Report: Apple Device Owners Will Get Its New TV Shows for Free

In the future, owning an Apple device may come with a new perk: free access to Cupertino's original TV shows.

Apple's first original TV show, Planet of the Apps, was a flop, but the company has lots of new content in the works—$1 billion worth. Now it appears the tech giant plans to give that content to Apple device owners for free.

CNBC reports that upcoming Apple-funded TV shows will be available for free inside the pre-installed TV app on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV devices. The company expects to launch a new and improved version of the TV app "early next year," the report notes.

Apple did not immediately respond to PCMag's request for comment and declined CNBC's request.

Apple's second original TV show, Carpool Karaoke, is already available for free via the TV app. The first episode of Planet of the Apps is free, but you need an Apple Music subscription to watch subsequent episodes.

Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Apple has around two dozen shows in "in development or production." That includes a remake of Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories, a series about poet Emily Dickinson starring Hailee Steinfeld, a drama about basketball player Kevin Durant, and a morning news drama starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. The company has also reportedly inked deals with Oprah Winfrey and the producers of Sesame Street for other shows.

Meanwhile, Apple reportedly axed a show based on the life of rapper Dr. Dre called Vital Signs over concerns it was too violent.

"Apple has made clear, say producers and agents, that it wants high-quality shows with stars and broad appeal, but it doesn't want gratuitous sex, profanity, or violence," the Journal reported.

In the meantime, music encyclopedia service Genius today announced a deal with Apple that will allow Apple Music subscribers to play full songs from Genius' song page. Genius' lyrics database is also now available on Apple Music.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes.

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app.

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth.

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light.

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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