So, it looks like people are FINALLY paying for Apple TV+ after a year’s free trial. Ted Lasso really must be that good.
So, rumor has it that Apple TV+ might have passed 40 million subscribers at the end of 2020. How many of those folks are actually paying for that subscription? Well, we don’t know. Apple doesn’t release the exact number of subscribers to any of its individual services. The corporation did reveal something, though. Apple recently announced that it has more than 660 million paid subscriptions across all its services. With that in mind, we can assume that more people are paying for Apple TV+. But why?
Ted Lasso Must Really be That Good!
That’s honestly the only thing I can think of to explain the recent spike. I do know that a lot of people really like this show. Not Stuart Sweet, who doesn’t like anything. (He canceled his subscription at the end of June, as promised.) But most of the people I know who have Apple TV+ say they really get a kick out of this show. And with a plotline like this, who couldn’t?
“Jason Sudeikis is Ted Lasso, an American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team – despite having no experience. But what he lacks in knowledge, he makes up for with optimism, underdog determination… and biscuits.”
I can see why this show would have such appeal. But will the second season of this comedy series really be enough to make Apple TV+ worth the money? I ask, because I don’t hear anyone raving about ANY other original Apple TV+ series.
For Once, I Agree with Stuart
He and I agreed that Apple TV+ has been problematic from the start. One of its highest low points was the release of its new streaming box. This happened late in 2020. For those who didn’t read the blog post, here’s a summary:
- Apple TV 4K was released in September 2017.
- Apple launched Apple TV+ in November 2019.
- Apple planned to release a new streaming box in 2020.
- NOTHING was mentioned at its World Wide Developers Conference.
- The new streaming box finally was released on April 20, 2021.
So, was the new box all that? In a word, no. It’s only new feature was a new remote. The new processor – which many people thought might be powered by an A14 chip – didn’t add any speed or new features. Can you say, “total disappointment”? I know I did. Actually, I called it a “total disaster,” which is pretty much the same thing.
Then Again, Maybe I Was Too Hasty
I don’t know how to launch a streaming service, but I’m sure that it’s not easy. A project SO big is going to run hit some speedbumps. Apple TV+ had its fair share of potholes but the streaming service is STILL here. That’s a testament to its perseverance. So, while I was skeptical in the past, I’m NOT wearing a blindfold! It’s easy to see that Apple TV+ is growing and evolving. The proof is in all of that…
…Original Content Available on Apple TV+
It’s can’t just be Ted Lasso. The show is good, but it’s not good enough to carry an entire service. (Just ask Stuart about Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and CBS All Access.) Apple TV+ has plenty of original programming. Just look at this list of current original Apple TV+ content. Note: The titles below refer to the original TV series only. It doesn’t include the original movies, documentaries, and other programming currently available on the streaming service.
Check out all this original content currently available on Apple TV+:
- 1971: The Year That Music Changed Everything
- Amazing Stories
- Beastie Boys Story
- Becoming You
- Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry
- Blush
- Boys State
- Bruce Springsteen’s Letter to You
- CODA
- Calls
- Central Park
- Cherry
- Dads
- Dear…
- Defending Jacob
- Dickinson
- Doug Unplugs
- Earth At Night in Color
- Fathom
- Fireball: Visitors from Darker Worlds
- For All Mankind
- Foundation
- Fraggle Rock: Rock On!
- Ghostwriter
- Greatness Code
- Greyhound
- Hala
- Helpsters
- Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
- Home
- Home Before Dark
- Invasion
- Killers of the Flower Moon
- Lisey’s Story
- Little America
- Little Voice
- Long Way Up
- Losing Alice
- Mariah Carey’s Magical Christmas Special
- Mr. Corman
- Mythic Quest
- On The Rocks
- Oprah Talks COVID-19
- Oprah’s Book Club
- Palmer
- Physical
- Schmigadoon!
- See
- Servant
- Snoopy in Space
- Stillwater
- Ted Lasso
- Tehran
- The Banker
- The Elephant Queen
- The Line
- The Me You Can’t See
- The Morning Show
- The Mosquito Coast
- The Oprah Conversation
- The Shrink Next Door
- The Snoopy Show
- The Velvet Underground
- The Year Earth Changed
- Tiny World
- Truth Be Told
- Trying
- Visible: Out on Television
- Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson
- Who Are You, Charlie Brown?
- Wolfwalkers
