As a writer covering the entertainment and streaming services block, I use a lot of streaming platforms. It’s the best way for me to keep up with everything going on across each network—and there are more than a few these days.
But like most folks, I’ve become jaded by these platforms re-releasing old content, canceling shows after a single season, and generally experiencing a decline in quality. In short, I’ve left a bunch behind.
However, there is one streaming platform I won’t leave: AppleTV+.
1Apple TV+ Favors Quality Over Quantity
Apple needs no introduction. As one of the world’s largest companies, it has plenty of resources to invest in new ventures, and it went all-in with Apple TV+, spending over $20 billion to date since the platform’s launch in late 2019. As an early proponent of streaming television (its Apple TV device released back in 2006!), it seems Apple’s TV+ is a little late to the party, but this leisurely approach has served it well.
Apple TV+ focuses chiefly on original material. Building a unique catalog of new content takes time and patience, which means it got off to an understandably slow start. Yet, it was evident that the production values were strong from the outset, with Apple investing in a robust assembly of established talent that immediately inspired confidence in its shows. While I’d have hesitated to pay a monthly subscription fee a few years ago, Apple TV+ has since built a solid foundation of quality content to justify the commitment.
2Apple TV+ Offers a Wide Variety of Shows
Even five years after its launch, Apple TV+ still feels like it is in its early days compared to rivals like HBO MAX, which hit the ground running with an impressive catalog of favorites going back decades. However, I believe the best is yet to come from Apple TV+, and there is already enough variety on the platform to keep viewers entertained, with new movies and series released regularly.
Apple TV+ appears to have a more focused approach to content creation and spending, and while some undeniable turkeys have been released, the platform has enjoyed great success across various genres. Shows like the comedy Ted Lasso, the sci-fi series Dark Matter, the thriller series Severance, movies like Killers of the Flower Moon, and documentaries like Still showcase the platform’s broad appeal.
3Apple TV+ Offers Good Value for Money
While Amazon Prime Video and Disney Plus are slightly cheaper, I am prepared to pay a little extra for the quality original content on Apple TV+, provided it continues on its current trajectory.
4Apple TV+ Has a Bright Future
Apple is one of the most lavish spenders in the streaming television industry, something that was arguably necessary to establish itself among the competition’s heavy hitters.While it’s not without its faults, and despite struggling to compete for market share, it is still one of the most consistently reliable platforms in terms of quality, with gems like Ted Lasso being the most-watched streaming show in 2023.
Like Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ is part of a significantly larger enterprise that can provide financial support as long as legions of loyal customers continue to buy other Apple products. Being part of such a robust ecosystem will help Apple TV+ continue improving its lineup of high-quality series and original films. It has pledged to license more content from other sources, bringing it more in line with competitors like HBO MAX, and as a part of the Apple Corporation, Apple TV+ will always be at the cutting edge of the latest audio-visual streaming technologies.
If I could choose only one streaming platform, would I opt for Apple TV+? the answer would likely be “no.” However, if, like me, you feel overwhelmed by the number of choices and disappointed by the overall quality offered by rival streaming platforms, I recommend signing up for a free trial to see for yourself if you think the service is worth your hard-earned cash.
