Apple TV Plus
Last updated: 4 hours ago
Apple is now making or commissioning high-budget, high-profile films and television to stream on its Apple TV+ service. As yet, the service doesn't have a very big library, but it aims to leverage use Apple's famous simplicity to make finding and watching shows better than ever.
● Original films and TV made for Apple TV+
● Low monthly subscription of $4.99
● Free week's trial for all users
● Free year for buyers of new Apple devices
● Fewer original shows than Netflix, Amazon Prime or Disney+
● No library of existing shows or films
● Students get Apple TV+ with Apple Music Student Plan
Apple TV+ is a streaming service of original television and film produced in conjunction with Apple or directly by the company itself. The service can be found on many platforms inside of the Apple TV app. From the app, users can also access other content from iTunes, external streaming apps like Hulu, and from Channels including HBO.
Apple TV+ content
Drama Series
| Show | About | TV Rating | Original Release Date | Next/Current Season Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Losing Alice | "Losing Alice" uses unique flashback and flash forward techniques to tell the story of an aging director. Alice becomes obsessed with a young screenwriter and surrenders her moral integrity to achieve power and success. | TV-MA | January 22, 2021 | TBA |
 See | "See" is a sci-fi fantasy epic set in the post apocalyptic future of our world. Generations of humans have lived without sight, so long that it was considered a myth. Twins are then born with the ability to see, and must be protected at all costs. | TV-MA | November 1, 2019 | TBA 2021 |
 The Morning Show | "The Morning Show" sees a newsroom veteran accused of sexual misconduct, and the fallout affects every employee top to bottom. Despite a rocky start, the show was able to win over critics by the electrifying season finale. | TV-MA | November 1, 2019 | TBA 2021 |
 Defending Jacob | "Defending Jacob" follows the events after a shocking crime deeply affects a Massachusetts family. Chris Evans stars and executive produces in this Anonymous Content production. | TV-MA | April 24, 2020 | N/A single season run |
 Little Voice | In "Little Voice," J.J. Abrams tells the story of a musician trying to find her authentic voice in New York, then finding the courage to use it. | TV-14 | February 7, 2020 | TBA |
 Foundation | Based on the award-winning novels by Isaac Asimov, “Foundation” chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire. | Not Yet Rated | Coming Soon | N/A |
 Tehran | "Tehran" tells the thrilling story of a Mossad agent who goes deep undercover on a dangerous mission in Tehran that places her and everyone around her in dire jeopardy. | TV-MA | September 25, 2020 | TBA |
 Home Before Dark | “Home Before Dark” is a dramatic mystery series inspired by the reporting of a young investigative journalist, Hilde Lysiak. Hilde moves with her family back to a small lakeside town where she begins to uncover the mystery behind a cold case. | TV-14 | April 3, 2020 | TBA 2021 |
 Truth Be Told | In "Truth Be Told," Poppy Parnell is forced to reopen the murder case that made her a national sensation. She comes face-to-face with the man she may have mistakenly helped to put behind bars because of her investigative podcast. | TV-MA | December 6, 2019 | TBA 2021 |
 Servant | "Servant" is a psychological thriller from M. Night Shyamalan that follows a Philadelphia couple in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens the door for a mysterious force to enter their home. | TV-MA | November 28, 2019 | January 15, 2021 |
 For All Mankind | What if the United States did not place the first man on the moon? From Ronald D. Moore, "For All Mankind" is an alternate history turned sci-fi epic that tells us about a space race that never ended, and the effects it has on America. | TV-MA | November 1, 2019 | February 19, 2021 |
Comedy Series
| Show | About | TV Rating | Original Release Date | Next/Current Season Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ted Lasso | In "Ted Lasso," Jason Sudeikis plays an American football coach from Kansas who is hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience with soccer. | TV-MA | August 14, 2020 | TBA 2021 |
 Central Park | Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith of "Bob’s Burgers" are writing and producing "Central Park" alongside Josh Gad of "Frozen" fame. The show depicts a family, the Tillermans, in their struggle to keep Central Park, their home, safe from a hotel heiress. This animated musical is produced by 20th Century Fox Television. | TV-14 | May 29, 2020 | TBA 2021 |
 Dickinson | "Dickinson" is a period piece injected with present-day attitudes. This stand-out series depicts the life of the titular poet with modern musical scores and young-adult drama. | TV-14 | November 1, 2019 | January 8, 2021 |
 Mythic Quest: Raven’s Banquet | "Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet" is centered around a team of video game developers as they navigate the challenges of running a popular video game. Written by Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day, of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" fame, and produced by Ubisoft and Lions Gate. | TV-MA | February 7, 2020 | TBA 2021 |
 Trying | Apple's first foray into British television. "Trying" features Jason and Nikki, played by Rafe Spall and Esther Smith, on their journey to try to become parents. | TV-14 | May 1, 2020 | TBA 2021 |
Anthology Series
| Show | About | TV Rating | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 Amazing Stories | "Amazing Stories" is a reimagining of the original anthology series by Steven Spielberg. Each episode tells a different story of life, love, and discovery through a mystical lense of wonder. | TV-PG | March 6, 2020 |
 Little America | From executive producer Kumail Nanjiani, "Little America" tells the story of immigrating to America through they eyes of several immigrants. Each episode is a different person in a different time period, yet their struggles to find a life in America all share the same hope. | TV-14 | January 17, 2020 |
Children's Programming
| Show | About | TV Rating | Original Release Date | Next/Current Season Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Doug Unplugs | "Doug Unplugs" is a children's show. Doug is a robot boy who wants to learn about the world the old fashioned way, thorough experience. In his world, robots just download any information they want to find out, but a littler girl is going to show him how to learn by doing. | TV-Y | November 13, 2020 | TBA |
 Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth | "Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth" is adapted from the best-selling children's book by Oliver Jeffers, and created by animation firm, Studio AKA. A short film celebrating Earth day as a seven-year old boy discovers the wonders of the planet. | TV-G | April 17, 2020 | N/A |
 Fraggle Rock: Rock On! | The return of a classic kids show during a pandemic. "Fraggle Rock" sets out to teach kids how to practice social distancing and have fun during the coronavirus lockdown. Apple also acquired the rights to the original series, which means the whole catalogue can be streamed on the service. | TV-G | April 21, 2020 | TBA |
 Ghostwriter | "Ghostwriter" is a reboot of the 1990s PBS series that sees present-day kids embroiled in mysteries that are causing fictional characters to escape into the real world. | TV-G | November 1, 2019 | TBA |
 Helpsters | "Helpsters" is a funny and happy series where Sesame Street-style monsters set out to help people with their problems, ranging from how to climb a mountain, to mastering magic tricks. | TV-Y | November 1, 2019 | TBA |
Documentary Series
| Show | About | TV Rating | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 Becoming You | "Becoming You" examines the first 2,000 days on earth of over 100 children in this documentary series. Olivia Coleman narrorates the story of these children as they learn to speak, think, and move up to age 5. | Not Yet Rated | November 13, 2020 |
 Dear... | "Dear..." takes inspiration from the "Dear Apple" campaign in which people would write letters about their experiences. This show takes a cinematic look at different influential people's lives from the point of view of a letter written to them by someone whose life they have changed. | TV-MA | June 5, 2020 |
 Greatness Code | “Greatness Code” is a landmark short-form unscripted series directed by Gotham Chopra and co-produced by Uninterrupted and Religion of Sports that spotlights untold stories from the greatest athletes in the world. | TV-PG | July 10, 2020 |
 Home | "Home" offers a look inside of the world's most innovative homes. The inspiring stories of these wild homes and the people who built them. | TV-PG | April 17, 2020 |
 Long Way Up | Starring and executive produced by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman, “Long Way Up” reunites the best friends after more than a decade since their last motorbike adventure around the world. Covering 13,000 miles over 100 days on the backs of their prototype electric Harley-Davidsons in order to contribute to the sustainability of the planet. Apple also acquired the streaming rights to the previous series "Long Way Down" and "Long Way Round." | TV-14 | September 18, 2020 |
 Tiny World | Narrated by Paul Rudd, "Tiny World" showcases nature’s lesser-known tiny heroes. Spotlighting small creatures and the extraordinary things they do to survive, each episode is filled with surprising stories and spectacular cinematography. | G | October 2, 2020 |
 Visible: Out On Television | "Visible: Out on Television" is a look at the importance of TV as an intimate medium that has shaped the American conscience, and how the LGBTQ movement has shaped TV. Combines archival footage with interviews with important people from the movement and industry. | TV-MA | February 14, 2020 |
Feature-Length Film
| Movie | About | TV Rating | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cherry | "Cherry" is a dark drama about a man from Ohio who joins the military, gets PTSD, then becomes addicted to opioids. His addiction leads to robbing banks to pay for more drugs. Despite all that his focus on the love of his life is what helps him through. | R | March 12, 2021 |
 Wolfwalkers | "Wolfwalkers" tells the story of a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, who journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night. | PG | December 11, 2020 |
 Greyhound | In "Greyhound," Tom Hanks is a Navy Veteran turned ship captain trying to escort a group of ships across the Atlantic. Set in the earliest parts of World War II when the United States first joined the Allied forces. The captain and his group of three escort ships must navigate the treacherous waters while warding off Nazi U-boats and air attacks from the convoy of 37 ships. | PG-13 | July 10, 2020 |
 Hala | "Hala" is a coming-of-age tale for a Pakistani American teenager struggling to cope with the conflicting demands of her family and her own desires –– plus a newfound secret that threatens them all. | R | December 6, 2019 |
 On The Rocks | "On The Rocks" is about a young New York mother faced with sudden doubts about her marriage, and she teams up with her larger-than-life playboy father to tail her husband. What follows is a sparkling comic adventure across the city – drawing father and daughter closer together despite one detour after another. | R | October 23, 2020 |
 The Banker | "The Banker" is a movie following Bernard Garrett Sr. and Joe Morris, portrayed by Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson, who lead a real estate business by hiring a white man to act as the "face" of the business. | PG-13 | March 20, 2020 |
Feature-Length Documentary
| Documentary | About | TV Rating | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds | "Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds" is a documentary about all the celestial visitors to Earth, more specifically meteorites. Werner Herzog and Clive Oppenheimer take viewers on a journey around the world to discover how meteorites, shooting stars, and deep impacts affect and shape our world and human's imagination. | Not yet rated | November 13, 2020 |
 Letters To You | "Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You" shows the live recording of Springsteen's upcoming album "Letter To You" live with the full E Street Band, and includes final take performances of 10 originals from the new record. The feature-length documentary features full performances from the E Street Band, in-studio footage, never-before-seen archival material, and a deeper look into "Letter To You" from Springsteen himself. | PG | October 23, 2020 |
 Boys State | “Boys State” is a wildly entertaining and continually revealing immersion into a week-long annual program in which a thousand Texas high school seniors gather for an elaborate mock exercise: building their own state government. | PG-13 | August 14, 2020 |
 Dads | “Dads” is a heartfelt and humorous documentary that celebrates the joys and challenges of parenting in today’s world. Featuring six extraordinary fathers from across the glove, this film has interviews, home-movie footage, and testimonials from big celebrities. | PG | June 19, 2020 |
 Beastie Boys Story | Spike Jonze has made a documentary about the Beastie Boys based on the bestselling "Beastie Boys Book" and it is called "Beastie Boys Story." | TV-MA | April 24, 2020 |
 The Elephant Queen | Embark on an epic journey of family, courage and coming home. “The Elephant Queen” is a genre-crossing wildlife documentary, uniquely crafted as a character-driven narrative. | PG | November 1, 2019 |
Peanuts
| Show | About | TV Rating | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Snoopy Show | "The Snoopy Show" is a new series centered around Snoopy and Woodstock. The Peanuts gang are all here in these new adventures based on the classic "Peanuts" comic strip. | TV-G | February 5, 2021 |
 Untitled “Peanuts” Documentary | An untitled "Peanuts" 70th anniversary documentary. | Not Yet Rated | Coming in 2021 |
 Snoopy In Space | "Snoopy in Space" has Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Lucy, and the whole Peanuts gang help out NASA as they learn about traveling to the moon. | TV-G | November 1, 2019 |
 “Peanuts” seasonal specials | All the beloved "Peanuts" seasonal specials are available on Apple TV+ during each respective season. New seasonal specials are being produced as well, like Mother's Day and back to school. | TV-G | Seasonal Availability |
Oprah
| Show | About | TV Rating | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
 The Oprah Conversation | In "The Oprah Conversation,"Oprah leads intimate discussions with today’s foremost newsmakers, thought leaders, and masters of their craft. Bringing truth and perspective to a range of topics shaping our world, they reveal gripping stories of human connection. | TV-14 | July 30, 2020 |
 Oprah Talks COVID-19 | In "Oprah Talks COVID-19," Oprah Winfrey explores how can we mindfully move through a crisis while holding on to ourselves and our humanity. Oprah has remote conversations with experts and people facing challenges to provide insight, meaning, and tangible advice for the human spirit. | TV-PG | March 21, 2020 |
 Oprah’s Book Club | “Oprah’s Book Club” provides viewers with a front row seat for unguarded conversations with incredible authors. Each episode features a book handpicked by Oprah, along with an interview about the issues that it brings too light. | TV-14 | November 1, 2019 |
About Apple TV+
This video streaming service is Apple's biggest step into media since the introduction of Apple Music in 2015. Through this one service, you can watch original films and television commissioned or purchased by Apple. You will not find classic series runs like "The Simpsons" or "Seinfeld" here, only original content licensed directly by Apple, at least for now.
Devices that support Apple TV+Apple TV+ is unfortunately named, considering it is accessed via the Apple TV app and does not need an Apple TV box to work.
Following the launch of macOS Catalina, there is an Apple TV app on Mac too. You can use the existing but recently updated Apple TV app on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad as well.
The aim is to have this service be wherever you are and on whatever Apple device you use. However, Apple also wants this service to have as wide a reach as it can, so alongside its own hardware, you can watch it via smart TVs such as certain Samsung models. Or you can get the whole service, plus access to your previously bought videos, via an Amazon Fire Stick or even Roku box.
If you are on any other device, including those running Android, you can always visit the AppleTV+ website.
The Apple TV app
Wherever you watch, you are met with the Apple TV app, which ultimately intends to become the sole place you go to in order to watch television or films, whether they're from Apple or not.
Apple unveils its biggest Apple TV+ shows at premiere eventsMost other streaming services are included in the Apple TV app, with the notable exception of Netflix. External services include dozens of cable provided channels that need a cable service sign-in to work, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and several other third party providers. When dealing with content from external services, it is listed in the Apple TV app and shown in the Up Next section, but opens in the parent app outside of the Apple TV app.
All content purchased via iTunes is listed within the TV app as well.
Tim Cook on stage during the launch of Apple TV+Apple TV Channels provide you with the ability to subscribe to content providers from directly within the app, and share this subscription across a family sharing plan. HBO, Starz, and multiple other services are available this way, and greatly simplify the way you subscribe and manage these accounts. Content from Channels can be downloaded for offline viewing.
Apple TV+ Pricing
From launch, Apple has offered a year's free Apple TV+ service to anyone buying a new iPhone or other devices. This promotion will not last forever though, and will likely not be present for the 2020 iPhone launch.
Similarly, there is a bundle offer where people on the Apple Music Student Plan will receive Apple TV+ for free.
Apple TV+ costs $4.99 per month, which is cheaper than either Disney+ or Netflix. As with Apple Music and Apple News+, there is a free trial period, which in this case is one week. Users can also subscribe to any tier of Apple One to get Apple TV+ included.
