Apple Inks Deal With A24 For Multiple Films As Part Of Push Into Movies

Apple, which has been ramping up its original content ambitions largely via TV series with the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Momoa, Octavia Spencer and Chris Evans, is turning its attention to movies. The company is partnering with A24 on a multiyear agreement that will see the film and TV studio produce a slate of films for the tech giant.

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It is the biggest move to date in the film space for Apple’s worldwide video operation, run by former Sony TV toppers Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg. The company first hinted at its intentions beyond TV around the Toronto Film Festival when the company acquired documentary feature The Elephant Queen and animated film Wolfwalkers

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A launch date may finally be in sight after years of Apple hiring executives and amassing original content for its video streaming service.

According to The Information, Apple is eyeing a mid-April launch for its subscription streaming service. The report said that Apple will update its TV app and add support for the streaming service.

In 2017, Apple hired Jamie Erlicht and Zack Van Amburg away from Sony Pictures Television and gave them the reins to Apple’s fledgling original video content business. Since then, Apple has hired on more experienced television executives and announced several projects, along with a multiyear deal with Oprah Winfrey.

Last year, The New York Times reported that Apple’s original series could begin debuting as soon as March 2019. Apple is taking on Amazon, HBO, Hulu and Netflix with a reported $1 billion content budget. The company has lined up programming including a series about a morning TV show starring Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. Apple has also booked a series from “La La Land” director Damien Chazelle, an “Amazing Stories” reboot from Steven Spielberg and an animated series from the creator of Fox’s “Bob’s Burgers.”

If Apple ends up offering its video streaming service through its TV app, it will reach millions of consumers that use iPhones and iPads. But Apple is likely concerned with reaching viewers’ TV screens—the company’s Apple TV set-top device trails rivals like Amazon and Roku in terms of market share—and that could be the reasoning behind a slew of agreements the company announced during CES.

Samsung smart TV owners will now be able to access their existing iTunes libraries and buy or rent other movies and TV shows directly from their TVs without having to use an Apple device such as an Apple TV. Apple also announced that smart TVs from Samsung, Sony, LG and Vizio will all soon be updated with AirPlay 2 support, which will allow iOS devices users to stream content on the big screen without using an Apple TV.

But even with a team in place, a lineup of original content in the works and the potential for expanded distribution to smart TVs, some analysts worry about remaining hurdles for Apple. Alan Wolk, co-founder and lead analyst with TV[R]EV, said it doesn’t seem like Apple has purchased any library content and so he questioned whether Apple would have enough programming to sustain consumer interest.

“Even with something as robust as HBO, there’s maybe two shows I want to watch and then I’m done,” Wolk said.

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Apple aims to launch TV service in April: Sources Apple to launch TV service in April: Sources
3 Hours Ago | 01:08
Apple is in the final stages of preparing its new streaming video service, which will feature free original content for device owners and a subscription platform for existing digital services. But don't expect Netflix to be a part of it, and HBO's participation is also in doubt, according to people familiar with the matter.

Apple is aiming to launch service in April or early May. It will allow customers to sign up for existing digital streaming products and watch them in the iOS TV application, similar to Amazon's Prime Video Channels. Apple wants to simplify mobile video viewing by housing content in one app instead of forcing users to launch separate apps for each service.

Lions Gate's Starz; CBS, which owns Showtime; and Viacom are expected to offer subscription streaming services on the Apple platform, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be named because the discussions are private.

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Apple Inc. plans to roll out the Apple TV+ movie and TV subscription service by November, part of a drive to reach $50 billion in service sales by 2020.

The company will introduce a small selection of shows and then expand its catalog more frequently over several months, people familiar with the matter said. A free trial is likely as Apple builds up its library, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the plans aren’t public.

The iPhone maker is entering an increasingly crowded field, led by streaming pioneer Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. In the coming months, Walt Disney Co., AT&T Inc. and Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal will debut new offerings, all targeted at the growing ranks of viewers who are canceling cable-TV subscriptions or watching on mobile devices.

With its first foray into video subscriptions, Apple is weighing different release strategies for shows. The company is considering offering the first three episodes of some programs, followed by weekly installments, the people said.

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