Just How Much Did Apple Lose on Apple TV+?
By Movieguide® Contributor
Apple lost a whopping $1 billion a year on its Apple TV+ streamer.
The tech company launched the platform in 2019 and has spent over $5 billion on it. In 2024, it cut costs by $500 million.
Although Apple has lost due to the streamer, it still has an advantage over traditional networks. According to Deadline, “Traditional media companies have also lost billions to launch and feed their streaming platforms over the past five years. They have been working to stanch the red ink, with some recently posting profits. Apple, which saw $391 billion in annual revenue for its fiscal 2024, is better able to absorb losses.”
Apple TV+ is home to hit shows like SEVERANCE. Its second season made it the most-watched series ever for the streamer, and it was just renewed for Season 3.
Ben Stiller, who executive produced the show, said, “Making SEVERANCE has been one of the most creatively exciting experiences I’ve ever been a part of. While I have no memory of this, I’m told making Season 3 will be equally enjoyable, though any recollection of these future events will be forever and irrevocably wiped from my memory as well.”
Movieguide®, however, advises extreme caution due to its strong romantic worldview and harsh language:
Episode 1 of Season two of Apple+’s SEVERANCE on Apple+ continues five months after the end of season one as Lumen works to resolve the issues exposed by Mark, Helly, Irv, and Dylan during the season finale. The severance program has had an overhaul meant to make conditions more humane. Mark and his crew, in their “innie” forms, are given the opportunity to decide for themselves if they will stay with the company or leave forever.
Season two of the show promotes a strong humanist worldview as the group makes decisions based on their feelings rather than on what is right; they particularly avoid considering how actions affect them emotionally and spiritually, opting to follow their hearts. Furthermore, Irv and Dylan discuss Irv’s homosexual feelings, and Dylan encourages him to live them out. Season two also features extreme foul language with 29 profanities and obscenities in total, including 13 “f” words. Thus, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for older teens and adults.
READ MORE: SEVERANCE EPISODE 2.1 REVIEW
Will shows like SEVERANCE be enough to keep the streamer going? Time will tell.
“Apple TV+ has only 25 million subscribers while Netflix has 277 million. Per Tech Buying advice, Apple poured $20 billion into shows that only 0.2% of the population watches. Those aren’t good numbers,” Movieguide® reported. “Netflix has billions more to pour into its content and services while getting much better viewership. Meanwhile, Apple TV+ is pushing its limits. There’s not much the smaller streaming service can do to level the playing field.”
READ MORE: APPLE TV+ NEEDS TO DO THIS TO BOOST ABYSMAL VIEWERSHIP
Apple’s detailed streamer data is not public knowledge, but CEO Tim Cook seems hopeful about the streamer’s shows. Apple makes profits from other services outside of its streamer, including “Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness, Apple News+, Apple Books as well as the Apple App Store, iCloud, Apple Care, [and] Apple Pay.”
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