last of Us” on HBO Max has shown anything, besides being a great video game adaptation, it’s that there are still plenty of viewers willing to wait for their weekly dose of the series . No marathon. They had no other choice either, but from my point of view I think it’s positive.
And I’m not just talking about the impact that this way of distributing content has on platforms, which obviously helps to retain users for longer and make content a topic of conversation for longer. For the viewer, we also generate a sensation that was lost with platforms that invite marathons.. This thing of waiting for a day of the week to see a new episode, what do you want me to tell you, I love it.
Does this make me angry? On many occasions and especially when the genre of the series is suspenseful and a loose thread remains for the following week. But I actually believe that It helps us love the series more and let’s really dedicate the necessary mental time that some people need. Whether to theorize about what will happen in the following chapters or simply to want more. In a series marathon, you only have a few minutes between episodes if you decide to go to the bathroom between them.
Apple One and my “Apple Family” make it extremely profitable
The fact that there are more and more streaming platforms, as well as other types of subscriptions, clearly shows that at some point we will consider unsubscribing from one of them. And Apple TV+ is not registered. However, Apple TV+ is profitable on the other hand. It pays for itself thanks to iCloud, Apple Music, Apple Arcade and, if you hurry me, even Apple Fitness+.
And this is possible thanks to Apple One. I recognize that perhaps services like “Arcade” or “Fitness+” do not appeal to me the most due to the simple fact that I am not part of the target, but the cloud storage and music platform. Especially since the latter has further repositioned itself recently with Hi-Fi music and, soon, with Apple Music Classical.
Apple One allows me to save more than 400% of what I would pay monthly by subscribing to the services separately (and that’s without counting the fact that it adds extras that I wouldn’t pay for)
Yes or yes, I was going to have to hire these platforms and, by costing their individual hiring according to my needs, here is the cost:
- iCloud (2 TB): 9.99 dollars
- Apple Music: 10.99 dollars
- Apple TV+: 9.99 dollars
- Total: 30.97 dollars
However, with an Apple One plan shared with five other people I can benefit from these services and much more with a saving of 431%. And I’m not exaggerating by pulling numbers out of my sleeve. The Apple One Premium package costs 34.95 dollars, which although it is almost 4 dollars more than contracting it individually, it is distributed among the six members of the family and costs 5.83 dollars per person.
As I have already said, it is not only these three services that I save by subscribing separately, but in addition to this two others are added that even if I do not use, any other member can benefit.
And maybe the iCloud issue is controversial. In my particular case, with 2 TB for the six of us it is more than enough, since I am the one who uses it the most and we barely reach the 1.2 TB consumed. However, you can always hire more individually and it will always be cheaper.
Their ongoing promotions are a good incentive to try it
Far from knowing the exact figures for the number of Apple TV+ subscribers and to what extent the platform amortizes them, the reality is that there is always an active promotion. Either for the purchase of a new brand product, or for a promotional code obtained for the launch of specific content.
And always without forgetting that in the end, anyone who has never tried the service will have at least one week free and will always have access to the first chapter of many series. Obviously in the end it ends and at some point you have to pay, but there is no other platform that offers such tests without going through the checkout.
With Apple TV+, no feeling of guilt: I pay for it every time.
So, three and a half years after its launch, I think Apple TV+ has reached a level of maturity that makes it worthy of my subscription. It won’t offer me hundreds of thousands of hours of content like others, but I’m sure what I start watching will be quality and in a small percentage of cases it will be something I abandon in the middle of the first chapter.
Furthermore, It’s not something I pay for directly, which frees me from any feeling of wasting money.. And this is something that happens to me with other platforms when a month passes, I receive the bank receipt and I see that I paid for the subscription without having barely taken advantage of the service that month.
Now I recognize that The Apple One element is essential and that’s why Apple TV+ may not be for everyone. I want to say that in the end in cases like mine with family subscriptions it is worth it for everything I have explained, but I understand perfectly that another person who has no interest in others services and/or an Apple family sees it as less profitable. In my case and those in similar situations, it is definitely worth it.
An older version of this article was originally published on 03/16/2023.
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